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Nationality: Lebanese
University of Registration: Institut Agro Montpellier (France)
Year: 2016
Scientific Discipline: Management
Research Unit: UMR MOISA
Thesis Director: Selma TOZANLI (CIHEAM-IAMM)
CIHEAM-IAMM Supervisor: Fatima EL HADAD-GAUTHIER
Thesis Committee: Fatima EL HADAD-GAUTHIER (CIHEAM-IAMM), Salem DARWICH (Lebanese Univ.), Charlotte EMLINGER (CEPII Paris)
Funding: Ministry of Agriculture Lebanon
Contact: abdallahhala@gmail.com
Thesis Defence: 10 November 2021
Thesis Title
Assessment of the Determinants of Competitiveness in the Lebanese Agricultural Sector: A Study of the Apple Industry.
Thesis Summary
The overall objective of this research is to examine and assess the factors that determine the competitiveness of the apple sector, as well as to understand adaptation strategies for accessing markets, using a national case study of an effective governance model that minimizes costs while improving quality. This approach aims to revitalize the apple sector and inform strategic decisions regarding coordination and operations, thereby enhancing its competitiveness.
Keywords
COMPETITIVENESS ; INDUSTRY ANALYSIS ; DOMESTIC DETERMINANTS OF COMPETITIVENESS: COST AND NON-COST FACTORS ; TRANSACTION COSTS ; INDUSTRIAL STRATEGIES AND ORGANISATION: THE “SCP MARKET STRUCTURE ANALYSIS” APPROACH, SECTOR ANALYSIS, AND “PORTER’S” COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE ; STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT
Nationality: Tunisian
University of Registration: Univ. Montpellier 1 (France)
Year: 2004
Scientific Discipline:
Research Unit: ED231 Economy & Management
Thesis Director: Hélène Rey-Valette (University of Montpellier 1-LASER), co-directed by Anne-Marie Jouve (CIHEAM-IAMM) in collaboration with Mongi Sghaier (IRA Medenine, Tunisia)
CIHEAM-IAMM Supervisor: Anne-Marie Jouve
Thesis Committee: Hélène Rey-Valette (Univ. Montpellier 1), Anne-Marie Jouve (CIHEAM-IAMM), Alia Gana (CNRS UMR Ladyss Ouest France), Gabriela Tigu (School of Business Bucharest Romania), Mongi Sghaïer (Institute of Arid Regions Medenine Tunisia,) Jean-Marie Boisson (Univ. Montpellier 1)
Funding:
Contact:
Thesis Defence: 05-11-2009
Cite the Thesis: Abichou H. (2009). La valorisation du patrimoine vecteur de développement local durable : quelles retombées économiques et quel dispositif institutionnel ? Cas du sud-est tunisien. Thèse (Dr. d’Université en Sciences Economiques) : Université de Montpellier 1 (France). 273 p.
http://www.iamm.fr/ressources/opac_css/doc_num.php?explnum_id=561
Meditagri url: http://www.iamm.fr/ressources/opac_css/index.php?lvl=etagere_see&id=52
Thesis Title
The promotion of cultural heritage as a driver of sustainable local development: what are the economic benefits and what institutional framework is in place? The case of south-eastern Tunisia.
Thesis Summary
This thesis is a contribution to reflections on the local development of marginalized areas. The objective is to identify through economic criteria, social and cultural indicators and associated types of effects induced by the development of heritage tourism in the territory of south-eastern Tunisia. The economic benefits created by Ksour (typical monuments of southern Tunisia and purpose of our research) depend on the ability of this heritage to attract visitors and his ability to encourage local investors to help finance backup this patrimony. In economic terms, the value of heritage is its attraction value and its power to induce a monetary contribution to its users in order to safeguard it. Our proposal is to involve all stakeholders in heritage preservation. This research has helped identify ways of thinking about new strategies for valorization and safeguard of local heritage. A monetary contribution of all professionals and pricing for access to the monuments of the region for tourists will involve all stakeholders in the development of this area. The estimated potential monetary contribution reflects, in some way, the value given to these heritage sites. Our proposal for the establishment of a fee for use of patrimony by the professionals, and practice of municipal pricing for access to Ksour, until now free, have been fairly well received by respondents. The new revenue will be used for maintenance and enhancement of the patrimony of the region.
Keywords
LOCAL DEVELOPMENT ; DISADVANTAGED AREA ; TUNISIA ; SOUTH-EAST ; TOURISM ; ECOTOURISM ; ARID AREA ; TERRITORY ; FINANCIAL RESOURCES ; HERITAGE; PROMOTION
Nationality: Ethiopian
University of Registration: Institut Agro Montpellier (France)
Year: 2011
Scientific Discipline: Economics
Research Unit: UMR MOISA
Thesis Director: Étienne MONTAIGNE (Institut Agro Montpellier)
CIHEAM-IAMM Supervisor: Martine PADILLA
Thesis Committee: Étienne MONTAIGNE (Institut Agro Montpellier), Martine PADILLA (CIHEAM-IAMM), Tolossa DEGEFA (Univ. Addis Abeba, Ethiopia), Sandrine DURY (CIRAD), Jean-Marie CODRON (INRA)
Funding: French Embassy in Ethiopia
Contact: eliasab54@gmail.com
Thesis Defence: 09-12-2016
Cite the Thesis: Abiyou Geday E. (2016). Smallholders’ access to dairy value chain for household food and nutritional security improvement: a study in mixed farming system of Kimbibit and Bahirdar-Zuria districts in Ethiopia. Thèse de Doctorat en Sciences de Gestion. Spécialité Economie : Université de Montpellier (France). 261 p. École doctorale ED 231 : Économie et Gestion de Montpellier / UMR Moisa / LAMES du CIHEAM-IAMM.
http://www.iamm.ciheam.org/ress_doc/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=37328
Meditagri url: http://www.iamm.ciheam.org/ress_doc/opac_css/index.php?lvl=etagere_see&id=116
Thesis Title
Smallholders’ access to dairy value chain for household food and nutritional security improvement: a study in mixed farming system of Kimbibit and Bahirdar-Zuria districts in Ethiopia.
Thesis Summary
The purpose of this study was to analyze the structure of dairy value chain, determinants and impact of smallholders’ participation in modern dairy value chain. Qualitative data collected from purposely selected key informants and quantitative data collected from 60 and 333 randomly selected dairy traders and smallholder households respectively. Content analysis was employed to analyze the qualitative data, while descriptive statistics and regression analysis were used for quantitative data analysis. The result shows that the largest (70%) of sampled smallholders participated in traditional dairy value chain, while 30% of smallholder participated in modern fluid milk value chain. Shortage and high cost of feeds, shortage of artificial insemination supply, low productivity, insufficient extensions and business support services and high transaction were major constraints of dairy value chains. The two step binary logit analysis result shows that the largest portion (65%) of samples smallholders were not participate in fluid milk sales. Of the total fluid milk market participated smallholder households, 86.1% participated in modern milk value chain; while 13.9% participated in traditional milk value chain. The results shows that transaction costs factors such as distance to milk collection center, nearest town and cooperative membership; resource factors such as costs of concentrates feeds, cross breed cow size, quantity milk yield per day and; access to veterinary services are significantly determines smallholders’ milk sales decisions and access to modern milk value chain. The propensity matching model analysis result shows that participation in modern milk value chain has a significant positive impact via income on food security and nutrition improvement of smallholder households through better calorie intake and diet diversity consumption. On the other hand, the study finds that access to modern milk value chain has a significant negative impact on the household milk consumption. The study confirms that the dairy value chain predominately traditional and loosely coordinated.
