Montpellier Global Days 2026: FOOD, PEOPLE, PLANET
CONTEXT
In 1935, the first Protected Designations of Origin (“Appellations d’Origine Contrôlée”, AOC) were established in France for a limited number of wine productions. More than 90 years later, the concept of quality labels in food systems has expanded far beyond viticulture and beyond France’s borders. Today, it stands as a key pillar of sustainable food systems, grounded in the protection of terroirs, the recognition of know-how, product traceability, and nutritional quality.
It is in this spirit of celebration that the University of Montpellier and its partners are organizing an international day of scientific exchange dedicated to quality labels in food systems. This event fully aligns with the University’s “Feed – Care – Protect” strategy and its ambition to stimulate global reflection on these issues as part of the Montpellier Global Days.
GLOBAL OBJECTIVE
The objective of this event is to highlight the women and men committed to producing quality food, while showcasing the scientific excellence of Montpellier and its international partners working jointly to safeguard it. The day also aims to foster dialogue on the role of quality labels in addressing global environmental and nutritional challenges, and to strengthen international cooperation.
23 JUNE 2026 – OPENING EVENING
Discussions will address cross-cutting themes such as codification and regulation, nutrition and health, sustainable food systems, the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss, as well as territorial and community dynamics focusing on four emblematic sectors: wine, shellfish farming, rice, and coffee
Each sector will be the focus of a dedicated scientific session bringing together researchers, local authorities, territorial stakeholders, and international partners. Around thirty international doctoral candidates from the global doctoral platform in nutrition and food systems will present a collective deliverable resulting from prior international training, contributing to the debate on sustainable, high-quality food around the world.
24 JUNE 2026 – SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE
The scientific conference will take place at the University of Montpellier, in the premises of its Institute of Botany, just steps away from Montpellier historical Botanical Garden. It will bring together the scientific community, institutional representatives, international partners, and territorial stakeholders.
It will be preceded by an opening evening that will be held on 23 June 2026, bringing together local producers and distinguished guests for tastings and presentations aimed at a broader audience. It will help strengthen the connection between science, territory, and society by providing a space for exchanges between members of civil society and scientific communities.
Provisional program
8:00 Registration & Welcome coffee
Hall Charles Flahault amphitheater, UM
8:30 Opening & Welcom
- Philippe Augé, President of the University Montpellier
- Pr. Karen Lambert-Cordillac, University of Montpellier, scientist in charge of UM-UP FOODS global collaborative platform)
9:00 Vine and Wine Sciences
Round table with representatives from the University of California – UC DAVIS (USA), Stellenbosch University (South Africa) and Cornell University (USA)
10:30 Coffee-Tea Break & Poster session
11:00 Shellfish farming & bivalve sciences
Round table with representatives from the University of Quebec at Rimouski (Canada), the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (Spain) an the Fishery and Research Agency (Japan)
12:30 Lunch
14:00 Coffee
Round table with representatives from the ICAFE (Costa Rica), the Jimma University (Ethiopia), the Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute – ICCRI (Indonesia)
15:30 Coffee-Tea Break & Poster session
16:00 Rice
Round table with representatives from the Kasetsart University (Thaïland) and the Fonds Officiel de la Formation et de l’Innovation en Filière Agricole – FOFIFA (Madagascar)
17:30 Wrap up and Closing
18:00 Closing reception