Ph.D. thesis proposal: Conception of innovative breeding systems for sustainable goat production in the Mediterranean region

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INRAE presentation

The French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE) is a major player in research and innovation. It is a community of 12,000 people with 272 research, experimental research, and support units located in 18 regional centres throughout France. Internationally, INRAE is among the top research organisations in the agricultural and food sciences, plant and animal sciences, as well as in ecology and environmental science. It is the world’s leading research organisation specialising in agriculture, food and the environment. INRAE’s goal is to be a key player in the transitions necessary to address major global challenges. Faced with a growing world population, climate change, resource scarcity, and declining biodiversity, the Institute has a major role to play in building solutions and supporting the necessary acceleration of agricultural, food and environmental transitions.

Work environment, missions and activities

You will work in the Herbivores joint research unit (UMR Herbivores). This unit conducts research for a multi-performing herbivore breeding, mobilizing the levers of agroecology. This involves research to better understand animal functions and the impacts of breeding practices on the animal and the environment. The UMR Herbivores has 120 permanent staff, including 74 researchers and engineers, and welcomes about 60 non-permanent staff each year (including about 20 PhD students and post-doctoral positions). It is organized into 5 research teams, a support team and a management team.

You will work in the COMETE team (Design, Modeling, and Evaluation of Livestock Systems). The COMETE team carries out work to design herbivore-farming systems that reconcile economic and environmental performances, by valuing fodder and other resources that do not compete with human food. The PhD student will be supervised by Jean-Joseph Minviel (co-supervisor) from UMR Herbivores, and M’hand Fares (Supervisor, HDR) from UMR SELMET (Joint Research Unit on Mediterranean and Tropical Livestock Systems).

The proposed doctoral thesis aims to examine strategies for sustainable goat production in the Mediterranean region. In terms of livestock systems, the aim will be to produce more animal products using as many local resources as possible, in order to minimize the environmental impact of these systems and facilitate their adaptation to climate change. In terms of supply chains, the main aim is to develop innovative breeding practices supported by “niche value-chain” to ensure better price and market access for pastoral products.

You will be in charge of:

• A systematic literature review on the socio-economic and ecological benefits of goat farming and on the strategies/practices used in past and current projects on adapting goat farming to climate change;
• Development of a simulation model for goat farms;
• Training for interviewers and collecting data from breeders and consumers;
• Data storage, processing, and analysis (statistics, econometrics, and operations research);
• Synthesizing, reporting, promoting, and scientific dissemination of results.

Training and skills

Recommended training: Bac + 5 (Master 2 or equivalent degree) in agricultural economics, or zootechnics with skills in economics.

Knowledge required: Excellent knowledge of livestock farming systems and production and environmental economics;

Appreciated experience: Quantitative analyses (statistics, econometrics, and operational research); proficiency in Stata, R, and/or GAMS software;

Skills sought: Interest for field approaches, writing and synthesis skills, organizational skills, autonomy, and flexibility, good level of written and spoken English.

INRAE's life quality

By joining our teams, you benefit from (depending on the type of contract and its duration):

- up to 30 days of annual leave + 15 days "Reduction of Working Time" (for a full time);
- parenting support: CESU childcare, leisure services;
- skills development systems: training, career advise;
- social support: advice and listening, social assistance and loans;
- holiday and leisure services: holiday vouchers, accommodation at preferential rates;
- sports and cultural activities;
- collective catering.

 

The site is served by two shuttle buses for INRAE staff, which link the site to the Clermont-Ferrand agglomeration in the morning and evening, and by a transport-on-demand service. It also has parking facilities and services for cyclists.

How to apply

I send my CV and my motivation letter