Keywords
VALUE CHAIN ; MILK ; SUPPLY CHAIN ; DAIRY PRODUCT ; SMALL-SCALE FARM ; STAKEHOLDER ; SURVEY ; MARKETING CHAIN ; MODERNISATION ; TRADITIONAL USE ; TRANSACTION COSTS ; FARM INCOME ; FOOD SECURITY ; ETHIOPIA
Nationality: Egyptian
University of Registration: University of Montpellier
Year: 2019
Scientifique Discipline: Management
Research Unit: MRM
Thesis Director: Florence PALPACUER
CIHEAM-IAMM Supervisor: Myriam KESSARI
Thesis Committee: Benoît DEMIL, Nicolas PAGET, Magalie MARAIS
Funding: University of Montpellier & #Digitag
Contact: george.aboueldahab@umontpellier.fr
Thesis Defence: 22 May 2023
Thesis Title
Pooling knowledge through digital sharing: challenges and opportunities for agroecology movements.
Thesis Summary
Recent analyses of the evolution of food systems towards an agroecological transition highlight the importance of i) the creation and mobilisation of knowledge derived from agroecology, ii) the involvement of stakeholders (farmers, agricultural advisers, etc.) in developing and adapting this knowledge to local contexts, and iii) reconnecting agricultural production with local food systems. With this in mind, the thesis examines new forms of organisation that are mobilising to promote the sharing of resources (particularly via open-source initiatives), networking, and the reappropriation of agricultural tools by farmers, with an agroecological focus. The scope of the study includes organisations situated at different stages of the value chain, whether they provide tool designs and agricultural techniques suited to small-scale farms and agroecological production methods, or whether they support marketing through platforms connecting farmers and consumers.
Drawing on a multiple case study, the thesis aims to understand how these alternative organisations are structured, pool resources and develop new agroecological skills, how farmers become involved in them, and how they address the challenges of sustainability and economic viability. As a management science project, the thesis will draw on related disciplines such as sociology, economics and the geography of food systems, as well as computer science and agronomy, to better understand the challenges and technical specifics of the activities under study. Its objective is to produce knowledge that practitioners can put into action, to equip those involved in the agroecological transition.
Keywords
OPEN SOURCE ; AGROECOLOGICAL TRANSITION ; SMALL-SCALE FARMERS ; ALTERNATIVE ORGANISATION ; HYBRID SPACE
Nationality: Algerian
University of Registration: Institut Agro Montpellier (France)
Year: 2013
Scientific Disicpline: Management
Research Unit: UMR MOISA
Thesis Director: Fatiha FORT (Institut Agro Montpellier)
CIHEAM-IAMM Supervisor: Mélanie REQUIER-DESJARDINS
Thesis Committee: Jean-Pierre BOUTONNET, Fatiha FORT (Institut Agro Montpellier), Thierry LINCK (LRDE-INRA Corsica), Louis -Antoine SAISSET (Institut Agro Montpellier)
Funding: CIHEAM-IAMM
Contact: melissa.ait-mouloud@supagro.fr
Thesis Defence: 13-12-2016
Cite the Thesis: Aït Mouloud M. (2016). Valorisation de la qualité territoriale des produits agro-alimentaires : vers quel modèle d’entrepreneuriat collectif pour les pays du Sud ? Une modélisation abductive fondée sur la théorie enracinée. Thèse de Doctorat en Sciences de Gestion : Montpellier SupAgro (France). 407 p. École doctorale ED 231 : Économie et Gestion de Montpellier / UMR Moisa / LAMES du CIHEAM-IAMM.
http://www.iamm.ciheam.org/ress_doc/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=37388
Meditagri url: http://www.iamm.ciheam.org/ress_doc/opac_css/index.php?lvl=etagere_see&id=104
Thesis Title
Promoting the regional quality of agri-food products: what model of collective entrepreneurship for the Global South? An abductive modelling approach based on grounded theory.
Thesis Summary
The promotion of the territorial quality of food products through official signs labels is a major issue in the food chain development within Europe and southern countries. Applications for certification are usually initiated by producers in either an offensive strategy to increase the market value on their market or as a defensive one in order to protect themselves against counterfeiting. Producers in either an offensive strategy to increase the market value or as a defensive one in order to protect themselves against counterfeiting usually initiate applications for certification. European regulation requires that certification applications come from groups organized in cooperatives or producer groups. This requirement leads local actors to build an entrepreneurial process of creating a collective organization to coordinate and promote such certified products. Based on a literature review in the field of collective entrepreneurship and collective strategies, we propose in this thesis an integrated model of a collective process of the construction and the management of territorial quality products. The proposed conceptual model put a bridge between collective entrepreneurship and private local initiatives. This model seemed to be easier to implement in developing countries. The results of the analysis of the processes of constructing and promoting territorial quality of olive oil in the Algerian region Bouira show that the collective entrepreneurship through a cooperative project of implementing a Geographical Indication encounters producers lacking motivation and resenting to build a common project shared by all. However, the proposed development of local products by a family business using a trademark linked to the “terroir” has managed to build a network of local producers that participate in the construction and promotion of the quality linked to the territory of Bouira. This research provides an opportunity to contribute to the debate about the transferability of the European system that certifies product quality and the role of the environment in the success or failure of the entrepreneurial process. In this research, we show that differentiation by the product origin should not depend on a unique model that can be replicated everywhere. The institutional approach “top-down” is doomed to fail, making the action of collective entrepreneurship through cooperatives uncertain. The entrepreneurial dynamics of a family business may appear more effective in building a network of local producers, thus leading to a new type of collective entrepreneurship. Finally, a hybrid model (public / private) seems better adapted to the contexts of the countries of the South.
Keywords
LOCAL PRODUCTS ; OLIVE OIL ; QUALITY LABEL ; PROMOTION ; QUALITY ASSURANCE ; PROTECTED GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION ; ENTREPRENEURSHIP ; COLLECTIVE ACTION ; PRODUCERS’ CO-OPERATIVE ; TRADEMARK ; PRODUCT DIFFERENTIATION ; REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT ; KABYLIA ; ALGERIA
Nationality: Lebanese
University of Registration: Institut Agro Montpellier (France)
Year: 2020
Scientific Discipline: Environment
Research Unit: UMR MOISA
Thesis Director: Florence JACQUET (INRAE Montpellier)
CIHEAM-IAMM Supervisor: Hatem BELHOUCHETTE
Thesis Committee: Sophie DROGUÉ (INRAE Montpellier), Stéphane GHIOTTI (Montpellier 3), Georgio KLEFTODIMOS (CIHEAM-IAMM)
Funding: French Institute in Lebanon, Lebanese University & CIHEAM-IAMM
Thesis Defence: 10 December 2024
Thesis Title
Collective and context-specific strategies to promote resilient and sustainable agricultural production in Lebanon.
