GRAINE Occitanie

What GRAINE Occitanie does

GRAINE Occitanie is a non-profit association governed by French law (association loi 1901) that functions as the regional network for environmental and sustainable development education (EEDD) across the Occitanie region of southern France. Formed in 2016 from the merger of GRAINE Languedoc-Roussillon with the predecessor network in the former Midi-Pyrénées territory, the organization aggregates 358 member organizations spanning all 13 departments of Occitanie, coordinates six territorial networks (Gée Aude, CPIE du Gard, COOPERE 34, RéeL-CPIE de Lozère, Tram'66, CPIE Littoral d'Occitanie), and is co-signatory of the regional Convention-cadre EEDD alongside Région Occitanie, DREAL, ADEME, OFB, ARS, Rectorat de Montpellier, Préfecture, DRAAF, ARB, and Agence de l'Eau Adour Garonne.

The organization's core products are pedagogical programs and network-coordinated services rather than commercial software. The digital portfolio comprises two web platforms—a resource database (ressources.graine-occitanie.org) cataloging pedagogical tools lent by regional resource centers, and an employment and training platform (emploi.graine-occitanie.org) aggregating EEDD job offers, civic service positions, internships, and training listings. Programmatic offerings include Pik'Tro (a health-environment awareness device on tiger mosquitoes, ticks, and processionary caterpillars, relaunched in 2026 with new modalities after 9 years of operation), Aires éducatives, Éduquer dehors, R²ESE (health-environment education), and thematic programs on food, mobility, water, and circular economy. Training activities are Qualiopi-certified, enabling access to public training funds for member-association professional development.

GRAINE's revenue model is not disclosed but rests on three pillars: membership fees from individuals, associations, companies, departmental networks, URCPIE Occitanie, and public organisms; institutional funding through regional public bodies (Région Occitanie, ADEME, ARS, DREAL, Préfecture, etc.) via multi-year conventions and project grants; and certification-funded training revenue. The association employs 11-14 staff across two office sites (Montpellier and Toulouse) and is governed through a General Assembly, Board of Directors, and Bureau, with the president (Jean-Paul Salasse) representing the network in the FDVA regional commission and the director (Gaëlle Valentin) leading operational delivery.

Name

GRAINE Occitanie

Legal name

GRAINE Occitanie

Website

https://graine-occitanie.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

GRAINE Occitanie is a non-profit regional network coordinating 358 member organizations across 13 departments of Occitanie, France, delivering environmental education programs, training, and pedagogical resources through two digital platforms and six territorial sub-networks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Instructional Delivery & Pedagogy (School-Led) (EDAJAFAB)

Keywords

• Environmental education
• Sustainable development education
• Regional network coordination
• Pedagogical programs
• Professional training EEDD

Headquarters

HQ city

Montpellier

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: The association operates under French law 1901 (non-profit) and is funded through membership fees from individuals, associations, companies, departmental networks, URCPIE Occitanie, and public organisms.
2. Public funding and institutional support: Receives support and funding from regional public institutions including Région Occitanie, Préfecture, ADEME, ARS, and other regional agencies through conventions and collaborative frameworks.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

GRAINE Occitanie is a non-profit association (loi 1901) functioning as the regional network for environmental and sustainable development education (EEDD) in Occitanie. It operates a unified service model combining digital platforms (Emploi-Formation platform and resource database) with direct professional services including pedagogical programs (PIKTRO, Aires éducatives, Éduquer dehors, Éduquer à la santé-environnement, Éduquer à l'alimentation, Éduquer aux mobilités, Éduquer à l'eau, Éduquer à l'économie circulaire), a Service éducatif pairing teachers with member associations, and Qualiopi-certified professional training delivered through a network of educators.

