Seed prospects at the INRA. Consequences and questions for a public research institute

At the end of 1996, the Delegation for Agriculture, Development and Prospec tive (DADP) has drawn up a report on one of its first prospective works con cerning the future of the seed sector and its consequences within the Natio nal Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA). This induced a double work : a prospective analysis on the socio-economic context of INRA of which the main actors are the seed producers besides the agriculture development one s, and a prospective analysis in particular on the research areas and biote chnologies. This work leads to a double statement : the emergence of a very high level private research for some seed producers and in firms specifica lly created to exploit biotechnologies and genetics position, discipline wh ich seems to intrude on others and to be in the focal point of our whole pr esent vision of agricultural development. Public research is not anymore th e only one which provides basis acquaintance, INRA partnership relations wi th the seed sector, in a wide meaning, are then the focus of its tactical c hoices. The Institute must redetermine the application of its missions, sev eral choices are possible depending on its possible futures visions, partia lly described in the report as microscenarios : to prepare future and work further on general interest studies; to work on subjects considered essenti al, to shorter term, for economic or social reasons, to commit public resea rch to a support part for some types of firms; to support the agricultures development concerning others exigences of agricultural politics.