Thesis Summary
Several research projects have already been carried out in the Mediterranean region to assess the impacts of climate change on agricultural production and to propose adaptation strategies. However, very few concrete initiatives have actually been tested for their socio-economic and environmental performance and their social acceptability. Furthermore, the strategies tested were either purely technical and adapted from distant contexts, or took the form of developments or organisational changes at a regional level within a fairly limited scope. In both cases, the proposed strategic choices often remain poorly contextualised and are not widely accepted by farming households.
It is within this framework that this thesis is situated, aiming to propose and evaluate the performance and social acceptability of climate change adaptation strategies in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon. This thesis will be carried out in three key stages: i) contextualised adaptation strategies will first be proposed through participatory approaches, ii) these strategies will be tested via modelling to analyse their performance, and iii) finally, the lessons from these simulations will inform discussions among stakeholders on the ground to identify effective and socially acceptable strategic choices. More broadly, this thesis aims to serve as a basis for identifying the incentive measures to be implemented to promote the resilience of agricultural systems in Lebanon.
Keywords
CLIMATE CHANGE ; SUSTAINABILITY ; ADAPTATION STRATEGIES
Nationality: Algerian
University of Registration: University of Pisa (Italy)
Year: 2020
Scientific Discipline: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment
Research Unit: PisaAgricultural Economics PAGE
Thesis Director: Gianluca BRUNORI (Univ. Pisa)
CIHEAM-IAMM Supervisor: Paolo PROSPERI
Thesis Committee: Gianluca BRUNORI (Univ. Pisa), Paolo PROSPERI (CIHEAM-IAMM)
Funding: Government of Italy & CIHEAM-IAMM
Thesis Defence:
Thesis Title
Agri-food value chains’ sustainability assessment – A new guiding analytical framework.
Main objective
(i) Propose an analytical framework to assess the sustainability of agri-food value chains.
(ii) Validate and apply the framework to assess the sustainability of case-study agri-food value chains.
Keywords
SUSTAINABILITY ; ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK ; ASSESSMENT ; VALUE CHAIN
Nationality: Costa Rican
University of Registration: University of Pisa (Italia)
Year: 2019
Scientific Discipline: Agricultural Economics
Research Unit: Pisa Agricultural Economics PAGE
Thesis Director: Gianluca BRUNORI
CIHEAM-IAMM Supervisor: Paolo PROSPERI
Thesis Committee: Gianluca BRUNORI (Univ. Pisa), Paolo PROSPERI (CIHEAM-IAMM)
Funding: Italian Government & CIHEAM-IAMM
Thesis Defence: 12 October 2023
Thesis Title
Food systems as drivers of inequality in livelihoods and food and nutrition security.
Thesis Summary
Main Objectives
Analyze the relationship between food systems and the different forms of inequalities and food security and nutrition.
Specific Objectives
- Characterize the transformations of food systems in the specific context of Ghana and Kenya.
- Define the drivers of inequality in food systems that lead to food insecurity and undernutrition.
- Analyze the effect of food system transformations on inequality that distresses food security and nutrition of the most vulnerable livelihoods of food producers.
- Analyze sustainable and innovative strategies that livelihoods in vulnerable populations could use to improve food security and nutrition.
Keywords
FOOD SYSTEMS ; INEQUALITIES ; INNOVATION ; EQUITY ; FOOD RIGHT ; SUSTAINABILITY ; FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION ; GHANA ; KENYA
Nationality: Moroccan
University of Registration: Agricultural and Veterinary Institute IAV Hassan II Rabat (Morocco)
Year: 2015
Scientific Discipline: Agronomy
Research Unit: Agronomy
Thesis Director: Ahmed BOUAZIZ
CIHEAM-IAMM Supervisor: Hatem BELHOUCHETTE
Thesis Committee: Khalid DAOUDI, Mohamed KARROU, Karim BARKAOUI
Funding: IAV Hassan II Rabat, ICARDA Morocco, INRA Morocco
Contact:
Thesis Defence:
Thesis Title
Eco-efficiency and water management in olive-based cereal-legume intercropping systems.
Thesis Summary
- To identify the diversity of agroforestry systems and farming practices in the Moulay Driss Zerhoun mountains;
- Performance and efficiency of intercropping with olive trees;
- Assess the influence of mature olive trees on growth parameters and yield components of cereals (durum wheat, soft wheat, barley) and pulses (broad beans, chickpeas, lentils);
- Characterising the effect of the positioning of mature olive trees relative to the sowing rows of cereals and pulses on their productivity; Assessing the impact of annual crops on young olive trees (1 and 2 years old), competition and/or resource sharing.
Keywords
PERFORMANCE ; LEGUMES ; CEREALS ; OLIVE TREES ; AGROFORESTRY
Nationality: Tunisian
University of Registration: Institut Agro Montpellier (France) & INAT Tunis (Tunisia)
Year: 2012
Scientific Discipline: Management
Research Unit: UMR MOISA
Thesis Director: Hélène ILBERT (CIHEAM-IAMM)
CIHEAM-IAMM: Hélène ILBERT
Thesis Committee: Hélène ILBERT (CIHEAM-IAMM), Abderraouf LAAJIMI (INAT Tunis), Mohsen BOUJBEL (Boudjebel SA VACPA Tunisia), Fatima EL HADAD-GAUTHIER (CIHEAM-IAMM)
Funding: CIHEAM-IAMM & private (VACPA)
Contact: ayari@iamm.fr
Thesis Defence: 27-05-2016
Cite the Thesis: Ayari I. (2016). Responsabilité sociale de l’entreprise, stratégie d’entreprise et labellisations commerce équitable et Bio : le cas d’une entreprise tunisienne d’exportation de dattes (Boudjebel SA VACPA). Thèse (Doctorat en Sciences de Gestion) : Montpellier SupAgro, (France). 307 p. École doctorale Économie et Gestion de Montpellier (ED 231). UMR MOISA. Lames du CIHEAM-IAMM.
http://www.iamm.ciheam.org/ress_doc/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=37175
Meditagri url: http://www.iamm.ciheam.org/ress_doc/opac_css/index.php?lvl=etagere_see&id=113
Thesis Title
Corporate social responsibility, business strategy, and fair trade and organic certification: the case of a Tunisian date export company (Boudjebel SA VACPA).
Thesis Summary
CSR is a central dimension of new corporate governance that incorporates variables of the solidarity-based economy and market instruments, namely labels, which allows the construction of the firm reputation and the development of new organizational forms. The purpose of this dissertation is to understand how a big Tunisian agribusiness company engages into CSR and integrates market instruments such as Fair Trade and organic labels in its strategy internally but also externally in particular against its suppliers. Based on institutional economics and strategic management, the analysis highlights on the strategic choices of specific market construction by the company (VACPA) through focusing on exporting a market product that may be differentiated (dates), and establishing links between the institutional environment of the company, production territories, international markets and the conditions of temporal transmission of the CSR approach and quality labels. Our research methodology is based on a qualitative case study of a large company exporting Tunisian dates (VACPA) while relying on a descriptive and explanatory approach. The work shows that the transformation of relations between operators in the sector can be explained in part by the implementation of differentiation instruments (formalization of relations, price premium, etc.). These labeling instruments are also integrated into an internal process that contributes to the structuring of corporate governance. With the transmission of the family business and the change of its managerial and organizational model, some possible anticipatory scenarios were proposed to discuss new strategic leadership choices and development of the issue of ethics and CSR within of the firm.
