Geographical initiatives

This involves constructing operational bases on which the Unit’s multidisciplinary research activities will be developed, notably in liaison with CIRAD’s research and training platforms in partnership.

Objective

The aim of the Unit is to undertake shared geographical initiatives that are coherent with its scientific programming. It seeks to concentrate a greater critical mass of researchers at certain geographical locations, through assignments and support missions. These initiatives are preferentially constructed around:

  • Research and Training Platforms in Partnership  (RP) that have already received CIRAD labelling, in order to remain coherent with this overall policy of concentrating resources and improving the visibility of our operations in Southern countries.
  • Partnership agreements with national agricultural research structures (NARS) and public or private development actors.

In general, research activities developed through these geographical locations are structured to enable Aïda research unit to feed its discussions and be more effective in terms of sustainable intensification of production, in geographical areas where the benefits of ecological intensification of annual crops are most expected and where it is sometimes the most difficult to implement them.
The geographical distribution of Aida Unit staff can be consulted on the Staff and Publications page (see "Location" column).
The geographical distribution of Aida Unit projects can be consulted on the Research projects and expertise page (see "Search for a project / by location").

Carte Aïda hors métropole

Number of employees (permanent and fixed-term contracts) in the Aïda unit by geographical area (outside metropolitan France, January 2021)

Research and Training Platforms in Partnership (RPs)

Aïda research unit is involved in several RPs through assignments and/or support missions.

Development of production systems in high-altitude tropical areas

In  Highland production systems and sustainability in Madagascar  (SPAD) research and training platform in partnership, and which we are seeking to reproduce due to its excellent results and the experience it has provided.

Sustainability of cotton and cereal systems in the Sudan-Sahel zones

Associated with  Agro-silvo-pastoral systems in West Africa  (ASAP) research and training platform in partnership in Burkina Faso and with the Unit’s activities in other countries in this area.

Integrated pest management in sub-Saharan Africa (rice, other cereals and cotton)

In  Design of agroecological systems based on pest management and organic waste use  (DIVECOSYS) research and training platform in partnership, in Benin and Senegal.

Assessment of impacts and ecosystem services, environmental services and energy production in the Indian Ocean

In liaison with Services and Impacts of Agricultural Activities in the Tropics  (Siaam) research facility in Reunion Island and the Indian Ocean.

Agroecological transition in South-East Asia

Through Agroecology in Southeast Asia (ASEA)  research and training platform in partnership in various Southeast Asian countries

Varietal improvement for the diversity and complexity of agrosystems in sub-Saharan Africa

Innovation and plant breeding in West Africa (Iavao)   

Support the development and implementation of new public policies in Southern Africa

Public policy and governance in southern Africa (GovInn)

Build with local actors environmentally friendly production alternatives

Forests, agriculture and territories in the Amazon (Amazonia)

Partnership agreements

In Cameroon's cotton zone: with Société de développement du coton du Cameroun (Sodécoton) and  Institut national de recherche agricole pour le développement  (Irad)

In Senegal's cotton zone: with  Société de développement des fibres textiles  (Sodéfitex) and  Institut sénégalais de recherches agricoles  (Isra)

In Benin's cotton zone: with  Institut national de recherche agricole du Bénin   (INRAB) and Institut de recherche sur le coton (IRC)