Jeanne-Marie Membré – Food microbiologist, research engineer at UMR SECALIM (testimonial from the dossier “INRAE scientists in ANSES collective assessments” -2021)
“I’ve been a member of the Specialist Expert Committee on Biological Risk Assessment in Food (CES BIORISK) for almost 3 years. We meet once a month, always in a climate of mutual respect. Being a member of the CES allows me to participate in its working groups and to be at the heart of the action. For example, following a referral from the DGAL in 2018, I was appointed chair of the ‘Infant powders’ WG. We analysed the health risks associated with powdered infant milk, assessed the effectiveness of the risk control measures put in place by manufacturers and provided recommendations to them and the health control authorities. Expertise is the equivalent of a research project without the experiments, but with a practical question to answer. At the end of your career, this activity is a source of recognition and pleasure, and complements your other research activities.”
Thematic dossier
INRAE scientists in ANSES collective assessments
Expertise is a clearly stated mission of INRAE in the INRAE 2030 strategic plan. It mobilises the skills of scientists acquired through their research and puts them at the service of collective issues. This mission takes a variety of forms, including providing expert advice to public agencies. Every year, around a hundred scientists from the Institute contribute their expertise to the French National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (Anses) and sit on a number of Anses committees.
In early 2020, the Anses sent us a list of all INRAE scientists appointed to the agency’s various expert groups as at 1 January 2020. This data provides a “snapshot” of INRAE scientists working as experts in the Agency’s various groups.
In order to publicise, share and document this expertise and public policy support activity, the Public Policy Support Division has carried out an analysis of this data. This summary also presents Anses and the expert function within this agency, a non-academic public partner with which INRAE maintains close links.