Keywords
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ; GOVERNANCE ; CORPORATE STRATEGY ; AGRI-INDUSTRY SECTO R; FAIR TRADE ; FOOD INDUSTRY ; EXPORTS ; DATES ; TUNISIA
Nationality: Tunisian
University of Registration: Institut Agro Montpellier (France) & Agricultural and Veterinary Institute IAV Hassan II (Morocco)
Year: 2013
Scientific Discipline: Agricultural & Food Sciences
Research Unit: UMR Innovation
Thesis Director: Pierre-Yves LE GAL (CIRAD)
CIHEAM-IAMMSupervisor: Hatem BELHOUCHETTE
Thesis Committee: Christian GARY (Institut Agro Montpellier), Ahmed BOUAZIZ (IAV Hassan II), Mohamed GAFSI, Patrick DUGUÉ
Funding: CIHEAM-IAMM
Contact: m.baccar@hotmail.fr
Thesis Defence: 06-07-2017
Cite the Thesis: Baccar M. (2017). Evaluation de la durabilité et des processus d’adaptation des exploitations agricoles familiales en lien avec les ressources en eau souterraine et le développement des filières agricoles : cas de la plaine du Saïs (Maroc). Thèse (Doctorat en Sciences Agronomiques et Agroalimentaire): Montpellier SupAgro, Montpellier (France). 214 p. Co-tutelle : IAV Hassan II (Rabat, Maroc) & École doctorale ED 584 : GAIA – Biodiversité, Agriculture, Alimentation, Environnement, Terre, Eau. UMR Innovation. CIRAD. Plateforme doctorale du CIHEAM-IAMM.
http://www.iamm.ciheam.org/ress_doc/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=38218
Meditagri url: http://www.iamm.ciheam.org/ressources/opac_css/index.php?lvl=etagere_see&id=182
Thesis Title
Assessment of the sustainability and adaptation processes of family farms in relation to groundwater resources and the development of agricultural value chains: the case of the Saïs Plain (Morocco).
Thesis Summary
Agriculture based on the massive use of non-renewable resources and the intensification of production systems show its limits, which question this development path. Yet this agricultural model has been developed in the Saïs plain, particularly in family farms. This development has resulted in the development of income-generating sectors that are intensively managed, with few technical supports. This dynamic has led to a groundwater overexploitation and pollution, and price fluctuations of agricultural products. The sustainability of family farms is questioned, especially since Moroccan agricultural policy encourages an intensive development path. This issue has been studied based on three sub-questions, each addressing the sustainability of family farms from a different perspective. These sub-questions were investigated thanks to a sample of 40 farms, chosen for their diversity of production systems. We used different tools for the data analysis. The first sub-question dealt with the sustainability of farms related to their evolving dynamics over the past 60 years. Seven pathways were identified based on several internal and external drivers. These pathways have resulted currently in three main farm types, differing in their production activities. T1 includes farms close to the original traditional system, based on land without a groundwater access; T2 gather farms cultivating a diversity of irrigated productions; T3 gather specialized farms. The second sub-question aims to evaluate the sustainability of family farms and to formalize its determinants, by mobilizing a research viewpoint. This analysis was based on a sustainability assessment tool (IDEA), adapted to the context of Saïs. Environmental sustainability depends on the diversification of activities and farm autonomy degree; socio-territorial sustainability is linked to the degree of farmer involvement in the territorial dynamics; and economic sustainability depends on the production system and the farm’ structural factors. However, general trend shows an antagonism between environmental and economic sustainability. The third sub-question explores farmers’ perceptions of sustainability and how these perceptions influence their management strategies. A first group of farmers perceives sustainability through the combination of profitability and farm natural resources preservation. They implement a strategy of income security and low intensive practices. A second group links sustainability to profitability and adaptation to farms external changes. They implement a strategy of farm flexibility to seize opportunities. Finally, a third group perceives sustainability through modernist agricultural model. They implement an entrepreneurial strategy, based on maximization of income. This study shows both divergence and convergence viewpoints of sustainability concept and its implementation in agriculture, between researchers and farmers, for instance on production practices or access to natural resources. To fill this gap between the various stakeholder’s perceptions, environmental regulation, extension and accompanying measures must be considered collectively by farmers, authorities and researchers.
Keywords
FAMILY FARMING ; SUSTAINABILITY ; ASSESSMENT ; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT ; ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE ; AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES ; NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ; WATER RESOURCES ; MOROCCO
Nationality: Turkish
University of Registration: Kahramanmaras Sütçü Imam University (Turkey)
Year: 2019
Scientific Discipline: Agricultural Extension & Policy
Doctoral School: Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun (Turkey)
Research Unit: Department of Agricultural Economics
Thesis Director: Ismet BOZ
CIHEAM-IAMM Supervisor: Georgios KLEFTODIMOS
Thesis Committee: Cagatay YILDIRIM, Emine IKIKAT TUMER, Georgios KLEFTODIMOS (CIHEAM-IAMM), Ismet BOZ
Funding: CIHEAM-IAMM
Contact:
Thesis Defence: 28 August 2024
Thesis Title
The place and Importance of Women in Rural Development in Samsun (Turkey).
Thesis Summary
The primary purpose of the thesis is to determine the place and importance of women living in rural areas in Samsun in rural development. Under this primary purpose:
- Determining the socio-demographic characteristics of women living in rural areas,
- Determining the duties and responsibilities of women in the family,
- Determining the communication behaviours of women,
- Determining the status of women in decision-making processes,
- Identifying women who directly contribute to rural development and those who indirectly contribute,
- Comparison of women who directly contribute to rural development and those who indirectly contribute in terms of socio-demographic characteristics, communication and communication behaviours are among the side objectives of this study.
Keywords
RURAL WOMEN ; RURAL DEVELOPMENT ; WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
Nationality: Lebanese
University of Registration: AgroParisTech (France)
Year: 2018
Scientific Discipline: Geomatics
Research Unit: UMR TETIS Territories, Environment, Remote Sensing and Space Computing
Thesis Director: Nicolas BAGHDADI
CIHEAM-IAMM Supervisor: Hatem BELHOUCHETTE
Thesis Committee: Valérie DEMAREZ, Dino LENCO, Gilles BELAUD, Bruno CHIVERON
Funding: Occitania Region, INRAE, CIHEAM-IAMM
Contact: hassan.bazzi@irstea.fr
Thesis Defence:
Thesis Title
Development of a method for mapping and monitoring irrigated areas using satellite imagery.
Thesis Summary
The main objective of this thesis is to develop an operational methodology based on the use of radar and optical imagery to identify irrigated areas and monitor irrigation activities (date, frequency, etc.) at the plot level. New Earth observation systems, in particular the Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 radar and optical constellations, which provide free data with high spatial and temporal resolutions (5-day revisit interval with a spatial resolution of 10 m), open up new opportunities for mapping irrigated areas. The thesis will focus on the potential of high spatial and temporal resolution soil moisture maps (down to the plot scale) derived from Sentinel-1 radar imagery for detecting and monitoring irrigated areas. The combined use of radar and optical imagery, integrated with soil moisture maps, will help to further develop an operational model for mapping and detecting irrigation practices.
