Press conference - From biomass to innovative molecules and materials

At the press conference, the experts presented their work to 22 online journalists (generalist and specialist) and 8 national and local media present on site (AFP, Plein champ, Agra innovation, Référence agro, Presse océan, Ouest France, 20 minutes, les marchés and France 3 Pays de la Loire).

The topics covered at the press conference highlighted the BIA unit's research projects, as well as presenting INRAE's research into bio-based materials to the journalists in attendance:

• Taking inspiration from fungi to exploit the most resistant materials such as wood or insect and crustacean shells, with Jean-Guy Berrin (BBF unit, INRAE Transform Department)
• Flax, tomato or apple skins... new raw materials for making car doors or rubber, with Johnny Beaugrand and Bénédicte Bakan (BIA unit, INRAE Transform Department)
• How can we develop and support the use of agri-food residues? An example from the olive sector in Occitanie, with Mechthild Donner (MOISA, INRAE EcoSocio Department)

This conference was followed by a tour of the BIBS platform and BIA laboratories, with a presentation of the work of the teams of Johnny Beaugrand (Paroi Végétale et Polysaccharides Pariétaux, PVPP), Bénédicte Bakan (Edifices Lipoprotéiques et Protéo-Saccharidiques, ELIPS) and Isabelle Capron (Equipe Assemblages Nanostructurés, NANO).

The visit attracted a great deal of press coverage, particularly on France TV and an article inOuest France.

• In the report ‘Du caoutchouc en peau de tomate ou de la fibre de verre à base de lin, [INRAE] travaille sur les matériaux de demain’, interviews in their laboratories with Angélina D’Orlando, INRAE research engineer, Bénédicte Bakan and Johnny Beaugrand : see the video on Francetvinfo.fr.
• Broadcast of the report ‘Bio-industry: nature, an inexhaustible source of ideas’ on the TF1 8 o'clock news.
• In the programme 'Silence ça pousse' broadcast on 25 March 2023 (see the report at 25').