CopSyS
Referent(s)
Email of the referent(s)
Contact by mail
Missions and objectives
A worldwide Community of Practice on System Science applied to Agriculture, Food, Land and Water.
State of progress
In progress
Group's Members
Fadi is an associate editor in the Egyptian Journal of Agricultural Sciences and a reviewer for several international journals like Waste Management, Energy Economics, Agricultural Economics, Water Resources Management, International Review of Economics and Finance, Energy Sources, Part B Economics, Planning, and Policy, International Journal of Applied Management Theory and Research, Plos one, Plos one - Climate.
- investment options opportunities
- existing farming practices
- outreach to local partners
- participate in events
- join research projects
Trained as a tropical agronomist in France, he specialized as a livestock scientist and started his career with a focus on the interface between people (mainly farmers) and wildlife in Zimbabwe (and neighbouring countries). He then carried his PhD on plant production systems at the University of Wageningen (The Netherlands).
He has been involved in a number of research projects in Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe. He has more than 23 years of experience developing solutions with and for smallholders in sub-Saharan Africa.
In 2000 he started his PhD study on Cropping System sustainability by using bio-economic approach associated to GIS system in Northern Tunisia. In 2004 he received his PhD.
Since 2003, he has been appointed at IAM-Montpellier institute as a lecturer and researcher in Agricultural Production Systems. His main expertise and interest is the development of operational methods for the assessment, exploration and design of agricultural production systems, both at field and farm levels. He is presently coordinating research network that aims at the development of a system for agro-economic and environmental modeling.He ran several national and international research projects, and supervises several Master and PhDs projects mainly on farming resilience analysis under climate change and market uncertainty topics.
She teaches Applied Microeconomics, Agricultural Policy and Rural Development, and Bioeconomy at UPM. She has also been an invited lecturer in France (CIHEAM Montpellier), Italy (CIHEAM Bari), Germany (Humboldt University), the UK (University of Leeds), the USA (UCLA), Colombia (Universidad de Santander), and the Dominican Republic (Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo).
Her research has been conducted across Europe, North Africa, and Latin America. She has led competitive research projects funded by the EU and the Spanish government, and collaborated with international organizations such as FAO and CEPAL, addressing issues related to water management, climate change, ecosystem conservation, and food security.
She serves as Associate Editor for Irrigation Science and the Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, and as an expert evaluator for research and innovation programs including the EU Framework Programme, the Austrian Science Fund, the Polish National Science Centre, and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation.
Active involvement in research networks and collaboration with the European Engineering Learning Innovation and Science Alliance (EELISA), led by UPM, aimed at advancing a common model for European engineering education.
Publications and practical tools for systems analysis with real-world applications.
• Collaborative efforts on mainstreaming system science for addressing the wicked challenges of smallholder agri-food systems
In parallel, I am a member of the scientific committee and responsible for the organization of the Autumn School "Socio-Economic Strategies for Sustainable Development in Rural Africa." This event, jointly organized by the Graduate School of Economics & Management at the University of Paris-Saclay (along with its research units UMI-SOURCE and UMR PSAE) and Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (including its College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences and its Social Innovation Institute) with the support of « Agence Universitaire de la Francophone (AUF) » et OCP Foundation, will take place from October 27 to 31, 2025, at the Benguerir campus in Morocco. This Autumn School is a hands-on school, there will be an immersive work on real african case studies, fostering an interdisciplinary platform of exchange between researchers, PhD students, and professionals to stimulate innovation and strengthen the resilience of rural African territories.
I hold a Master’s degree in Geopolitics and Geo-economics of Emerging Africa, jointly awarded in 2023 by HEC Paris and Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P). My master’s thesis explored the impact of agricultural training programs on women’s empowerment in West Africa, through a case study of an initiative launched by OCP Africa in Senegal to train women in agricultural processing and marketing. The program was evaluated using the Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index for Market Inclusion (Pro-WEAI+MI), developed by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI).
Between 1997 and 2018, I held several senior editorial positions in the media sector in Morocco and France, most notably as Head of the Maghreb–Middle East section at Jeune Afrique magazine. In 2019, I published the novel "Une plume dans la plaie", which explores the challenges faced by a Moroccan newspaper under state censorship.
From 2020 to 2025, I served as Editorial Director of the think tank L’Afrique des Idées, which produces analyses and policy recommendations on major economic, political, and cultural issues affecting the African continent.
In addition, as a member of the scientific committee of the Automn PHD School "Socio-Economic Strategies for Sustainable Development in Rural Africa.", I can bring a transdiciplinary knowledge based on real case studies in Africa, especially in contexts marked by socio-environmental complexity. I also bring strong communication skills, honed through a long career in journalism and authorship, which allow me to effectively translate scientific insights into accessible narratives for decision-makers and local communities.
My experience: Innovation systems & processes, multi-stakeholder collaboration, participatory monitoring and evaluation, impact evaluation, farmer innovation, participatory action research, facilitation of multi-stakeholder events and processes, agroecology and conservation agriculture, sustainable rural development, systemic diagnosis at the plot/farm/region/innovation system scales, capacity building for students, R&D professionals, farmers and local stakeholders. Mexico, Latin America, Africa
He was a visiting professor at the Center of Applied Optimization, University of Florida, USA. He is affiliated with IAMM CIHEAM institute of Montpellier, France, teaching consumer behavior for agricultural products and food at the MSc program MIDAS.
abdelradi fadi
Professionnal title : Professor
Main affiliation : Faculty of Agriculture – Cairo University.