Ultimately, this thesis aims to estimate agricultural production using a region-scale cropping system model. Certain parameters of this model will be determined from radar imagery. This cropping system model will be used to simulate production and water use for dominant crops under contrasting biophysical conditions (soil, climate).
Keywords
IRRIGATION ; REMOTE SENSING ; SOIL MOISTURE ; CROP SYSTEM MODEL
Nationality: Tunisian
University of Registration: Agro Campus Ouest Angers (France)
Year: 2021
Scientific Discipline: Economics
Doctoral School: EDGE Loire Bretagne
Research Unit: LARESS (ESA Group)
Thesis Director: Aude RIDIER & Karine DANIEL
CIHEAM-IAMM Supervisor: Georgios KLEFTODIMOS
Thesis Committee: Pierre DUPRAZ (INRA), Pierre LABARTHE (INRAe), Alexandre GOHIN (INRAe)
Funding: Pays de la Loire Region, ESA Group Angers & CIHEAM-IAMM
Contact: m.ben-jaballah@groupe-esa.com
Thesis Defence: 19 December 2025
Thesis Title
Innovation Strategies for Business Models and the Fruit and Vegetable Sectors in Occitania: What Role and Opportunities Do They Offer for Small-Scale Farmers in the Region?
Thesis Summary
The objective of this thesis is to assess the competitive advantage of various fruit and vegetable supply chains for small-scale producers in the Occitania region and to identify strategic solutions for their business models, taking into account economic, environmental, and social aspects. More specifically, the thesis aims to define and test a conceptual framework for selecting and evaluating sustainability standards and certifications applicable to local clusters and small-scale fruit and vegetable producers.
Keywords
FRUIT AND VEGETABLE SUPPLY CHAINS ; BUSINESS MODEL ; SUSTAINABILITY ; COMPETITIVENESS
Nationality: Tunisian
University of Registration: Institut Agro Montpellier (France)
Year: 2013
Scientific Discipline: Functional ecology and agricultural sciences EFSA
Research Unit: UMR SYSTEM 1230 Operating and managing tropical and Mediterranean cropping systems
Thesis Director: Jacques WÉRY (Institut Agro Montpellier)
CIHEAM-IAMM Supervisor: Hatem BELHOUCHETTE
Thesis Committee: Jacques WÉRY (Institut Agro Montpellier), Hatem BELHOUCHETTE (CIHEAM-IAMM), Karim BARKAOUI (CIRAD UMR System), Lydie GUILIONI (Institut Agro Montpellier), Hélène MARROU (Institut Agro Montpellier, UMR System)
Funding: CIHEAM-IAMM
Contact: yosser.ben-zekri@supagro.fr
Thesis Defence: 06-07-2017
Cite the Thesis: Ben Zekri Mghirbi Y. (2017). Analyse des compromis entre la production et l’efficience de l’eau et de l’azote dans les systèmes céréaliers méditerranéens a base de blé dur. Thèse (Doctorat en Sciences Agronomiques) : Montpellier SupAgro, Montpellier (France). 148 p. École doctorale ED 584 : GAIA – Biodiversité, Agriculture, Alimentation, Environnement, Terre, Eau. UMR System. Plateforme doctorale du CIHEAM-IAMM. http://www.theses.fr/s182398
Meditagri url: https://www.iamm.ciheam.org/ress_doc/opac_css/index.php?lvl=etagere_see&id=176
Thesis Title
Analysis of trade-offs between yield and water and nitrogen use efficiency in Mediterranean durum wheat-based cereal systems.
Thesis Summary
The low efficiency of non-renewable resources such as water and nitrogen is a constraint for a sustained increase in cereal production. The simultaneous increase in water and nitrogen use efficiency and yields is a major challenge for cereal production in the Mediterranean, mainly for durum wheat production. The aim of the thesis is to analyze the variability of durum yields in Tunisia with respect to the two factors of production water and nitrogen and the opportunities of jointly increasing productivity and efficiency in a durum wheat-based cropping systems. This study is based on experimental data, regional statistics and farm surveys conducted on a sample of 537 agronomic situations (the combination of a farmer’s field, a year and a previous crop) which are representative of the diversity of farmers’ practices in four grain-producing regions that provide a major part of cereal production. Based on the efficiency decomposition approach and the concepts of limiting factor, eco-efficiency frontier and yield gap, data collected allowed us to establish a framework allowing to analyze trade-offs between the resource (water and nitrogen) use efficiency and yield. Tested with experimental data and applied to farmers’ data for the case of nitrogen, this framework demonstrated that non-cereal preceding crops, especially legumes, result in a higher potential for N uptake by durum wheat than with a monoculture. Diversified rotations result also to an increase in both yield and N-use efficiency of the following durum wheat. The increase in the efficiency frontier of nitrogen capture is partly of-set by increased N uptake gaps in farmers’ fields indicating the presence of other limiting factors. Water and its interactions with nitrogen could be considered among the main factors that may affect nitrogen uptake and hence yields of durum wheat. This work would allow combining, on the one hand, the diagnosis of limiting factors at the level of farmer’s fields and on the other hand the analysis of scenarios for the management of trade-offs between production efficiency with farmers and decision-makers.
Keywords
WATER USE EFFICIENCY ; NITROGEN ; WATER RESOURCES ; CROP SYSTEM ; DURUM WHEAT ; CROP YIELD ; RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ; INPUT FACTOR ; FARM SURVEY ; CEREAL CULTIVATION ; TUNISIA
Nationality: French
University of Registration: University of Montpellier (France)
Year: 2012
Scientific Discipline: Management
Research Unit: MRM, EA 4557
Thesis Director: Florence Palpacuer (UM1) ; Maya Leroy (AgroParisTech)
CIHEAM-IAMM: François LERIN
Thesis Committee: Florence Palpacuer (UM1), Maya LEROY (AgroParisTech), François LERIN (CIHEAM-IAMM), Amélie SEIGNOUR
Funding: FFEM
Contact: Bernard-mongin@iamm.fr
Thesis Defence: 14-12-2016
Cite the Thesis: Bernard-Mongin C. (2016). La biodiversité par projet : réflexivité engagée et dispositif stratégique en Albanie. Thèse de Doctorat en Sciences de Gestion : Université de Montpellier, Montpellier (France). 414 p. + 104 p. Annexes. École doctorale ED 231 : Économie et Gestion de Montpellier / UR Montpellier Recherche en Management (MRM) / LAMES du CIHEAM-IAMM.
http://www.iamm.ciheam.org/ress_doc/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=37244
Meditagri url: http://www.iamm.ciheam.org/ress_doc/opac_css/index.php?lvl=etagere_see&id=115
Thesis Title
Biodiversity by project: Committed reflexivity and strategic frameworks in Albania.
