Tasks

The person recruited will be responsible for developing a generic module for modelling livestock farming systems, which will be integrated into the MAELIA platform.

This module must be designed to show the structure, operation and diversity of livestock production systems. It will aim to cover a wide range of livestock production systems, from intensive indoor farming systems to extensive, mobile systems on rangelands.

Whatever the context, livestock farming can play an important role in the circularity of agri-food systems through its ability to

i) use uncultivated land, co-products and other residues for animal feed, and

ii) produce livestock manure with a high fertilising value for soils and crops.

The aim of this module will be to represent the dynamic interactions between livestock farming and

i) the production of resources from crops, grasslands, rangelands and agro-industry, and

ii) the use of livestock manure by returning it directly to the soil (during grazing) or possibly via an intermediate processing stage in biorefineries (composting, methanisation, etc.).

The generic module will be based on 4 generic sub-models (feeding, nutrition, animal performance and manure production) which will be coded in MAELIA on the basis of existing modelling work.

Finally, this livestock farming module will be designed to be integrated into stock-flow models in order to simulate the effect of livestock farming systems on the associated nitrogen and carbon cycles, GHG emissions and carbon storage. This module will complement other modules that are either already in existence or under construction in MAELIA, so as to enable modelling of the functioning, and assessment of the carbon footprint, of crop-livestock agroecosystems or agri-food systems.

We are seeking a researcher having completed their thesis in agronomy less than 3 years ago, and who can demonstrate cross-disciplinary knowledge of livestock farming systems and solid experience in integrated modelling.

The applicant must have:

- a PhD in agronomy, zootechnics, ecology, process engineering or environmental sciences (8 years post-secondary education),

- professional experience(s) in computer modelling, as far as possible on a territorial scale,

- technical knowledge of livestock farming systems,

- knowledge of the functioning of agricultural areas that integrate livestock farming, grassland and crops,

- a solid professional experience in modelling or applied statistics. Familiarity with a dynamic and spatially explicit modelling platform (e.g. GAMA, CORMAS or OCELET) is desirable,

- an analytical mind and be able to summarise and write in both French and English

The applicant must be able to:

- work as part of a team, conduct interdisciplinary research and lead groups and meetings,

- to travel in Europe and West Africa, category B driving licence required.