Do you share the values of interculturality, knowledge-sharing and environmental protection? Then come and join the UMR ABSys (Biodiversified Agrosystems) joint research unit!

Join a team working on the sustainability of perennial based cropping systems in tropical and Mediterranean regions, through ecological intensification and the introduction and management of biodiversity.

Soil sustainability is a major issue in West Africa, where many of the current management practices used on family cocoa plantations lead to significant losses in soil fertility, which is detrimental both to cocoa production and the cacao tree’s renewal capacity. In this context, managing plant biomass from cacao trees and associated plants is central to halting the loss of organic matter from the soil, such as for example recycling litter and pruning or thinning residues from associated trees, using service plants and managing spontaneous vegetation.
You will assess the effect of biomass management practices in cacao-based agroforestry plantations on soil fertility and health. This assessment will look into the recycling of mineral matter resulting from the decomposition of biomass, setting it against the needs of the stands themselves, the biological activity of the soil, and the performance of the main crop (growth and cocoa yield in particular). You will explore how these management practices complement mineral fertilisation (NPK, Mg and Ca). You will also study these practices from a socio-economic point of view through cost/benefit relationships, to assess the trade-offs between agronomic performance, labour requirements and cost for farmers, and competition with other uses of biomass (energy in particular).

You will spend 6 to 12 months in Montpellier to familiarise yourself with the UMR ABSYS, acquire or consolidate your knowledge of the functioning of cacao-based agroforestry systems and acquire the concepts and tools needed to study these systems. During this period, you will also prepare for your relocation to Côte d’Ivoire, where you will carry out most of the fieldwork required to answer your research questions. Two types of fieldwork activity are envisaged:

• Diagnosis of a network of farmers’ plots employing a wide variety of biomass management practices, in order to characterise these practices and establish links with soil fertility and cacao production performance;

• Design and implementation of experiments to generate knowledge that will help transform farming practices.

The ultimate aim is to propose technical management itineraries for sustainable cacao-growing systems that preserve soil fertility and soil health

Following an induction period of 6 to 12 months at our Montpellier site, you will be posted to either Abidjan or Yamoussoukro (Côte d’Ivoire)

Minimum initial education: doctorate in agronomy including the study of soil science

Professional experience:

• Knowledge of cacao systems would be a highly significant asset

• Experience of working in a tropical environment is highly desirable

• No experience is required in addition to doctorate

Knowledge and skills required:

• Solid skills in conducting field experiments in real-world conditions (agrosystems or ecosystems)

• Proficiency in applying statistical analysis methods to agronomy;

• Good scientific writing skills in English.

Desirable knowledge and skills:
• Knowledge of perennials based systems agronomy and an interest in systems approaches

People skills:

• An interest in and motivation for working abroad and in a tropical environment, particularly in Africa;

• A liking for interacting with small producers;

• An ability to interact with researchers from other disciplines (forestry, eco-physiology, agro-economics).

Benefits: You will receive a 13th month’s salary, as well as specific relocation allowances (additional salary and allowance to cover accommodation and children’s school fees) once you have moved abroad; these allowances depend on the country of relocation and your family circumstances. You’ll also have comprehensive social insurance cover for both you and your family, regardless of your location.

Please include in your CV the names of referees we can contact regarding previously held positions