The Division  employs 500 researchers and engineers, including 200 teacher-researchers from Joint Research Unit (JRU) partner organisations. 

They work within a network of 25 units. Their research over the next four years is structured around four major priorities

• The design of model foods and complex food models
• the fate of food in the digestive tract
• the lignocellulosic biorefinery
• Integrating knowledge and models

The complexity of certain scientific issues, in plant sciences or chemistry, requires the establishment of interdisciplinary  research networks. The networks in which the division involved include public and private research teams working together on fundamental issues.  
They put together:  public or private research organisations, engineering schools, universities, industrial groups, small and medium-sized companies, technical centres and institutes.

The division’s platforms bring together complex and sophisticated tools within the same site. They act as experimental facilities that are open to our academic and professional partners.

Resources: State fundings: 3.52 M€; other resources: 2.5 M€; wage bill: 26 M€.

Management: 
Dr Monique Axelos was appointed Head of the Division with effect from 1 May 2008.

Dr Monique Axelos Head of the Division	Division for Science and Process Engineering of Agricultural Products INRA Rue de la Géraudière BP 71627 44316 Nantes cedex 03 Tel : +33 (0)2 40 67 5145 fax : +33 (0)2 40 67 50 06 cepia@nantes.inra.fr	See  Monique Axelos' resume (click on the picture, it opens a new window)
Dr  Michael J. O'Donohue Deputy Head of the Division	INRA/INSAT/CNRS LISBP-Biocatalysis group INSA/INRA UMR 792 135, avenue de Rangueil 31077 Toulouse cedex 04 Tel:+ 33 (0)5 61 55 94 28 fax:+ 33 (0)5 61 55 94 00 michael.odonohue@insa-toulouse.fr