Thesis Summary
Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) operates mainly through projects. Envisioned as an efficient mean to inject funds in specific sectors of the economy according established targets, projects have generated a vast managerial literature aiming at optimizing the delivery of rationally planned and controlled outputs. Projects are also widely used to mainstream biodiversity in the ODA sector. However, our genealogy of biodiversity as a global environmental issue shows how this kind of wicked and ambiguous problem challenges the mechanistic rationality at the basis of all ODA project models. Building on both global and local levels, biodiversity issues cannot be properly constructed and managed through ex ante planning processes or ex post evaluations, but are arising from multi-actors interactions throughout the project life. By shifting the traditional focus of project management analysis, we assume that a posture of “embedded research” allows us to experiment and describe the strategic activity of conceiving environmental action frames. We are equipping this posture building on Strategic Environmental Management Analysis (SEMA), adjusted with foucaldian analytical frameworks used in Management science on collective action design. Pairing the concepts of “regime” and “device”, we propose to use them as a central analytic tool to study this strategic activity that articulates a general intention – a biodiversity regime – conceived through a project understood as a device (i.e.: an heterogeneous set of actors, institutions, tools and knowledges). The figure of “reflexive pole” endorses the conception of the environmental strategy as a liminal site embedded into a specific device through the exercise of a “committed reflexivity”. The project used as an empirical basis for this intervention research was funded by the French Global Environment Facility (GEF). It was designed in an original approach between Albanian Rural Development Agency (MADA) and Mediterranean intergovernmental organization (CIHEAM-IAMM) having agreed to “embark” a research function in a positive process that consists of building Signs of quality and origin (SIQO) for local productions from pastoral, agricultural systems or non-timber products. The hypothesis advanced by the project “BiodivBalkans” (2012-2016) was that this process would promote a sustainable environmental management of agro-silvo-pastoral Albanian territories. This inquiry – led in a pragmatic perspective – is based on a situated narrative and description of the project’s developments studied as a strategic device, to which is attached the activity of the “reflexive pole”. Doing so, we emphasize the cognitive, organizational and strategic nature of conceiving the frames of an environmental action into a situated device related to an evolving biodiversity regime. Beyond the irreducibility of this experience, the added value of this research work is twofold. From a practical standpoint, we propose to consider the “reflexive pole’s” activity as an additional modality to design and implement ODA environmental projects. We derive three invariants of this biodiversity mainstreaming activity (i.e.: framing, shaping, using), which designate three modes of exerting a “committed reflexivity”. Thoses strategic operations of different nature and conceptual scales are to design the environmental dimension of collective action devices in complex, ambiguous and adverse universe. From an analytical standpoint then, theorizing strategic activity of the “reflexive pole” allows us to redefine the status of the environmental actor as proposed by the Strategic Environmental Management Analysis (SEMA). We use the concepts of “knowledge brokering” and “boundary organization” to enlarge the actor-centric perspective adopted by SEMA, with a socio-cognitive dimension, building theoretical foundations to further explore the cognitive, procedural and located dimension of environmental changes through collective action devices.
Keywords
BIODIVERSITY ; PROJECT DESIGN ; DEVELOPMENT PROJECT ; PROJECT MANAGEMENT ; GOVERNMENT AID ; DEVELOPMENT AID ; ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ; AGRO-FORESTRY-PASTORAL SYSTEM ; QUALITY LABEL ; TERRITORY ; COLLECTIVE ACTION ; STRATEGY ; RURAL DEVELOPMENT ; AGROBIODIVERSITY ; ALBANIA
Nationality: Moroccan
University of Registration: Institut Agro Montpellier (France)
Year: 2015
Scientific Discipline: Agricultural Sciences
Research Unit: UMR SYSTEM
Thesis Director: Christian GARY (Institut Agro Montpellier)
CIHEAM-IAMM Supervisor: Hatem BELHOUCHETTE
Thesis Committee: Christian GARY (Institut Agro Montpellier), Hatem BELHOUCHETTE (CIHEAM-IAMM), Yigezu Atnafe YIGEZU (ICARDA), Quang BAO (CGIAR)
Funding: CIHEAM-IAMM
Contact: elansari@iamm.fr
Thesis Defence: 13-12-2018
Cite the Thesis: El Ansari L. (2018). Analyse et performance de la diversité agricole et des stratégies pour promouvoir les systèmes de production à base de céréales au niveau des zones arides : cas de la plaine du Saïss au Maroc. Thèse (Doctorat en Sciences Agronomiques) : Montpellier SupAgro, France. 175 p. École doctorale ED 584 : GAIA – Biodiversité, Agriculture, Alimentation, Environnement, Terre, Eau. UMR System. Plateforme doctorale du CIHEAM-IAMM. Icarda. https://www.iamm.ciheam.org/ress_doc/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=40218
Meditagri url: https://www.iamm.ciheam.org/ress_doc/opac_css/index.php?lvl=etagere_see&id=219
Thesis Title
Analysis and performance of agricultural diversity and strategies to promote cereal-based production systems in arid regions: The case of the Saïss Plain in Morocco.
Thesis Summary
Producing enough to meet the population food demand is a major challenge for dryland regions. With this challenge, the majority of agricultural policies dryland have been based on the intensification of agricultural production. However, in a context of climate change, agricultural intensification has certainly increased production but has also increased the pressure on groundwater, compromising the sustainability of farming systems. Today several political actors have put forward the need to find new, more sustainable production models. The objective of this thesis is to identify and evaluate via bio-economic modeling of households based on linear programming, technical and socio-economic levers, to promote, in an arid context, (the plain of Saïss in Morocco) agricultural production without compromising natural resources. Before identifying and evaluating the alternative levers, it was first of all necessary to carry out a detailed characterization of agricultural diversity and to evaluate, based on the concept of resources use efficiency, the performance of each agricultural household constituting this diversity (1st stage of the methodological approach). This characterization has identified three typical farm households: i) predominantly vegetables-intensive farm households with a high income (19,343 dh/ha) resulting from very high input ; ii) The second type includes semi-intensive systems mainly growing cereal crops (soft wheat and Barley) with average income (7378 dh/ha) and average input in nitrate and labor (iii) The third type includes traditional systems practicing mainly cereal crops associated with extensive legumes with income comparable to cereal-type income (6491 dh/ha) and low intakes inputs. The assessment of the performance of these three types of households shows that systems with high added value (vegetables systems) are more efficient than systems based on cereals and legumes (a technical efficiency of 0.54 for vegetables systems compared to 0.52 for systems based on cereals and legumes) but with high input intensities. This study also showed that all the tested scenarios have been able to increase the farm income by at least 1000 dh/ha compared to the baseline scenario. Nevertheless, none of these scenarios has increased the area of cereals and legumes. The only notable increase is that of vegetables which are very profitable and seem to better value the irrigation water. The analytical framework and the methodological approach developed in this thesis can be adapted to other Mediterranean countries. This approach could contribute in particular to a dynamic analysis of the resilience of agricultural systems in these countries.