Product overview

GRAINE Occitanie is a non-profit association (loi 1901) functioning as a regional network for environmental and sustainable development education (EEDD). The organization operates a unified service model combining digital platforms with direct professional services. The digital portfolio includes the Plateforme Emploi et Formation (employment and training platform) for job and training listings, and the Base de données ressources (resource database) for pedagogical tool lending. Direct services encompass pedagogical programs including PIKTRO (health-environment awareness device), Aires éducatives, Éduquer dehors, Éduquer à la santé-environnement, Éduquer à l'alimentation, Éduquer aux mobilités, Éduquer à l'eau, and Éduquer à l'économie circulaire. Training services are provided under Qualiopi certification through a network of trained educators and member organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PIKTRO Regional awareness and mobilization device focused on health-environment issues related to tiger mosquitoes, ticks, and processionary caterpillars. Used by member associations, schools, and the general public across Occitanie.
• Aires éducatives Educational area program managed by students from one or more classes, promoting hands-on environmental learning. Used by schools and EEDD associations.
• Éduquer dehors Outdoor education practices that take place outside traditional classroom settings, using the local environment and urban settings as learning spaces. Used by schools, EEDD educators, and member associations.
• Éduquer à la santé-environnement (R²ESE) Network program (R²ESE) that aims to promote the development of health-environment education projects across the territory. Used by associations, schools, and public health stakeholders.
• Éduquer à l'alimentation Food education program based on knowledge of food origins and production, enabling transmission of implicit and explicit food know-how. Used by associations, schools, and citizens.
• Éduquer aux mobilités Sustainable mobility education program addressing ecological transition through awareness of transportation and mobility alternatives. Used by associations, schools, and territorial actors.
• Éduquer à l'eau Educational program addressing water-related issues for actors working in the Adour-Garonne river basin area, including associations and public agencies.
• Éduquer à l'économie circulaire Circular economy education program rethinking production and consumption patterns to transition from linear to circular economic models. Used by associations, schools, and territorial actors.
• Plateforme Emploi et Formation Dedicated web platform aggregating job offers, internships, civic service positions, and training opportunities in the EEDD sector in Occitanie. Used by EEDD professionals, job seekers, employers, and training organizations.
• Base de données ressources Shared database cataloging pedagogical tools and resources available for loan from regional resource centers (CDR) across the EEDD network. Used by educators, associations, and schools.
• Service éducatif Educational service pairing Education Nationale teachers with member organizations to develop environmental education projects aligned with school curricula in the Montpellier Academy. Used by teachers and schools.
• Formation professionnelle EEDD Professional training services in environmental and sustainable development education, coordinated regionally and certified Qualiopi, delivered through a network of trained educators and partner organizations. Used by EEDD professionals, educators, and association staff.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300+ organizations supported during COVID-19 crisis with information and assistance
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rectorat de l'Académie de MontpelliercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic rectorat providing institutional support for educational programs. They co-sign the Convention-cadre EEDD Occitanie and participate in the service éducatif initiative with GRAINE.
• Région Occitanie - Pyrénées MéditerranéecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe regional council is a key institutional partner, co-animating the Convention-cadre EEDD Occitanie alongside DREAL and GRAINE. Provides funding and strategic direction for regional EEDD development.
• Agence Régionale de la Biodiversité (ARB) OccitaniecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional biodiversity agency signatory of the Convention-cadre EEDD Occitanie, collaborating on biodiversity education and awareness initiatives.
• ARS Occitanie (Agence Régionale de Santé)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional health agency signatory of Convention-cadre EEDD Occitanie. GRAINE is named as alternate member of CRSA (Commission régionale des soins et de l'autonomie) at ARS.
• BRLminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater and environment company operating in Occitanie, listed as a partner organization supporting the network's activities.
• DRAAF OccitaniecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional directorate for food, agriculture, and forestry, signatory of Convention-cadre EEDD Occitanie, supporting agricultural and environmental education.
• DREAL OccitaniecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional directorate for environment and sustainable development, co-animating the Convention-cadre EEDD Occitanie with GRAINE and Région.
• ADEME OccitaniecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgency for ecological transition, signatory of Convention-cadre EEDD Occitanie, providing expertise and funding for environmental education and sustainable development projects.
• Agence de l'Eau Adour GaronnecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater agency signatory of Convention-cadre EEDD Occitanie, supporting water-related environmental education projects in the Adour-Garonne basin.
• Office français de la biodiversité (OFB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench biodiversity office, signatory of Convention-cadre EEDD Occitanie, providing expertise on biodiversity protection and education.
• Préfecture de la région OccitaniecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional prefectural authority, signatory of Convention-cadre EEDD Occitanie, providing institutional support for regional coordination.
• CESER OccitaniecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic, social and environmental council of Occitanie. GRAINE is represented by Emilie Varraud who serves as vice-president of CESER, participating in commissions on education, training, and environmental issues.
• Comité Régional de la Biodiversité (CRB) OccitaniecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional biodiversity committee. GRAINE is represented by Jean-Paul Salasse and contributes to biodiversity strategy development and monitoring.
• Mouvement Associatif OccitanieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional associative movement federating around 70,000 associations. GRAINE adheres to this movement representing environmental education in regional associative dialogue.
• Parlement de la Mer OccitanieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSea and littoral parliament with ~209 members. GRAINE is a member, participating in commissions on maritimefilières, culture, tourism, and international relations.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Office français de la biodiversité (OFB): French public agency dedicated to biodiversity protection and education. A Convention-cadre signatory and direct institutional partner of GRAINE Occitanie, with a broader national mandate but overlapping EEDD and biodiversity education activity.
• Réseau Canopé: National network of educational resource centers under the French Ministry of Education. Operates a broader education resource platform model analogous to GRAINE's resource database, but spans all subjects rather than specializing in EEDD.
• Fondation pour la Nature et l'Homme (formerly Fondation Nicolas Hulot): Major French environmental NGO running large-scale awareness, education, and advocacy programs including school-based environmental education. Comparable mission but at a national scale with significantly larger reach and resources.

Direct peers

• GRAINE Nouvelle-Aquitaine: Regional GRAINE network serving the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region with the same EEDD coordination, training, and resource-sharing model. Directly comparable as sister regional network under the same national GRAINE federation.
• URCPIE (Union Régionale des CPIE): National federation of Centres Permanents d'Initiatives pour l'Environnement. CPIE networks are territorial sub-networks of GRAINE Occitanie, and URCPIE is a peer network governance body operating the same EEDD membership-coordination model at the national level.
• GRAINE Hauts-de-France: Regional GRAINE network for Hauts-de-France with identical mandate, governance, and operational structure for EEDD network coordination. Operates the same Convention-cadre-style relationships with regional public actors.
• FRENE (Fédération nationale des Réseaux régionaux d'Éducation à la Nature et à l'Environnement): National federation to which GRAINE Occitanie belongs. Coordinates the collective interests of regional GRAINE-type networks across France and is directly comparable as the apex-level EEDD network coordinator.
• CPIE (national federation of Centres Permanents d'Initiatives pour l'Environnement): National network of CPIE associations delivering hands-on environmental education programs. Operates a comparable member-based, regional coordination model with focus on practical EEDD and natural area management.
• GRAINE Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes: Regional GRAINE network for the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region with the same EEDD network coordination model, member-based structure, and pedagogical programs as GRAINE Occitanie. Most directly comparable peer due to identical mandate and operational structure.
• GRAINE Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur: Regional GRAINE network for the PACA region operating the same model of environmental education network coordination, member-based governance, and pedagogical programs across departments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/graine-occitanie

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about GRAINE Occitanie