3 gamma st 12613 giza +201022661239
Fadi is Associate Professor of agricultural economics at the Faculty of Agriculture – Cairo University.
Presentation
Dr Fadi Abdelradi research focus lies within the field of agricultural value chain analysis, with a special emphasis on price volatility transmission across markets and production efficiency. Recently, Fadi completed two projects: (1) a two-year project called “Improving the fresh produce supply chain network in Egypt” financed by the American University in Cairo (AUC); , (2) a four-year project, financed by PRIMA called "Sustainable Innovation and Governance in the Mediterranean Area for the Water-Ecosystem-Food Nexus". Presently, Dr Fadi Abdelradi is working with a new four-year project, financed by PRIMA called “Operational Adaptation Nexus-Based Systems Solutions in Mediterranean”.Fadi is an associate editor in the Egyptian Journal of Agricultural Sciences and a reviewer for several international journals like Waste Management, Energy Economics, Agricultural Economics, Water Resources Management, International Review of Economics and Finance, Energy Sources, Part B Economics, Planning, and Policy, International Journal of Applied Management Theory and Research, Plos one, Plos one - Climate.
What I can bring to this network ?
Bring experience about farming systems in Egypt- investment options opportunities
- existing farming practices
- outreach to local partners
What I seek in this network ?
- expand my network- participate in events
- join research projects
Group's Member :
Abebe Bezaiet Dessalegn
Professionnal title : Other
Researcher and Development Practitioner
Main affiliation : International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)
2 Port Said, Victoria Sq, Ismail El-Shaaer Buildin 11742 Cairo 01066318487Presentation
a Social Scientist with a solid academic background in International Development, International Relations and Public Policy; supported with over 20 years of work experience in a wide range of issues including - sustainable agricultural diversification and intensification, technology adaptation and large-scale adoption, water and land management including reuse of marginal water resources, climate change and resilience of livelihood systems, food security, community engagement and gender inclusion. She currently works with the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) and is based in Cairo, Egypt. Her work primarily focuses on linking agricultural research to development where she directly engages with farmers and national and international partners to promote the adoption and large-scale use of proven agricultural technologies and innovative practices. Her current and past projects at ICARDA span over several countries including Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, West Bank, Tunisia, Syria, Yemen, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Burkina Faso.What I can bring to this network ?
My experience in implementing system-oriented projects on the ground.What I seek in this network ?
Opportunities to learn from others' experiences and to design system-based solutions/models that can be scientifically documented and replicated (after being contextualized).Group's Member :
ASSOGBA S. Claude-Gervais
Professionnal title : Professor
Main affiliation : Laboratoire de Recherche sur l'Innovation pour le Développement Agricole / Faculty of Agronomy / University de Parakou
BP1669 000 229 Parakou 0161104886
Claude-Gervais ASSOGBA has a background in Agronomics, sociologiy and communication with more than 20 years of experiences devoted to rural development and sustainable farming systems promoting.
Presentation
Claude-Gervais ASSOGBA is an Associate Professor in Agro-Socio-Anthropology. He is a lecturer at the Department of Rural Economics and Sociology at the Faculty of Agronomy, University of Parakou in Republic of Benin, West Africa. He obtained his PhD in Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology at the University of Liege in Belgium in 2014. He heads the Research Unit "Sustainable Production Systems" of the Laboratory Research on Innovation for Agricultural Development (LRIDA) at the University of Parakou. He is the Scientific Secretary of the doctorate training on Sociology of Natural Resources at the Doctorate School of Agricultural and Water Sciences (EDSAE). His researches focus on knowledge and innovations process management, adoption of sustainable agricultural practices (agroecology and organic agriculture). He has an expertise in strategic plan conception, facilitation of innovation platform process and is actively involved in many initiatives promoting agroecology and organic agriculture in Benin and Africa.What I can bring to this network ?
My experiences and expertises in multidisciplinary reaserches conception and implementationWhat I seek in this network ?
Develop partnerships and collaborations for the design and implementation of joint projects relating to sustainable production systems, food systems and climate changeGroup's Member :
Baudron Frédéric
Professionnal title : Doctor
Main affiliation : CIRAD
TA B 115/02 - Avenue Agropolis - Montpellier cedex +33 (0) 4 67 61 71 67
Frédéric Baudron is a Senior Scientist with over 23 years of experience in systems agronomy in sub-Saharan Africa.
Presentation
Frédéric Baudron is a Senior Scientist working for the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (Cirad), based in Montpellier, France. Prior to this, he was a Principal Scientist working for the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) based first in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (from 2011 to 2016) and later in Harare, Zimbabwe (from 2016 to 2023).Trained as a tropical agronomist in France, he specialized as a livestock scientist and started his career with a focus on the interface between people (mainly farmers) and wildlife in Zimbabwe (and neighbouring countries). He then carried his PhD on plant production systems at the University of Wageningen (The Netherlands).
He has been involved in a number of research projects in Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe. He has more than 23 years of experience developing solutions with and for smallholders in sub-Saharan Africa.