Keywords
AGRICULTURAL HOUSEHOLD ; BIOECONOMIC MODEL ; OPTIMISATION METHOD ; ARID REGION ; RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ; PERFORMANCE ; CLASSIFICATION ; AGRICULTURAL INCOME ; AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION ; CEREALS ; MOROCCO
Nationality: Lebanese
University of Registration: University of Montpellier 2 (France)
Year: 2013
Scientific Discipline: STE (Earth and Water Sciences)
Research Unit: HSM Hydrosciences
Thesis Director: Séverin PISTRE (IRSTEA)
CIHEAM-IAMM: Hatem BELHOUCHETTE
Thesis Committee: Séverin PISTRE (IRSTEA), Hatem BELHOUCHETTE (CIHEAM-IAMM), Pierre RUELLE (IRSTEA), Salem DARWICH (Agronomic Fac. Beirut), Roger MOUSSA (INRA)
Funding: Ministry of Agriculture Lebanon
Contact: mkhansa1@hotmail.com
Thesis Defence: 30-11-2017
Cite the Thesis: El Khansa M. (2017). Finding pathways for enhancing irrigated farming systems in Lebanon. Thèse (Dr d’Université en Sciences de l’Eau) : Université Montpellier (France). 165 p. École doctorale ED 584 : GAIA – Biodiversité, Agriculture, Alimentation, Environnement, Terre, Eau. UR HSM-Hydrosciences Montpellier. Plateforme doctorale du CIHEAM-IAMM. http://www.theses.fr/2017MONTT104
Meditagri url: https://www.iamm.ciheam.org/ress_doc/opac_css/index.php?lvl=etagere_see&id=179
Thesis Title
Finding pathways for enhancing irrigated farming systems in Lebanon.
Thesis Summary
Rural populations in the arid zones, and more particularly in Lebanon, often face economic and climatic pressures which impact their food security, their income but also the natural resources. In response to these pressures, most agricultural development policies in these areas have been based on the intensification of agriculture by providing direct or indirect support to farmers. Nevertheless, for many observers these policies are still not very effective today. In Lebanon these policies are also highly criticized because of the low agricultural production, and especially because of its low efficiency compared to the resources mobilized. This research work has the objective to assess the behavior of the farming systems in the MENA region with regard to its production efficiency, in terms of water and inputs use. Another objective is to test the sensitivity of these systems to variations in subsidies and prices, and subsequently propose and evaluate new options to enhance the agricultural production performance. The results of the characterization of the functioning of farms show that they are highly dependent on direct or indirect state subsidies. This analysis shows that 4 out of 5 farms produce tobacco with more or less surfaces. This result is due mainly to the important support given to this crop. It also appears that, overall, the incomes of the farms studied have increased with intensification, but often at the expense of the environment. The scenarios tested in this study, follow the intent of the State to invest in water storage to increase the availability of irrigation water for farmers. This strategy aims at the diversification of cultivated crops and to increase the income of farmers. In these scenarios, it will also be necessary to test several prices for irrigation in a context of very low prices for the agricultural produce. Simulations using bio-economic modeling based on nonlinear programming showed five production strategies trajectories. These trajectories depend on the quantity of water available, the aid granted to each crop, and the produce selling price. Similarly, these farms are considered very vulnerable to the variation in governmental support, but also to the volatility of market prices. More surprisingly, these farms appeared to be insensitive to the increase in irrigated water supply. Income per farm increased on average by 10 to 20% with larger water availability. This increase in income is mainly dependent on the initial cropping patterns of the farms. Beyond the results obtained, this work emphasizes the need to reconsider the methods of analysis based on bio-economic modeling, the creation of database dedicated to the modeling of farms, but also on the urgent consideration of recovery measures in drylands for a more sustainable agriculture.
Keywords
AGRICULTURAL POLICY ; CROP SYSTEM ; FARM SURVEY ; AGRICULTURAL STRUCTURE ; CROP PERFORMANCE ; ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE ; INDICATOR ; BIOECONOMIC MODEL ; SCENARIO ; LEBANON
Nationality: Lebanese
University of Registration: Institut Agro Montpellier (France)
Year: 2021
Scientific Discipline: Economics
Doctoral School: EDEG
Research Unit: UMR MoISA
Thesis Director: Paolo PROSPERI (CIHEAM-IAMM) & Luca CAMANZI (Univ. Bologna, Italy)
CIHEAM-IAMM Supervisor: Paolo PROSPERI
Thesis Committee: Domenico DENTONI, Mechthild DONNER (INRAe), Fatima EL HADAD-GAUTHIER (CIHEAM-IAMM)
Funding: Occitania Region & PRIMA MED-Links Project
Contact: elkhechen@iamm.fr
Thesis Defence: 4 December 2025
Thesis Title
Innovation Strategies for Business Models and the Fruit and Vegetable Sectors in Occitania Region: What Role and Opportunities Do They Offer for Small-Scale Farmers in the Region?
Thesis Summary
The objective of this thesis is to assess the competitive advantage of various fruit and vegetable supply chains for small-scale producers in the Occitania Region and to identify strategic solutions for their business models, taking into account economic, environmental, and social aspects. More specifically, the thesis aims to define and test a conceptual framework for selecting and evaluating sustainability standards and certifications applicable to local clusters and small-scale fruit and vegetable producers.
Keywords
FRUIT AND VEGETABLE SUPPLY CHAINS ; BUSINESS MODEL ; SUSTAINABILITY ; COMPETITIVENESS
Nationality: Tunisian
University of Registration: Institut Agro Montpellier (France)
Year: 2013
Scientific Discipline: Economics
Research Unit: UMR MOISA
Thesis Director: Florence JACQUET (Institut Agro Montpellier)
CIHEAM-IAMM Supervisor: Hatem BELHOUCHETTE
Thesis Committee: Florence JACQUET (Institut Agro Montpellier), Hatem BELHOUCHETTE (CIHEAM-IAMM), Guillermo FLICHMAN (CIHEAM-IAMM), Sophie DROGUÉ (INRA)
Funding: CIHEAM-IAMM
Contact:
Thesis Defence: 09-06-2017
Cite the Thesis: Ferchiou A. (2017). Quelles mesures de relances pour l’agriculture familiale en zone aride : évaluation intégrée par la modélisation bio économique des ménages agricoles de Sidi Bouzid. Thèse (Doctorat en Sciences Economiques) : Montpellier SupAgro, France. 195 p. + annexes. École doctorale ED 231 : EDEG – Économie et Gestion de Montpellier. UMR Moisa. Plateforme doctorale du CIHEAM-IAMM
http://www.iamm.ciheam.org/ress_doc/opac_css/doc_num.php?explnum_id=18511
Meditagri url: https://www.iamm.ciheam.org/ress_doc/opac_css/index.php?lvl=etagere_see&id=178
Thesis Title
What recovery measures for family farming in arid regions: An integrated assessment using bio-economic modelling of farming households in Sidi Bouzid.
