ARCAD is an initiative supported by Agropolis Fondation and the Region Languedoc Roussillon (France). ARCAD aims at setting up a new open multi-function (conservation, research and training) platform devoted to the assessment and better use of plant agrobiodiversity in Mediterranean and tropical regions. The programme's scientific agenda will prioritize the study of history and patterns of crop domestication and adaptation as well as the analysis of key parameters underpinning adaptation and diversity structure, at various time scales, through studies of evolutionary genomics, population genetics and social sciences. The research will focus on Population comparative genomics, Crop adaptation to climate change and Cereal crops in Africa. These activities will be complemented with technological and methodological components for the conservation (DNA bank, cryopreservation) and analysis (bioinformatics, linkage disequilibrium) of crop diversity. A major objective of the programme is also to set up a demand-oriented capacity building platform, based upon the educational facilities offered by universities in Montpellier and the development of specific training modules. The ARCAD programme is jointly developed by CIRAD, INRA, IRD, Montpellier SupAgro and University of Montpellier 2, in partnership with numerous South and international institutions. As an open platform, ARCAD will continuously seek the involvement of interested partners. (Texte intégral)