What I can bring to this network ?
Expertise, network of projectsWhat I seek in this network ?
Collaboration, discussions around methods, new partnershipGroup's Member :
Bebeley Jenneh Fatima
Professionnal title : Doctor
Main affiliation : Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and Technology, Magburaka, Southern Province, Sierra Leone.
Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and Techno Makeni +232 75836933
A Crop and Cropping Systems Agronomist and a mentor and advocate for girls in STEM.
Presentation
I have extensive experience spanning over 10 years in agronomy, crop science, and farmer participatory evaluation of improved crop production technologies.What I can bring to this network ?
To share knowledge and results obtained in crop modelling research in West Africa and contribute to the system science in agriculture for sustainable resource use, climate adaptation, and food security.What I seek in this network ?
To collaborate and network with other researchers to ensure that system science in agriculture and education is integrated into our university systems in Sierra Leone.Group's Member :
Belhouchette Hatem
Professionnal title : Professor
Researcher
Main affiliation : CIHEAM Montpellier
3191 route de Mende 34090 Montpellier 0619282623
multiscale modeller of farming systems in an uncertain context
Presentation
Hatem Belhouchette started his study Crop Production System at the National Institute of Agronomy-Tunisia in 1991. In 1995 Hatem graduated with a major in Crop production System and minors in Farm Economics. From 1996 to 1999 he realized, on irrigation cropping system in Mediterranean regions, a Master of Science in IAM-Bari.In 2000 he started his PhD study on Cropping System sustainability by using bio-economic approach associated to GIS system in Northern Tunisia. In 2004 he received his PhD.
Since 2003, he has been appointed at IAM-Montpellier institute as a lecturer and researcher in Agricultural Production Systems. His main expertise and interest is the development of operational methods for the assessment, exploration and design of agricultural production systems, both at field and farm levels. He is presently coordinating research network that aims at the development of a system for agro-economic and environmental modeling.He ran several national and international research projects, and supervises several Master and PhDs projects mainly on farming resilience analysis under climate change and market uncertainty topics.
What I can bring to this network ?
Methods and assumptions for working at the interface between different disciplines to design resilient agricultural systems.What I seek in this network ?
understand and learn how to better work at the interface between different disciplines to design performant systems.Group's Member :
Blanco-Gutiérrez Irene
Professionnal title : Professor
PhD
Scientific fields : Agricultural Systems bioeconomy climate change policy water management
Main affiliation : Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Av. Puerta de Hierro, nº 2 - 4 28040 Madrid +34 91 067 09 14
Professor and researcher exploring sustainability and circular bioeconomy challenges in water and agriculture
Presentation
Irene Blanco Gutiérrez is an Associate Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) and a researcher at the Research Centre for the Management of Agricultural and Environmental Risks (CEIGRAM), Spain. She holds a PhD in Agricultural Engineering (UPM), with research stays at UC Davis, and MSc degrees in Agrifood Economics (University of Montpellier 1) and Agrifood Policies (CIHEAM Montpellier).She teaches Applied Microeconomics, Agricultural Policy and Rural Development, and Bioeconomy at UPM. She has also been an invited lecturer in France (CIHEAM Montpellier), Italy (CIHEAM Bari), Germany (Humboldt University), the UK (University of Leeds), the USA (UCLA), Colombia (Universidad de Santander), and the Dominican Republic (Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo).
Her research has been conducted across Europe, North Africa, and Latin America. She has led competitive research projects funded by the EU and the Spanish government, and collaborated with international organizations such as FAO and CEPAL, addressing issues related to water management, climate change, ecosystem conservation, and food security.
She serves as Associate Editor for Irrigation Science and the Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, and as an expert evaluator for research and innovation programs including the EU Framework Programme, the Austrian Science Fund, the Polish National Science Centre, and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation.
What I can bring to this network ?
Research and teaching experience in systems science applied to water and agriculture.Active involvement in research networks and collaboration with the European Engineering Learning Innovation and Science Alliance (EELISA), led by UPM, aimed at advancing a common model for European engineering education.
Publications and practical tools for systems analysis with real-world applications.
What I seek in this network ?
I seek opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, knowledge exchange, and joint research at both global and regional levels. I am particularly interested in learning from others’ policy-relevant experiences in tackling complex sustainability challenges, and in exploring how to translate these insights into education, through innovative training programs and academic partnerships that empower future decision-makers.Group's Member :
Chimonyo Vimbayi Grace Petrova
Professionnal title : Other
Main affiliation : CIMMYT
Secondary affiliation : University of KwaZulu Natal
I am a Scientist with CIMMYT working in diverse agricultural systems implementing agroecology, and participatory action research
Presentation
My expertise are in integrating practices to foster food and nutrition security while addressing climate change and rural development challenges. I actively engage in participatory action research methodologies to empower smallholder farmers and promote sustainable agricultural practices. I utilize various tools, including crop simulation modeling, alongside community-driven approaches to adapt to climate variability and enhance food security outcomes. My work looks at the intricate relationships within the Climate-Food-People-Environment within agricultural landscapes. Committed to transformative strategies, I advocate for inclusive food security initiatives that prioritize equity and resilience in agricultural systems.What I can bring to this network ?
