VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT: Recruitment of a Research Engineer in Agricultural Economics / NATAE and EXCEL4MED projects

October 12, 2023

The Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Montpellier (CIHEAM Montpellier), one of the four institutes of the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM), is an intergovernmental organization whose mission is the development of higher education and lifelong learning, research and cooperation in the Mediterranean area. Within the scope of the NATAE and EXCEL4MED projects, CIHEAM Montpellier offers a position of a Research Engineer.

CONTEXT

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled researcher to take on an exceptional role working across two groundbreaking projects, 50% NATAE (Fostering Agro-ecological Transition in North Africa, under the project number 101084647) and 50% EXCEL4MED (Excellence hub in green technologies: Introducing innovation ecosystems in the Mediterranean food value chain, under the project number 101087147). These two projects are funded under the prestigious Horizon Europe programme, representing a significant opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research and environmental conservation efforts. In this unique and exciting position, you will have the privilege of splitting your time evenly between two innovative initiatives that address pressing global challenges […]

ACTIVITIES AND TASKS

NATAE project:
• Data analysis from the LLs in Tunisia and Algeria;
• Prepare the database, calibrate the modelling chain, and perform simulations for the LLs in Algeria and Tunisia;
• Trade-off analysis of agro-ecological practices in the above LLs;
• Participate in the deliverables D2.1: NATAE modelling chain and data base and D2.2: Trade-off analysis of current & foresight scenarios tested at LL and RL levels;

EXCEL4MED project:
• Collaborate with the Maltese LL partners for the collection of the necessary data;
• Support the PI for the organization and the monitoring of the Maltese Living-Lab;
• Participate in the Cost-Benefit analysis of Task 4.1 via the use of DAHBSIM model including calibration and scenario simulation;
• Trade off analysis of different innovation practices;
• Provide regular short progress reports on the advancement of the WPs and contributions to the corresponding project deliverable 4.1 “Report on the estimation of cost and revenue generation”.

REQUIREMENTS

The ER candidate must meet the following requirements:
• Master 2 in Economics or Agronomy;
• Excellent knowledge of data analysis;
• Knowledge on farm-typology and bio-economic modelling;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.

PERSONAL SKILLS REQUIRED

  • Excellent organizational skills, ability to establish and maintain lasting and constructive formal relationships;
    • Dynamism, reactivity and autonomy;
    • Excellent skills of writing and synthesis (work plans, technical reports and other acts and management, ordinary correspondence, notes, messages, summary sheets);
    • Good teamwork abilities, particularly in a multicultural and multi-disciplinary context;
    • Ability to propose solutions to problems and critical issues that might arise during the project.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

  • Contract duration: fixed term contract of 12 months’ renewable twice (up to 36 months);
  •  Full-time (35 hours per week);
  • 5 weeks’ annual leave;
  • Salary: According to experience;
  • Location: Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Montpellier (Route de Mende, Montpellier, France) with occasional travels in different partner countries.

Contact for any information on the project: belhouchette@iamm.fr

CIHEAM Montpellier is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and gender. Position open to people with disabilities.

SELECTION PROCESS

The application must be written in English and include a CV and a cover letter concerning the missions defined in the job description.

Deadline for Submission: 31st of October 2023

Selection Committee: 2nd of November 2023

Starting Date: 6th of November 2023

The application file must be sent by email with the following object “RestPoll & EXCEL4MED RE candidate Vacancy” to emploi@iamm.fr

🔎 For more information

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT: Recruitment of a Research Engineer in Agricultural Economics / RESTPOLL and EXCEL4MED projects

October 12, 2023

CONTEXT

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled researcher to take on an exceptional role working across two groundbreaking projects, 50% RestPoll (Restoring Pollinator habitats across European agricultural landscapes, project number 101082102-2) based on multi-actor participatory approaches and 50% EXCEL4MED (Excellence hub in green technologies: Introducing innovation ecosystems in the Mediterranean food value chain, project number 101087147). These two projects are funded under the prestigious Horizon Europe program, representing a significant opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research and environmental conservation efforts. In this unique and exciting position, you will have the privilege of splitting your time evenly between two innovative initiatives that address pressing global challenges […]

ACTIVITIES AND TASKS

RestPoll project:
• Support the PI for the Living-Lab organization and management;
• Prepare the database, calibrate the DAHBSIM model, and perform simulations for the LLs in Germany and Italy, and Spain;
• Trade-off analysis of the innovative practices in the above countries;
• Provide regular short progress reports on the advancement of the task and contributions to the corresponding project deliverables: D3.4: “Synthesis report of the model results” and D4.1: “Guidelines for how to establish and facilitate LLs”.

