DIVINFOOD took centre stage at the International Farming Systems Association (IFSA) Conference, one of the leading international events for the farming systems research community – Montpellier, France, 29 June-3 July 2026.

As part of the conference, Yuna Chiffoleau, DIVINFOOD Coordinator, joined Kostadinos Mattas (BioValue) and Marta Vasconcelos (CropDiva) to organise a dedicated session entitled “New Frameworks to Document, Analyse and Assess Agrobiodiversity in Action”. The session showcased innovative approaches to understanding and promoting agrobiodiversity, with contributions from both DIVINFOOD and BioValue to be published in the forthcoming Book of Abstracts.

Beyond the conference sessions, participants had the opportunity to experience agrobiodiversity in action during a field visit organised by Yuna Chiffoleau. Around forty researchers and PhD candidates discovered inspiring local initiatives: a farmer who has made agrodiversity the cornerstone of his farming system; a cooperative bakery demonstrating how collective action can unlock the value of local and underutilised cereals; and discussions with representatives of the Regional Directorate for Agriculture and Food on the role of public policies in supporting agrobiodiversity. The visit concluded with a lunch featuring the lingot bean, prepared by a collective catering chef committed to serving sustainable, meaningful meals that reconnect people with local food heritage.

DIVINFOOD’s contribution extended to the next generation of researchers. PhD candidates attending a summer school jointly organised by IFSA and the European project ENFASYS Enfasys Project – Sustainable Farming Systems, with input from Yuna Chiffoleau, presented their insights on the challenges and opportunities associated with neglected and underutilised crops during the IFSA conference’s closing plenary session.

Together, these activities highlighted DIVINFOOD’s unique approach to connecting research, innovation, training and stakeholder engagement to accelerate the transition towards more agrobiodiversity-based, resilient and sustainable food systems.