Human-centred approach to systems scienceGroup's Member :
Descheemaeker Katrien
Professionnal title : Professor
Scientific fields : Crop Modeling Agricultural Systems Agronomy
Main affiliation : Wageningen University and Research
I am passionate about systems science to address urgent global challenges like climate change and biodiversity loss.
Presentation
Katrien Descheemaeker is Professor Plant Production Systems in the Plant Science Group of Wageningen University (Netherlands). Katrien's research focuses on farming systems analysis, soil-plant-animal interactions, sustainable development and resource use efficiency, with a special interest in the functioning and dynamics of mixed crop-livestock systems. Current activities combine experimental trial work with simulation modelling to identify and assess options for sustainable intensification and climate-smart agriculture. Across various projects on smallholder farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa, Dr. Descheemaeker designs participatory and co-learning approaches that aim to co-design tailored agricultural technologies and practices to improve farm productivity, food security, resilience to shocks, and natural resource integrity.What I can bring to this network ?
Experience with research and education in systems analysis of agricultural systems. Educational material; tools and methods for systems analysisGroup's Member :
Devkota Wasti Mina
Professionnal title : Doctor
Scientific fields : Agricultural Systems Agronomy
Main affiliation : International Center for Agriculture Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)
20 Rue Jabal Oukaimeden, Agdal, Rabat +212 Agdal 0662147864
I am cropping System Agronomist.
What I can bring to this network ?
I can share regional experience on cropping systems, particularly from South Asia, Central Asia, and the MENA region. These regions encompass a wide range of agro-ecological zones, farming practices, and socio-economic contexts, which provide valuable insights into the design and adaptation of cropping systems.What I seek in this network ?
I seek to be an active and engaged member of the Cropping Systems Network, contributing to community of practice. I aim to both share insights from my regional and field experience and learn from the diverse perspectives and innovations of other members. I am particularly interested in supporting the advancement of integrated systems science—bringing together agronomy, ecology, socioeconomics, and policy—to inform and strengthen key research and development agendas. By working collaboratively, I hope to contribute to the co-creation of knowledge and solutions that address the complex challenges facing cropping systems across different agro-ecological and socio-economic contexts."Group's Member :
El Graoui Marwa
Professionnal title : PhD candidate
Main affiliation : Mohammed VI Polytechnic University
Presentation
Last year PhD student at the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at UM6P - Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, and upcoming Post-doctoral researcher at Cornell University - Atkinson center.What I can bring to this network ?
Passion and engagement - geospatial methods development - experience in biodiversity and genetic resources conservation.What I seek in this network ?
Multidisciplinary frameworks - learning more about systems dynamics and their design - expanding my network.Group's Member :
Feleke Hirut Getachew
Assistant Professor
Scientific fields : Crop Modeling and Climate Change Impacts on Food Systems Agrometeorology
Main affiliation : Ambo University, Ambo Ethiopia
Secondary affiliation : Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia
As an agronomist, agrometeorologist, and crop modeller, I am committed to advancing interdisciplinary research on the impacts of climate change on food security, contributing to sustainable agricultural practices and resilient agri-food systems.
Presentation
I am an agronomist, agrometeorologist, and crop modeller with a focus on the impacts of climate change on food security. Currently, I am working as a postdoctoral researcher, exploring how climate shifts affect agricultural systems and food availability. I am passionate about using interdisciplinary approaches to tackle complex challenges in agriculture and working towards sustainable solutions. I look forward to engaging with the community of practice at this workshop, where we can collaborate, share knowledge, and develop innovative strategies for resilient, sustainable agri-food futures.What I can bring to this network ?
Given my background as an agronomist, agrometeorologist, and crop modeller, I bring a strong understanding of how climate change impacts agricultural systems and food security. My interdisciplinary approach allows me to bridge the gap between science, policy, and practical solutions. I am eager to contribute my research and insights into sustainable agricultural practices, while also learning from and collaborating with others in this network. Together, we can work towards creating resilient and sustainable agri-food systems, especially in regions facing climate-related challenges.What I seek in this network ?
In this network, I seek to expand my understanding of global and regional challenges in agriculture, land, and water systems, particularly in the context of climate change. I am eager to collaborate with fellow experts from diverse disciplines to develop innovative, sustainable solutions for food security. Additionally, I hope to engage in capacity-building efforts and exchange knowledge that can be applied in both research and practical settings, especially in Africa and Mediterranean regions where these challenges are most pressing.Group's Member :
Frija Aymen
Main affiliation : ICARDA
At INRAT, Av. Hedi Karray Ariana, Tunisia TunisGroup's Member :
GERARD Bruno
Professionnal title : Professor
Dean, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
Main affiliation : University Mohammed VI Polytechnic
ALOUIDANE 30700 Marrakech +212662827646Presentation
With over 30 years of work experience in the field of agriculture and environmental sciences, I am currently the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at UM6P - Mohammed VI Polytechnic University. In this role, I oversee the academic, research, and outreach activities of the college, and foster collaboration and innovation among faculty, students, and partners. Prior to joining UM6P, I was the Director of the Sustainable Intensification Program at CIMMYT, where I managed a global team of researchers and practitioners working on improving the productivity and profitability of smallholder farmers. I have a PhD in Agronomy from Universität Hohenheim and a MSc in Irrigation Engineering from Utah State University and Agricultural Engineering degree from Université catholique de Louvain. My core competencies include strategic leadership, interdisciplinary collaboration, project management, and stakeholder engagement. My mission is to advance the knowledge and practice in agriculture and environmental sustainability, and to contribute to the social and economic development of the communities I serve. I value diversity, innovation, and excellence, and I strive to bring these values to my work and my team.What I can bring to this network ?
