Management and Plant Experimentation (MEV)

The vast majority of plant-based foodstuffs are obtained through intensive agriculture. This form of agriculture was introduced in France after the Second World War. It responded perfectly to the social and economic demands of the time, producing food in large quantities at low cost. The development of intensive agriculture was only possible thanks to fundamental research studies in fields as varied as plant biology and physiology, genetics and agronomy. Today, it is widely accepted that progress in crop yields is half due to agronomy and half due to genetics. This past experience suggests that a multi-disciplinary approach, underpinned by strong scientific research, is needed to develop a type of agriculture.

Intensive agriculture is not all good news. It relies on the massive use of inputs (fertilizers and phytosanitary products), which is a source of environmental pollution and health problems. It therefore seems important to radically change farming practices in order to limit the use of inputs and move towards a model of integrated agriculture. This shift in agricultural practices has been underway for some twenty years, but it is being accelerated by the ECOPHYTO plan, which aims to reduce the use of phytosanitary products by 50% by 2018. This reform of agriculture must also be carried out under the pressure of an additional difficulty: climate change. To develop more environmentally-friendly agriculture in a context of climate change, multidisciplinary approaches are needed, combining genetics (development of varieties that make better use of nitrogen and water, resistant to existing diseases, etc.),agronomy/physiology/ecology (adapting cropping itineraries, introducing micro-organisms, Natural Defense Stimulators, etc.) and plant pathology (development of Bio-Control, etc.). Plant experimentation, the driving force behind changes in agricultural practices, therefore requires managers capable of drafting, carrying out and evaluating projects.          

 While the stakes involved in developing sustainable agriculture are high for developed countries, they are crucial for many countries in the South, which cannot afford fertilizers or plant protection products in any case. CIRAD and IRD have developed partnerships with research centers in developing countries. Seed and production companies (e.g. sugar, etc.) in the South need top-quality executives.

This master's program has been designed to be followed on a sandwich basis. A number of students will be able to take a double master's degree: MEV (supported by the Faculty of Science) and management (supported by the IAE).

For more information on this course and its content, visit https://bioagro.edu.umontpellier.fr/biologie-des-plantes/management-de-lexperimentation-vegetale/