EXCEL4MED project:
• Collaborate with the Greek LL partners for the collection of the necessary data;
• Support the PI in the organization of the Greek Living-Lab;
• Participate in the Cost-Benefit analysis of Task 4.1 via the development of a simple bio-economic model as a basis for a wider value chain analysis;
• Trade-off analysis for innovative practices;
• Provide regular short progress reports on the advancement of the WPs and contributions to the deliverable D4.1 “Report on the estimation of cost and revenue generation”.

REQUIREMENTS

The ER candidate must meet the following requirements:
• Master 2 in Economics or Agronomy;
• Excellent knowledge of participatory approaches;
• Knowledge on pollination services dynamics;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.

PERSONAL SKILLS REQUIRED

  • Excellent organizational skills, ability to establish and maintain lasting and constructive formal relationships;
    • Dynamism, reactivity and autonomy;
    • Excellent skills of writing and synthesis (work plans, technical reports and other acts and management, ordinary correspondence, notes, messages, summary sheets);
    • Good teamwork abilities, particularly in a multicultural and multi-disciplinary context;
    • Ability to propose solutions to problems and critical issues that might arise during the project.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

  • Contract duration: fixed term contract of 12 months’ renewable twice (up to 36 months);
  •  Full-time (35 hours per week);
  • 5 weeks’ annual leave;
  • Salary: According to experience;
  • Location: Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Montpellier (Route de Mende, Montpellier, France) with occasional travels in different partner countries.

Contact for any information on the project: kleftodimos@iamm.fr

CIHEAM Montpellier is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and gender. Position open to people with disabilities.

SELECTION PROCESS

The application must be written in English and include a CV and a cover letter concerning the missions defined in the job description.

Deadline for Submission: 31st of October 2023

Selection Committee: 2nd of November 2023

Starting Date: 6th of November 2023

The application file must be sent by email with the following object “RestPoll & EXCEL4MED RE candidate Vacancy” to emploi@iamm.fr

🔎 For more information

Discover the new MED-Amin Newsletter #47

October 10, 2023

“While the harvests of summer crops (olives, grapes, corn, rice, etc.) continue, the early harvest forecasts broadcast by the network in June are confirmed by the first official 2023 production results for wheat and barley. Cereal production was average in most countries in the north and east of the region, but not in those of the Maghreb and the Iberian Peninsula, which were very affected by droughts. […] During their trip to Montpellier, the President of the Board of Directors of CIHEAM, Mrs. Frida Krifca, and the Secretary General of CIHEAM, Mr. Teodoro Miano, both newly elected, discussed with the team of the MED-Amin network secretariat of the short and medium term challenges of the development of its activities. It will first be a matter of successfully completing the first meeting of the national “Strategic Referents”
of MED-Amin, which will be held in Paris (France), on November 30 and December 1, 2023, at the invitation of the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, president of the network, and CIHEAM.”

If you want to read more about:

  • input markets dynamics;
  • climate change impacts and extreme weather events;
  • level of stocks and Ukraine war consequences;
  • durum market dynamics and outlook;
  • agricultural commodity prices and policies

🔎 Download the newsletter

🔎 More newsletters

THE HORIZON EUROPE NATAE PROJECT LAUNCHES A CALL FOR EXPERT(S) ON “SOCIAL ACCEPTABILITY”.

Announced on October 03, 2023.

Context : 
NATAE (Fostering agroecology transition in North Africa through multi-actor, evaluation, and
networking) is a Research and Innovation project under the Horizon Europe programme funded by
the European Union. NATAE will run for four years (December 2022-November 2026) with the aim to
foster the adoption of science-based, locally-tailored and co-designed agroecology strategies in North Africa. This is planned by creating a comprehensive and quantitative baseline on agroecology, providing a shared understanding, multidimensional performance measures, and analyses of agroecology potential for meeting consumers demand on the market.