Experience, network, and passionWhat I seek in this network ?
Novel thinking for research and educationGroup's Member :
Hamzat Azeez Adewale
Main affiliation : Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P)
UM6P 43150 Benguerir 212672044090What I can bring to this network ?
Collective IntelligenceGroup's Member :
Hanke-Louw Nora
Scientific fields : capacity sharing project management
Main affiliation : International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
Secondary affiliation : CGIAR
Nora Hanke-Louw is a seasoned Project Coordinator at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), renowned for her leadership in scaling sustainable agricultural and water management initiatives across East and Southern Africa. With a robust background in project management and business administration, she excels in orchestrating complex projects that drive impactful outcomes and foster sustainable growth in the region.
What I can bring to this network ?
Attending to explore and present further South-South networks and publications.What I seek in this network ?
Listening and networkingGroup's Member :
Jacobson Michael
Professionnal title : Professor
Main affiliation : Penn State
Secondary affiliation : UM6P
309 Forest Resources Bldg 16802 University Park +1 8144044920
An applied academic who try's to bridge real world problems by integrating biophysical and socioeconomic ideas.
Presentation
Dr. Michael Jacobson is a professor of forest resources at Penn State and an affiliate professor at UM6P. Throughout his over 30+ year career which includes work at the World Bank and Peace Corps, he has integrated extension, teaching and research to promote sustainable land use with interdisciplinary approaches bridging social and biophysical sciences. Major topics of interest include agroforestry, bioenergy, forest finance and economics and water-energy-food nexus. He teaches forest economics, global agricultural systems, agroforestry, and international forestry. He has significant presence in international activities, in dozens of countries but mainly focused on Africa. He is currently leading two international projects funded by the Belmont Forum and the National Science Foundation on drought/disaster risk and resilience indicators and water-energy-food nexus.What I can bring to this network ?
Thinking about economic tradeoffs in resource management decisions.What I seek in this network ?
First time I've participated with this group so need to listen and learn.Group's Member :
JEUFFROY Marie-Hélène
Professionnal title : Doctor
Scientific fields : System Agronomy
Main affiliation : INRAE
Secondary affiliation : IDEAS
1 place de l'agronomie 91120 PALAISEAU 33 6 83 70 24 27
a french scientist in agronomy
Presentation
I am an agronomist, working on innovation in the cropping systems for the transition of the agrifood systems. I contributed to develop several methods to work on cropping systems analysis and design, particularly in real situations. I am currently the pilot of the national french network IDEAS (Initiative for the Design in Agrifood systems).What I can bring to this network ?
Methods, thinking, approaches, discussion, papers, controversies on system approach, from field, to agrifood system.What I seek in this network ?
scientific exchanges on system approach and developping this approach through sharing capacity buildingGroup's Member :
Kleftodimos Georgios
Professionnal title : Professor
Main affiliation : Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Montpellier (CIHEAM-IAMM)
Secondary affiliation : Montpellier Interdisciplinary center on Sustainable Agri-food systems (social and nutritional sciences) - MOISA
3191 route de Mende 34093 MONTPELLIER +33659549621
I am an agricultural economist committed to bridging science and policy through systems thinking, to design sustainable, biodiversity-rich agricultural futures in the Mediterranean and beyond.
Presentation
Georgios Kleftodimos is an Associate Professor in Environmental and Agricultural Economics at CIHEAM Montpellier. His research focuses on integrating ecological complexity into economic and systems models to support agroecological transitions, farming systems sustainability, and resilient food systems. He specializes in the economic valuation of ecosystem services and leads work on the socio-economic impacts of biodiversity loss and environmental degradation. A core dimension of his work addresses the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus in the Mediterranean, promoting integrated governance and adaptive strategies to enhance resource-use efficiency and climate resilience. Through transdisciplinary approaches and stakeholder engagement, he explores how economic instruments, policy incentives, and systems thinking can align food production with environmental sustainability in resource-constrained regions.What I can bring to this network ?
I bring to this network a unique combination of environmental economics expertise and systems modeling experience, grounded in real-world applications across Mediterranean agricultural systems. My work connects ecological complexity with socio-economic realities, using tools such as bio-economic modeling, ecosystem service valuation, and WEFE Nexus frameworks to assess trade-offs and guide policy. I also contribute strong experience in transdisciplinary research coordination (e.g., DIONYSUS, RESTPOLL), participatory approaches, and capacity-building. I am eager to foster economic-policy integration within systems science and help co-design solutions that are scientifically robust, context-sensitive, and policy-relevant.What I seek in this network ?
