Plant Management and Experimentation (MEV)

The vast majority of plant-based foods are produced through intensive agriculture. This form of agriculture was introduced in France after World War II. It perfectly met the socioeconomic demands of the time by enabling the production of food in large quantities and at low cost.  The development of intensive agriculture was made possible only through fundamental research in various fields such as plant biology and physiology, genetics, and agronomy. Currently, it is widely accepted that advances in crop yields are due half to agronomy and half to genetics. This historical experience suggests that a multidisciplinary approach, supported by extensive scientific research, is necessary to develop a new form of agriculture.

Intensive agriculture is not without its drawbacks. It relies on the massive use of inputs (fertilizers and pesticides), which is a source of environmental pollution and causes health problems. It therefore seems important to make fundamental changes to agricultural practices in order to limit the use of inputs and transition to a model of sustainable agriculture.  This shift in agricultural practices began about twenty years ago but has been accelerated by the ECOPHYTO plan, which aims to reduce the use of pesticides by 50% by 2018. This agricultural reform must also take place amid the added challenge of climate change.  To successfully develop more environmentally friendly agriculturein the context of climate change, multidisciplinary approaches are needed that combine genetics (development of varieties that make better use of nitrogen and water, are resistant to existing diseases, etc.),agronomy/physiology/ecology (adapting crop rotation systems, introducing microorganisms, Natural Defense Stimulators, etc.), and plant pathology (development of biocontrol, etc.). Plant research, which drives changes in agricultural practices, therefore requires professionals capable of designing, implementing, and evaluating projects.          

 While the challenges of developing sustainable agriculture are important for developed countries, they are crucial for many countries in the Global South that cannot afford fertilizers or pesticides anyway. CIRAD and IRD have established partnerships with research centers in the Global South. Seed companies and agricultural producers (e.g., sugar, etc.) in the Global South require high-quality senior executives.

This master’s program is designed to be completed on a work-study basis. A number of students will have the opportunity to earn a dual master’s degree: an MEV (offered by the Faculty of Sciences) and a master’s in management (offered by the IAE).

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