Ph.D position on environmental and economic performance of organic poultry farming systems

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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 join the GENUTS Team (Genetics, Nutrition, Systems), one of the four teams of the BOA Joint Research Unit (Avian Biology & Poultry Research) located at the Nouzilly site, under the supervision of Dr B. Méda and Dr S. Mignon. The unit conducts research on the biology of farmed birds, from the molecular level to the animal within its environment. Its mission is to generate knowledge in the fields of physiology and genetics and to contribute to the agroecological transition of livestock systems (environmental sustainability, animal welfare, and product quality). The GENUTS team, currently composed of 17 members, focuses on genetic and nutritional levers to improve poultry production systems.

You will be involved in modelling different aspects of the sustainability of poultry farming systems in the context of the agroecological transition of agriculture. The doctoral project for which you will be responsible is entitled “Environmental and economic performance of organic poultry systems using dual-purpose strains: in silico design and evaluation of genetic scenarios”.
Indeed, the egg sector faces ethical challenges related to the culling of day-old male chicks. “Dual-purpose” strains, producing both eggs (females) and meat (males), represent an interesting alternative in organic production systems, particularly as these systems are more extensive and place less pressure on animal performance.
This doctoral project aims to evaluate the environmental and economic performance of these strains in organic poultry production and to identify potential areas for improvement through genetic approaches (selection or use of existing genetic diversity).

To achieve this objective, you will use a range of in silico approaches, including dynamic models and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approaches, to simulate and evaluate genetic scenarios. You will be responsible for: (i) consolidating and adapting methodological frameworks integrating LCA and economic analysis for dual-purpose strains in organic farming, (ii) comparing the economic and environmental performance of these systems with those based on specialised strains, (iii) analysing the sensitivity of modelled performance to zootechnical parameters to identify trade-offs between egg and meat production, and (iv) evaluating the effectiveness of new genetic strategies (selection, use of genetic diversity) using the previously described tools.

The results will help identify realistic trade-offs between environmental and economic performance while addressing ethical challenges.

You will be specifically responsible for:
-    conducting Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and economic analyses
-    simulating genetic scenarios to improve environmental and economic performance
-    disseminating the scientific results of the thesis (articles, conference presentations)
 

Possibility of remote work (maximum of 2 days/week, with a limit of 100 days/year)

Training and skills

Required training : Engineer degree or MSc in Animal Sciences
Required knowledge : Modelling and/or data analysis (R and/or Python language), Systemic/Multicriteria approaches
Desirable experience : prior internship in the field would be an asset
Required skills : Autonomy, organisational skills, rigour, team work, adaptation, understanding of scientific English
Language : French is not required but would be an advantage.

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.

How to apply

I send my CV and my motivation letter