I seek to collaborate with a diverse community of scientists committed to rethinking agricultural and environmental sustainability through a systems lens.Group's Member :
Kumar Shalander
Professionnal title : Professor
Deputy Global Research Program Director: Enabling Systems Transformation
Main affiliation : International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics
shalander.kumar@icrisat.org 500075 Hyderabad 9989807521
Agri-food system Transformation for resilience, sustainability and human wellbeing
Presentation
Dr Shalander Kumar leads the Markets, Institutions, and Policies cluster and is Deputy Global Research Program Director of the Enabling Systems Transformation Program at ICRISAT, Hyderabad. Dr Kumar has over three decades of experience working in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Current focus of his work is on data driven systems approaches for scaling climate smart and nutrition sensitive agricultural value chains and food systems; tools and frameworks for co-designing holistic solutions for resilient farm and food systems; and food and development policy analysis around transformation, seed systems, agri-business opportunities, climate adaptation and mainstreaming millets.What I can bring to this network ?
Systems analysis, multicriteria and bioeconomic modelling for evaluating and co-designing systemic solutions bundles for systems transformationWhat I seek in this network ?
• Global networking to strengthen knowledge on systems science• Collaborative efforts on mainstreaming system science for addressing the wicked challenges of smallholder agri-food systems
Group's Member :
Lamlili Nadia
Professionnal title : PhD candidate
Main affiliation : UM6P France
Forever on the move, in search of unexplored worlds
Presentation
Author and former journalist, I currently serve as Head of Social Innovation at UM6P France. I am pursuing a PhD in Development and Environmental Economics at Paris-Saclay University, within the framework of an action-research project to be conducted in Morocco. My doctoral research focuses on the intersection of gender dynamics and climate change adaptation in agricultural value chains in Africa.In parallel, I am a member of the scientific committee and responsible for the organization of the Autumn School "Socio-Economic Strategies for Sustainable Development in Rural Africa." This event, jointly organized by the Graduate School of Economics & Management at the University of Paris-Saclay (along with its research units UMI-SOURCE and UMR PSAE) and Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (including its College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences and its Social Innovation Institute) with the support of « Agence Universitaire de la Francophone (AUF) » et OCP Foundation, will take place from October 27 to 31, 2025, at the Benguerir campus in Morocco. This Autumn School is a hands-on school, there will be an immersive work on real african case studies, fostering an interdisciplinary platform of exchange between researchers, PhD students, and professionals to stimulate innovation and strengthen the resilience of rural African territories.
I hold a Master’s degree in Geopolitics and Geo-economics of Emerging Africa, jointly awarded in 2023 by HEC Paris and Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P). My master’s thesis explored the impact of agricultural training programs on women’s empowerment in West Africa, through a case study of an initiative launched by OCP Africa in Senegal to train women in agricultural processing and marketing. The program was evaluated using the Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index for Market Inclusion (Pro-WEAI+MI), developed by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI).
Between 1997 and 2018, I held several senior editorial positions in the media sector in Morocco and France, most notably as Head of the Maghreb–Middle East section at Jeune Afrique magazine. In 2019, I published the novel "Une plume dans la plaie", which explores the challenges faced by a Moroccan newspaper under state censorship.
From 2020 to 2025, I served as Editorial Director of the think tank L’Afrique des Idées, which produces analyses and policy recommendations on major economic, political, and cultural issues affecting the African continent.
What I can bring to this network ?
As a researcher and practitioner at the intersection of development economics, gender studies, and climate resilience, I bring a cross-disciplinary perspective grounded in both field-based action-research and policy-oriented analysis. My current doctoral research explores gender dynamics and climate adaptation within agricultural value chains in Africa, with a particular focus on action-research in Morocco.In addition, as a member of the scientific committee of the Automn PHD School "Socio-Economic Strategies for Sustainable Development in Rural Africa.", I can bring a transdiciplinary knowledge based on real case studies in Africa, especially in contexts marked by socio-environmental complexity. I also bring strong communication skills, honed through a long career in journalism and authorship, which allow me to effectively translate scientific insights into accessible narratives for decision-makers and local communities.
What I seek in this network ?
This community of practice represents an opportunity to deepen my understanding of systems science tools and models and to engage in meaningful collaboration with researchers, practitioners, and system thinkers working on the complex interconnections between agriculture, gender, water governance and indigenous knowledge.Group's Member :
Lopez Ridaura Santiago
Professionnal title : Doctor
Scientific fields : Agricultural Systems Agronomy climate change
Main affiliation : CIMMYT
Secondary affiliation : INRA France
Mexican agronomist engaged in farming systems analysis
Presentation
Santiago Lopez-Ridaura: Mexican agronomist with more than 20 years of experience on the evaluation and design of more sustainable agricultural systems at different levels of analysis. With more than 60 scientific publications in a wide diversity of topics, his main area of expertise is around the sustainability of small-scale farming systems, ex-ante and ex-post multicriteria assessment, natural resource management, agroecology and food and nutritional security. He has led and participated in several projects worldwide related to the development and implementation of agricultural innovations and integrated farming systems research with a wide diversity of partners and students. He is currently a principal scientist in the Sustainable Agri-food Systems Program of CIMMYTWhat I can bring to this network ?
Expertise on methods and tools for systems analysis. Experiences in different contexts on the application of systems analysis methods and tools.What I seek in this network ?
