The development of organic farming and other quality food chains (geographical indications, fair trade, etc.) in countries in the southern hemisphere is a result of an expanding export market, growing environmental concerns and strong support from certain southern states. However, this development is taking place against a backdrop of considerable uncertainty, linked to the effects of climate change and the instability of outlets and production costs. This puts many farms in difficulty, particularly family farms, which may find themselves falling behind the large, capitalised farms.

These difficulties can be overcome by institutional innovations at sector level, such as vertical integration, the intermediation of powerful commercial operators, fair trade-inspired approaches and traceability and guarantee systems. These different marketing conditions profoundly affect the type of agro-ecological transition carried out, as well as the sharing of effort, added value and risk.

For CIRAD, the challenge is to gain a better understanding of the processes involved in structuring global value chains for organic products and other quality chains. For UMR Innovation, it is also about expanding its perspective on approaches to building quality in the southern hemisphere, which until now have been seen solely in terms of collective territorial action. The aim is also to carry out comparative analyses in a variety of contexts and between different forms of labelling.

To meet these needs, UMR Innovation is recruiting a researcher capable of analysing the processes involved in structuring global value chains and building quality chains. Working with the other researchers in the Equaliter team, you will contribute on two research fronts. The first will aim to analyse the ways in which the chains are governed and to identify and support innovative ways of ensuring the sustainability and inclusion of family farms. The second will aim to gain a better understanding of the interactions between global value chains and the local dynamics driving the agro-ecological transition.

You will be responsible for contributing to various fields of research, such as studies on power relations and modes of coordination in global value chains, market sociology work concerning the organisation of innovative markets, research on the modalities and effects of integration of family farms in globalised markets, etc.

Overseas posting planned in the medium term: French overseas regions or abroad, particularly in South-East Asia.

You have a PhD in economics, management sciences or sociology, with the ability to analyse the processes involved in structuring global value chains and the processes involved in building differentiated quality (collective territorial action, certification, etc.).

You know how to design and conduct qualitative research based on field surveys.

You see yourself conducting research in partnership with the stakeholders involved in the processes studied.

You have demonstrated your ability to publish your research in national and international academic journals.

You have knowledge of the challenges of climate change and the agro-ecological transition of agri-food systems. A good knowledge of organic farming, geographical indications and fair trade would be a plus.

You will be part of a team that offers certification training in an international context. An interest in the development of these training courses and skills in teaching and e-learning will be appreciated.

CIRAD is a French public-sector agricultural research organisation that supports international cooperation for countries in the southern hemisphere. You will be interacting and collaborating with researchers in agronomy and life sciences within CIRAD and its partner institutions. Experience and a keen interest in interdisciplinary research and/or research in an intercultural context will therefore be welcome. The ability to work in French and English is imperative. Fluency in Spanish or a third language is desirable.

This position is open to candidates who are at an advanced stage in their career, with around ten years’ experience and an authorisation to supervise research (HDR) obtained or close to being obtained, who will be able to pass on their scientific contributions and rapidly take on leadership responsibilities in the Equaliter team. It is also open to young researchers with a solid academic record.

Overseas posting planned in the medium term: French overseas regions or abroad, particularly in South-East Asia.

Please include in your CV references from previous managers we can contact regarding previously held positions.