Social and environmental responsibility of research through the lens of history
Abstract
This article traces the evolution of corporate, social and environmental responsibility (CSR) in French agronomic research, linking it both to current issues and to a longer history of concern for the social and environmental impacts of research. Using the example of Inra and Irstea (merged in INRAE in 2020), the authors show how agronomic research initially supported agricultural modernization before beginning to question its negative effects. As early as the 1970s, concerns about pollution, dire working conditions, and the distress experienced by some farmers, led to the emergence of new research topics, systemic approaches, and increased attention to environmental issues. The 1990s marked a turning point, with health crises and rising societal expectations prompting a gradual institutionalization of CSR. Agronomic research became a key player in supporting transitions through agroecology, the co-construction of knowledge, and participatory approaches. CSR, now embedded in governance frameworks, serves as a powerful tool for rethinking the relationship between science, society, and the environment—provided that ethical and critical standards are sustained.
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BibTeX
@article{cornu2026social,
title = {{Social and environmental responsibility of research through the lens of history}},
author = {Pierre Cornu and Egizio Valceschini},
journal = {NOV'AE - Numéros spéciaux},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.20870/revue-novae.2025.9667},
url = {https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05854486v1},
note = {CC BY-SA 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Social and environmental responsibility of research through the lens of history
AU - Pierre Cornu
AU - Egizio Valceschini
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/06
JO - NOV'AE - Numéros spéciaux
DO - 10.20870/revue-novae.2025.9667
UR - https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05854486v1
AB - This article traces the evolution of corporate, social and environmental responsibility (CSR) in French agronomic research, linking it both to current issues and to a longer history of concern for the social and environmental impacts of research. Using the example of Inra and Irstea (merged in INRAE in 2020), the authors show how agronomic research initially supported agricultural modernization before beginning to question its negative effects. As early as the 1970s, concerns about pollution, dire working conditions, and the distress experienced by some farmers, led to the emergence of new research topics, systemic approaches, and increased attention to environmental issues. The 1990s marked a turning point, with health crises and rising societal expectations prompting a gradual institutionalization of CSR. Agronomic research became a key player in supporting transitions through agroecology, the co-construction of knowledge, and participatory approaches. CSR, now embedded in governance frameworks, serves as a powerful tool for rethinking the relationship between science, society, and the environment—provided that ethical and critical standards are sustained.
SN - 2823-2283
SN - 2823-3980
ER -