Collaboration with other disciplinesGroup's Member :
MacCarthy Dilys
Professionnal title : Professor
Scientific fields : Agricultural Systems
Main affiliation : University of Ghana
+233 244090502Group's Member :
Mati Bancy
Professionnal title : Professor
Water Management
Main affiliation : Professor at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
Secondary affiliation : Convenor of SRI-Africa
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agric & Technology 00200 Nairobi +254736353389
Dedicated to improving water management for agriculture
Presentation
Land and Water Management expert & Professor at JKUATWhat I can bring to this network ?
A lifetime of experiences in research, capacity building, project implementation and networking, while working with diverse stakeholders to improve land and water management in AfricaWhat I seek in this network ?
Link up with others in all disciplines so that as a collective, we enable Systems science to work for African agricultural systemsGroup's Member :
Mazhoud Houda
Professionnal title : Professor
activist
Main affiliation : Research at INRAT
Secondary affiliation : VCA member
Rue Hedi Karray 1004 El Menzeh +21622461628Group's Member :
McDonald Andrew
Professionnal title : Professor
Main affiliation : Cornell University
1114 Bradfield Hall, Cornell University 14853 Ithaca, NY
Systems agronomy and sustainability transitions
Presentation
Associate Professor of global cropping systems at Cornell University. 15+ years experience leading interdisciplinary teams conducting mission-driven research, principally in South Asia.What I can bring to this network ?
Development analogues from South Asia, mixed methods research approaches, agronomy fundamentals drawing on process-based understanding of system dynamicsWhat I seek in this network ?
New ways to conceptualize and operationalize the role of science towards accelerating sustainabiltiy transitions; collaborations for curricula, methods, and capacity development.Group's Member :
Okori Patrick
Main affiliation : Regional Universities FORUM for capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM)
151, Garden Hill Road Makerere University, 16811 Kampala +256772683623
Prof Patrick Okori is the Executive Secretary of RUFORUM, a network of 175 Agriculture and related science discipline training universities across Africa.
Presentation
Prof Patrick Okori an Agriculture Scientist and Education Leader is the Executive Secretary of RUFORUM (www.ruforum.org). He has previously served as Academic Dean and Science Leader at Makerere University in Uganda, Africa, responsible for academic reform, partnerships and resourcing. At the CGIAR, (ICRISAT), he was Principal Scientist- Groundnut Breeding, Country Representative, and Deputy Director of Research Programme on Accelerated Crop Improvement. He is a thought leader serving in national to global high-level strategy and visioning processes.What I can bring to this network ?
Vast experience in University led Graduate training and Human capital development for science and development mostly within Agriculture and allied sectors of the economyWhat I seek in this network ?
To engage with the CGIAR on cost-leveraged opportunities for capacity building and sharing in agriculture and related disciplines. My interest is who best we could work together to training the nest generation of science leaders (MSc PhD and post doctoral fellows, as well as specialised skilling in emerging science areas.Group's Member :
Sidibé Amadou
Professionnal title : Doctor
Main affiliation : Rural Polytechnic Institute for Training and Applied Research IPR-IFRA, Mali
Secondary affiliation : Beta Gamma Center for Research and Development
Kabala face campus universitaire 224C/8 côté BDM BP06 Bamako +22376120945
Amadou Sidibé is a practice-driven academic, oriented towards solving problems in socio-technical, socio-institutional, and socio-agro-ecological systems.
Presentation
Amadou Sidibé is an associate professor and head of the research laboratory on social and economic dynamics under the department of economic and social sciences at the Rural Polytechnic Institute for Training and Applied Research (IPR-IFRA) in Katibougou, Mali. He holds a PhD in Agro-Socio-Economics from Wageningen University in the Netherlands. He is co-founder and director of the Beta Gamma Center for Research and Development, dedicated to research issues that transcend disciplinary barriers. His teaching and research areas focus on the analysis of value chains, food systems, the sustainability of agro-socio-ecological systems, innovation processes and technology studies.What I can bring to this network ?
I can bring to this network my experience in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research.What I seek in this network ?
In this network, I am open to learning, networking and co-creation.Group's Member :
Snoussi Hager
Main affiliation : National Institute of Agricultural Research of Tunisia-INRAT
Rue Hedi Karray 1004 TunisGroup's Member :
Snyder Katherine
Professionnal title : Professor
Main affiliation : UM6P
Secondary affiliation : University of Arizona
PO Box 415 05353 Townshend +18022588304
Anthropologist with over two decades of research on human-environment systems.
Presentation
I have carried out academic and applied research in Sub-Saharan Africa for over 20 years on the agrarian transformation, sustainable land management and community-based conservation. My focus is on farmer-driven innovations and co-production of knowledge.What I can bring to this network ?
Considerable fieldwork with farmers across Sub-Saharan Africa and long experience working in multidisciplinary teams on agricultural development challenges.What I seek in this network ?
Opportunities for collaboration and new learning.Group's Member :
SONDE POUSGA Salimata
Professionnal title : Doctor
Scientific fields : Animal science
Main affiliation : Institut du Développement Rural (IDR). Universite Nazi BONI., Burkina Faso: https://www.univ-bobo.gov.bf
Secondary affiliation : Centre International de Recherche-Developpement sur l'Elevage en zone subhumide (CIRDES): www.cirdes.org
UNB 1091 Bobo Dioulasso +22671092576
Livestock and gender issues in sustainable agrifood systems
Presentation
I'am Dr Salimata POUSGA. DVM, PhD, Animal health, Nutrition and Management. Associate professor in Nazi BONI University, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. Currently, scientific Director of the International Center for Research and Development on livestock in Sub Humid zone (CIRDES).What I can bring to this network ?
sharing some experiences on the evidence of the need of system science in agricultural facultiesWhat I seek in this network ?
