ISARA-Lyon

What ISARA-Lyon does

ISARA-Lyon is a private, non-profit French engineering school founded in 1968, specializing in agriculture, agribusiness, food science, and environmental engineering. It operates two campuses (Lyon, hosted in the AGRAPOLE biopôle within Gerland, and Avignon, located in the Agroparc life-sciences hub) and trains engineers through a five-year Ingénieur Agronome program (both student-status and apprenticeship tracks), a three-year Bachelor in Agricultural Sciences and Engineering, and three English-language Master of Science tracks (Agroecology, Sustainable Food Systems, and Sustainable Trade for Agriculture and Food Industry). The institution is EESPIG-certified by the French Ministry of Higher Education as a Private Higher Education Institution of General Interest, and runs an extensive applied-research apparatus across three units (Agroecology and Environment, the Rural Studies Laboratory / LER, and BioDyMIA) coordinated under the AgroLab platform, which integrates 11 teachers, researchers, and technicians across microbiology, chemistry, physics, biology, automation, and food-technology labs.

The institution generates revenue primarily through regulated French tuition fees and increasingly through commissioned studies, industrial R&D partnerships, apprenticeship contracts, and Horizon 2020 research grants (e.g., AE4EU coordination, ECOSTACK participation, SMARTIB with ADISSEO, Néose with Aryballe and INRAE). Its go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via isara.fr, education fairs, open days, and social media, and it serves four customer segments: prospective engineering students, working professionals in agri-food seeking upskilling or apprenticeships, international students and partner universities, and agri-food companies seeking graduate recruitment, commissioned studies, and R&D collaboration. The commercial ecosystem is layered: AGRIVIA (the union with ISEMA, the agri-food business school) bundles a complementary curriculum; CLAS (agroecology research) and Hub des Audacieux (entrepreneurship) sit as centers of excellence; FoodShaker (an on-campus food-tech incubator), TERRA ISARA (endowment fund), and a professional network of 500+ companies, research labs, and NGOs round out a multi-stakeholder value chain. Customer reach extends to ~40 countries via 120+ partner universities and 8 dual-degree programs, with a stated 100% international-mobility outcome for engineering graduates and a 4.7/5 student satisfaction rating across 106 reviews.

Name

ISARA-Lyon

Legal name

ISARA

Website

https://isara.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

ISARA-Lyon is a private, non-profit French engineering school founded in 1968 that trains agronomy, agribusiness, food-science, and environmental engineers across its Lyon and Avignon campuses. It serves degree-seeking students, working professionals via apprenticeships, and agri-food companies through graduate recruitment and applied-research partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education - Agricultural Engineering

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Agribusiness, Farm Management & Compliance (EDAOAOAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Agriculture & Food Production (EDABALAA), Operations, Supply Chain & Logistics Management Schools (EDAHAHAF), Education Systems & Skills Technical Assistance (BPADAEAI)

Keywords

• Agricultural engineering education
• Agribusiness higher education
• Food science research
• Environmental science programs
• Continuing professional training

Headquarters

HQ city

Lyon

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: Engineering schools in France generate revenue through tuition fees from degree programs. ISARA offers engineer (Grande Ecole), Bachelor, Master of Science, and professional programs. Revenue is reinvested into the non-profit association.
2. Professional Services & Research Contracts: ISARA generates revenue through commissioned studies for businesses, research contracts, and consulting services. Companies can request student-led studies, recruit graduates, or partner on R&D projects.
3. AGRIVIA Union Revenue: As part of the AGRIVIA union with ISEMA, shared programs and collaborative initiatives may generate cross-subsidies and operational efficiencies between the two institutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ISARA-Lyon is a French engineering school (Grande École) delivering higher-education programs in agriculture, agribusiness, food science, and environmental sciences, including the Ingénieur ISARA degree, professional bachelors, master's degrees, mastères spécialisés and MSc programs. It also conducts applied research through technical platforms such as AgroLab and a food microbiology laboratory, and provides continuing education and contracted expertise services to companies and public bodies.

Product overview

ISARA-Lyon is an engineering school offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs in agriculture, agribusiness, and environmental sciences. The core offerings include five-year engineering programs (student and apprenticeship tracks), Bachelor programs, and three English-language Master of Science programs (Agroecology, Sustainable Food Systems, and Sustainable Trade). The institution operates within the AGRIVIA strategic union with ISEMA, providing combined expertise through two centers of excellence: CLAS for agroecology and Hub des Audacieux for entrepreneurship. Additional services include international dual degree programs with 120 partner universities, the FoodShaker business incubator for food-tech startups, and applied research services through dedicated research units. The institution also supports innovation through the TERRA ISARA endowment fund.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AGRIVIA: A union combining ISARA engineering school and ISEMA agri-food business school
• CLAS - Centre for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems
• The Hub des Audacieux
• TERRA ISARA