Main tasks

The role of the Expert(s) will be to provide in-depth expertise in social acceptability at different stages
of NATAE project, ensuring the coordination and completion of T3.3, under the leadership of CIHEAM
IAMM.
The Expert(s) will be requested to:
1. Elaborate a tailored methodology to assess social acceptability in NATAE project.
2. Prepare detailed data collection tools, such as interviews or focus group guidelines.
3. Test and Implement the research, providing an in-depth focus on social acceptability, on
one or two of the abovementioned Living Lab(s) in agreement and close cooperation with
the Living Lab leader.
4. Refine the methodology and data collection tools based on the first implementation
phase
5. Train researchers designated by the Living Labs leaders in the implementation of the refined
research.
6. Oversee and support the implementation of the research on social acceptability for the
whole project. This includes:
• answering questions which may arise from the implementation of the research in any
Living Lab area;
• fostering collective work, partners dialogue and coherent implementation of the
overall task T3.3, in close coordination with CIHEAM-IAMM and WP3 leader
(University of Thessaly);
• ensuring the quality and consistency of the relevant contributions to project
deliverables as listed below in the section on “Deliverables”.
7. Review analyses on social acceptability developed in Living Lab areas
8. Produce transversal analyses necessary to the deliverables listed in the section below

Deadline for submission: 19 October 2023

Proposals should be submitted in English by email with the subject “NATAE Social Acceptability Expertise Proposal” addressed to:
Rita Jalkh, NATAE Project Manager: jalkh@iamm.fr and
Melanie Requier-Desjardins, NATAE Scientific Coordinator: requier@iamm.fr

🔎For more information on the submission of proposals, please refer to the terms of Reference

🔎Additional information on NATAE project can also be found on NATAE website: https://www.natae-agroecology.eu/ 

FIRST VISIT TO CIHEAM MONTPELLIER BY CIHEAM BOARD CHAIR AND SECRETARY

September 21, 2023, CIHEAM Montpellier

CIHEAM Montpellier welcomed, on Thursday, September 21, 2023, the President of the CIHEAM Board of Directors, Mrs. Frida Krifca, and the Secretary General of CIHEAM, Mr. Teodoro Miano, who took office in April and March 2023, respectively.

During a packed day, the President and the Secretary-General had the opportunity to meet with staff and students, and to learn about the activities of the Montpellier Institute in the fields of education, research, and cooperation, all in pursuit of a common goal: the transition to sustainable and resilient agri-food systems in the Mediterranean.

The presentations specifically highlighted the activities carried out in Albania, both in terms of support for the university system (SmartAl Project) and the facilitation of student and teacher mobility.

Among the presentations of cooperation and research projects, Emirjona and Elda, both Albanian doctoral students at Lames, also presented their work, addressing the challenges of social capital in rural areas and the prospects for the development of geographical indications in rural areas of Albania.

The President and the Secretary-General expressed their keen interest in the activities conducted and their commitment to maintaining a “corporate” dynamic that values the complementarity between the CIHEAM Institutes.

Visit of the Minister of Agriculture of Lebanon

CIHEAM Montpellier welcomed His Excellency, Abbas Hajj Hassan, Minister of Agriculture of Lebanon

CIHEAM Montpellier welcomed His Excellency Abbas Hajj Hassan, Minister of Agriculture of Lebanon, and one of his advisors, Mr. Salem Darwich, for a 2-day working visit.

The meeting addressed several cooperation areas between the Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier and the Ministry of Agriculture, in particular the extension and possible development of the SupMed project.
Information on the SupMed project: https://www.supmed-project.com/

Aimed at supporting collective and contextualized strategies for resilient and sustainable agriculture, the main objective of this project is to propose, evaluate ex-ante and implement climate change and socio-economic uncertainties adaptation strategies, in conjunction with stakeholders in the field. It is being carried out in parallel in the Bekaa plain in Lebanon and in the governorate of Luxor in Egypt. As part of this project, HE the Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan inaugurated an olive tree nursery in Hermel last spring. HE the Minister and CIHEAM also discussed the development of the soft wheat sector in Lebanon, a project in which the World Food Program could also be involved.

The visit also enabled HE the Minister to meet with the Lebanese students studying in the DATEM Master’s program or pursuing a doctorate.

The DATEM Master’s program is an original and strong collaboration between CIHEAM Montpellier and the Faculty of Agronomy of the Lebanese University of Beirut, which enables 8 Lebanese students to graduate from the two institutions each year. Other Lebanese students are also welcomed into the Institute’s other Masters programs. Some are continuing their studies at doctoral level, contributing to research and cooperation projects run by CIHEAM Montpellier.

For full details of current projects: https://www.iamm.ciheam.org/fr/rd/projets/