Learn from others about system science and sustainable agrifood future. NetworkingGroup's Member :
Taulya Godfrey
Professionnal title : Lecturer
Main affiliation : Makerere University, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Makerere University 256 Kampala +256772552279
I am always eager to learn something new and sharing experiences
Presentation
I am passionate about sustainability of natural resource management for multiple livelihood goalsWhat I can bring to this network ?
Wide experience with resource-poor smallholder farming systems in sub Saharan AfricaWhat I seek in this network ?
Expertise in coupling different simulation frameworks to capture the complex reality of mixed farming systems with perennial crops and livestock components.Group's Member :
Triomphe Bernard
Professionnal title : Doctor
Scientific fields : System Agronomy
Main affiliation : CIRAD
Secondary affiliation : Universidad Autonoma Chapingo (Mexico)
+525574072556
keely interested in ensuring everybody has a voice when shaping their future and developing together innovations of various types
Presentation
My overall goal: contribute to the strengthening of small-scale family farming in tropical areas through the co-production of knowledge and approaches, the co-design and participatory dissemination of technical and social innovations at local, national and international levels, policy lobbying, as well as through capacity-sharing and linkage among R&D actors.My experience: Innovation systems & processes, multi-stakeholder collaboration, participatory monitoring and evaluation, impact evaluation, farmer innovation, participatory action research, facilitation of multi-stakeholder events and processes, agroecology and conservation agriculture, sustainable rural development, systemic diagnosis at the plot/farm/region/innovation system scales, capacity building for students, R&D professionals, farmers and local stakeholders. Mexico, Latin America, Africa
What I can bring to this network ?
wide international exposure and network, interfacing biophysical and social sciences, interfacing research and development partners, attention to local innovation, systems approach at various scales from field to territory,What I seek in this network ?
People and initiatives with a keen interest in devising and sharing participatory and systemic approaches among the R&D community and making sure they are actually implemented on the groundGroup's Member :
Vlontzos George
Professionnal title : Professor
Main affiliation : Dep. of Agriculture, Crop Production and Rural Development, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, Volos, GREECE
Karabatzaki 10A 38446 Volos 00306977502410
Agricultural Economics professor affiliated at the University of Thessaly, Greece
Presentation
George Vlontzos is an Agricultural Economics Professor, Director of the Laboratory of Agricultural Economics and Consumer Behaviour, (AGRECONLAB) University of Thessaly GREECE. His research interests focus on, among others, economic and environmental efficiency assessment, and on consumer behavior characteristics for agricultural inputs and foodstuff. For this, various models are being implemented like Data Envelopment Analysis, Stochastic Frontier, the Theory of Planned Behaviour, the Health Belief Model, etc. He has published several papers in journals under double blind peer review evaluation and participated in international congresses and seminars. Finally, he has participated, in competitive projects co-financed by the EU, national funding as well as private funding projects. He is the coordinator of the ALIANCE HORIZON EUROPE project, consortium member of the following HORIZON EUROPE projects NATAE, RESTPOLL, BUTTERFLY, FOODMISSION, GREENCOOP, and PROPOLSOILL, and consortium member of the following PRIMA projects GreenDriedFruits and DIONYSUS. Prof. George Vlontzos teaches agricultural economics and consumer behavior at the University of Thessaly, Greece.He was a visiting professor at the Center of Applied Optimization, University of Florida, USA. He is affiliated with IAMM CIHEAM institute of Montpellier, France, teaching consumer behavior for agricultural products and food at the MSc program MIDAS.
What I can bring to this network ?
My contribution to the network is my ability to organize technology transfer mechanisms in agriculture. More specifically, the Living Labs approach has been proven an effective mechanism for applying co-design protocols, bringing together stakeholders having a direct or indirect relevance with specific value chains.What I seek in this network ?
This network can broaden my collaboration network and provide valuable feedback for applying agroecology in a more integrated means.Group's Member :
WERY Jacques
Professionnal title : Professor
Scientific fields : Agricultural Systems Agronomy
Main affiliation : L'Institut Agro
3 rue de la Frégate 34080 Montpellier +33671916585
An agronomist with passion for international and interdisciplinary collaborations for a change in agri-food systems
Presentation
Jacques WERY is Emeritus Professor at l’Institut Agro (France). He has been teaching crop physiology, agronomy and agricultural systems during 37 years before moving to science and partnership management as Deputy Director General Research of ICARDA based in Cairo (2018-2021) and as Director of Science and Partnership at l’Institut Agro (2021-2024). He has been board member of the Seamless project on integrated modelling of agricultural systems (2004-2009) and Executive Secretary of the European Society for Agronomy (2010-2018).What I can bring to this network ?
My time and passion in the coordination of the CoPSyS and the System-S platform.What I seek in this network ?
Sharing capacities and building projects in an interdisciplinary framework.Group's Member :