Products and services

• Ingénieur ISARA Programme CTI-accredited five-year engineering degree (Grade Master) in agriculture, agribusiness, food, and environmental sciences, offered as initial training and via the apprenticeship track, aimed at students seeking a French Grande École engineering diploma.
• Professional Bachelor (Licence Professionnelle) Programs
• Master's, Mastère Spécialisé and MSc Programs
• Continuing Professional Education
• Applied Research and Expertise Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of students complete at least one semester abroad
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Région Auvergne-Rhône-AlpescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership agreement under the Regional Plan for Engineers and Technicians. Includes creation of new Bachelor program, new specializations in digital and energy transition, and investments in equipment and student life.
• ISEMA (Institut Supérieur de l'Agroalimentaire)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAGRIVIA union combining ISARA and ISEMA, forming a strategic alliance for agricultural and agri-food education. The union offers an enriched and complementary range of courses delivered by both schools.
• CLAS (Centre for Living Agroecology and Food Systems)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of two centers of excellence under AGRIVIA. Works to promote the agroecological transition towards resilient and sustainable systems, disseminating knowledge and best practices.
• Hub des AudacieuxcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCenter of excellence dedicated to entrepreneurship and sustainable innovation. Supports entrepreneurs, students, and innovators who aim to rethink food systems.
• TERRA ISARA (Fonds de dotation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndowment fund created in 2012 that federates companies and regional partners around projects with high social impact, including the Paniers Solidaires food aid initiative.
• 120 Partner UniversitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network of 120+ universities in approximately 40 countries across Europe, Asia, North America, South America, and Africa, enabling student exchanges and dual degree programs.
• 500+ Companies and OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional network including companies, research laboratories, consular organizations, and NGOs offering professional experiences abroad and recruitment opportunities.
• SUSPLUS Consortium (European Universities)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean cooperation project with 8 universities (Poland, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, France, Italy, Spain) to develop innovative pedagogical materials for sustainable food systems education.
• ECOSTACK (Horizon 2020)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU-funded research project developing agricultural systems that promote biodiversity. ISARA participates as research partner.
• AE4EU (Horizon 2020)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU-funded project coordinated by ISARA to enable successful transition to agroecology through joint European research, innovation, networks, training, and education actions.
• INRAE (Institut national de recherche pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor French public research institute. Pascal Boistard serves as President of INRAE Center Lyon-Grenoble Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes on ISARA's board.
• FoodShaker IncubatorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgri-food business incubator operated by ISARA that supports startups including FYG (fermented products), Nivers (non-alcoholic beverages), and Épât'moi (cocoa-free chocolate spread).

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Purpan Engineering School (Ecole d'Ingénieurs de Purpan): Toulouse-based French engineering school with strong agriculture, food science and life sciences programs. Comparable on program portfolio, French regulatory certifications and industry-linked research.
• Montpellier SupAgro: French public engineering school focused on agriculture, agronomy and environment. Closely comparable to ISARA on program mix, research intensity and target student segment in agronomy and food sciences.
• Bordeaux Sciences Agro: Public French agricultural engineering school. Matches ISARA's program scope in agronomy, viticulture and environment, serving a similar domestic and international student base.
• ESA Angers (École Supérieure d'Agricultures): Private French agricultural higher education institution. Closest match to ISARA's private non-profit structure, engineering/Bachelor portfolio, and industry partnership model in western France.
• VetAgro Sup: Public veterinary and agricultural engineering school in Clermont-Ferrand. Comparable to ISARA on the agriculture-environment-engineering intersection and French Grande Ecole positioning.
• AgroParisTech: France's leading public agricultural, food and environmental engineering school. Directly comparable to ISARA as a Grande Ecole engineering institution with parallel curricula in agronomy, food science and environment.
• ENSAIA (École nationale supérieure d'agronomie et des industries alimentaires): Nancy-based French agricultural and agri-food engineering school. Comparable on agronomy + food engineering curricula, research specialisations and French Grande Ecole student profile.
• JUNIA (formerly ISA Lille): French private engineering school covering agriculture, food and environment. Comparable to ISARA on private non-profit status, applied research, apprenticeship tracks and continuing education offerings.
• ISEMA (AGRIVIA sister school): French higher education institution specialising in agri-food business under the AGRIVIA union. Closely tied to ISARA structurally and operationally, sharing programs, research and dual-degree pathways.
• ONIRIS (École nationale vétérinaire, agro-alimentaire et de l'alimentation): French engineering school combining veterinary, food and agricultural sciences. Overlaps with ISARA on agri-food and agricultural engineering programs and applied research model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCMzH9pezJ8c1yuIHkAwxCow
• Facebookfacebook.com/isaralyonavignon
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/isara-lyonavignon
• Instagraminstagram.com/isara_lyonavignon
• Xx.com/isaralyon

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ISARA-Lyon