Thesis Summary
Rural populations in drylands often face demographic and climate pressures that do not only affect natural resources and real incomes but also their food security. In response to these pressures, most agricultural development policies in these areas have been based on agricultural intensification. Today, several parties are mobilizing to find more sustainable alternatives. The objective of this research is to design targeted levers for different types of agricultural households and to simulate their impacts on socio-economic, resource and food consumption indicators. For this study, we chose Sidi-Bouzid, an arid and rural Tunisian zone. The area has experienced considerable agricultural development since the late 1980s through intensification, irrigation and privatization of land ownership. However, this development model has reached its limits and is aggravated by climate uncertainties. To meet our objectives, our methodological approach was based on an analysis integrating field surveys with farmers and local decision-makers to better characterize agricultural diversity, a household model based on linear programming, and computation of biophysical, socio-economic and consumption indicators. The household model was designed with an objective function that takes into account both production and self-consumption. Initially, this approach allowed us to classify the agricultural households of Sidi Bouzid into three major categories: consumers producers, traders consumers producers and finally market producers households. Furthermore, this approach enabled us to test and evaluate the implementation of reflation scenarios which are based on a better valuation of olives in a context of climate change. These scenarios aimed at a better compromise between agricultural production, household consumption, as well as water and fodder resources preservation. The simulations showed that, without any stimulus measure, household incomes have decreased from 1% to 19% depending on the household. This decrease is due to an increase in the cost of feed purchases for the sheep population, a reduction in cereal sales and a reduction in irrigated areas. However, the stimulus measure improved the income and consumption of farmers with the greatest olive oil potential, the household with a large rain-fed farm (household 1) saw its income increase by 10% and its food expenditure by 23%. The effectiveness of the stimulus measure, however, is based on the availability of family labor force on the farm. Moreover, over the long term, the results of the combined scenarios showed that the stimulus measure should mitigate the effects of climate change on farm household income. Beyond the achieved results, this work emphasized the need to reconsider the methods of analysis but also on the urgency of the reflection on the agricultural levers in the drylands for a more sustainable agriculture. The suggested approach in this study makes it possible in its current structure to test other scenarios at arid zone level and in consultation with local actors.
Keywords
FAMILY-RUN FARM ; FAMILY LABOUR ; CLASSIFICATION ; AGRICULTURAL HOUSEHOLD ; ARID REGION ; BIOECONOMIC MODEL ; SUBSISTENCE FARMING ; SUSTAINABILITY ; SIDI BOUZID ; TUNISIA
Nationality: Tunisian
University of Registration: University of Paul Valéry Montpellier 3 (UPV) (France)
Year: 2019
Scientific Discipline: Geography & Land Use
Research Unit: UMR GRED
Thesis Director: Jean-Paul BORD (UPV)
CIHEAM-IAMM Supervisor: Philippe LE GRUSSE
Thesis Committee:
Funding: Occitania Region
Contact: grimene@iamm.fr
Thesis Defence: 29 November 2024
Thesis Title
Spatial characterisation of the vulnerability of natural resources and management of diffuse pollution risks associated with agricultural plant protection practices.
Thesis Summary
Development of a model for the spatial characterisation of the vulnerability of natural resources to the risks of diffuse pollution caused by agricultural plant protection practices.
Calculation of the potential risk of environmental pollution from plant protection products at a regional level.
Keywords
PLANT PROTECTION PRODUCTS ; VULNERABILITY ; RISK ; NATURAL RESOURCES ; MAPPING ; SPATIAL REMOTE SENSING
Nationality: Algerian
University of Registration: Institut Agro Montpellier (France)
Year: 2011
Scientific Discipline: Economics
Research Unit: UMR MOISA
Thesis Director: Selma TOZANLI (CIHEAM-IAMM)
CIHEAM-IAMM Supervisor: Selma TOZANLI
Thesis Committee: Selma TOZANLI (CIHEAM-IAMM), Florence JACQUET (INRA), Fatima EL HADAD-GAUTHIER (CIHEAM-IAMM), Charlotte EMLINGER (CEPII Paris)
Funding: INRAA Algiers
Contact: hamadache@iamm.fr
Thesis Defence: 06-11-2015
Cite the Thesis: Hamadache H. (2015). Réforme des subventions du marché du blé en algérie : une analyse en équlibre général calculable. Thèse (Dr. en Sciences Economiques) : SupAgro, Montpellier (France). 285 p. École Doctorale n. 231 EDEG Économie et Gestion de Montpellier / UMR Moisa / LAMES du CIHEAM-IAMM. http://www.iamm.ciheam.org/ress_doc/opac_css/doc_num.php?explnum_id=14366
Meditagri url: http://www.iamm.ciheam.org/ress_doc/opac_css/index.php?lvl=etagere_see&id=111
Thesis Title
Reform of wheat market subsidies in Algeria: A computable general equilibrium analysis.
Thesis Summary
Wheat is the staple food of most Algerians. To ensure food security of the population, the government has always favoured an interventionist regulation policy based on consumer prices control. Since the country’s independence in 1962, consumption subsidies have been established as a key measure of government. Besides the high cost of this policy and the distortional effects it causes, the consumption subsidies do not target the most needy, they strengthen the country’s dependence for the wheat consumption, hinder the market players organization and oppose the free trade agreement. Despite this mixed results, to our knowledge, no research has attempted to quantify the expected effects of possible reforms of wheat consumption subsidies in Algeria, whether at macroeconomic or microeconomic level. To address this situation, our work attempts to assess the impact of wheat consumption subsidy reform on the economy as a whole and on the household’s welfare. Using a CGE model calibrated on the characteristics of the Algerian economy, we simulate two types of scenarios; the first implies a total removal of wheat consumption subsidies. The second test alternative compensations policy following the removal of subsidies: direct transfers to households, reduction of direct taxes on household income and the agricultural and agro-food liberalization. The results show that the simulation of subsidy reform confirmed our assumptions. The consumption subsidies removal caused a decline in wheat consumption following the rise of its domestic price, while consumption of other food products remained at the same rate, then increased after the introduction of compensations measures. These have ensured to maintain the level of overall food consumption to a satisfactory level. This was possible in the first two measures, due to the increase in household income caused by the redistribution of subsidy as household transfer and income tax reduction. It was also allowed by decrease in agricultural and food products prices as a result of the of agricultural trade liberalization. This shows that taking simultaneously into account the free-market pricing of wheat, recycling consumption subsidy budget through household income or by the agricultural trade liberalization, we can verify that the domestic wheat price deregulation would not necessarily mean a harmful effect on the population economic welfare, in doing this, the potential food security risk would be moderated.
Keywords
REFORM ; SUBSIDY ; INTERNAL MARKET ; BLE ; AGRICULTURAL PRICES ; REGULATION ; PRICING POLICY ; GENERAL EQUILIBRIUM MODEL ; FOOD CONSUMPTION ; RETAIL PRICES ; ALGERIA
Nationality: Tunisian
University of Registration: Institut Agro Montpellier (France)
Year: 2014
Scientific Discipline: Functional ecology and agricultural sciences EFSA
Research Unit: UMR SYSTEM
Thesis Director: Jacques WÉRY (Institut Agro Montpellier)
CIHEAM-IAMM Supervisor: Hatem BELHOUCHETTE
Thesis Committee: Jacques WÉRY (Institut Agro Montpellier), Hatem BELHOUCHETTE (CIHEAM-IAMM), Thierry DARBIN (Invivo AGROSOLUTIONS Paris), Pierre-Yves LE GAL (CIRAD Montpellier)
Funding: CIFRE Grant
Contact:
Thesis Defence: 13-12-2017
Cite the Thesis: Hammouda M. (2017). Élaboration d’un outil d’aide à la décision pour une gestion durable des exploitations agricoles : conception d’un cadre de modélisation basé sur un simulateur bioéconomique d’exploitation. Thèse de doctorat en Sciences Agronomiques : Montpellier SupAgro, Montpellier (France). 213 p. École doctorale ED 584 : GAIA – Biodiversité, Agriculture, Alimentation, Environnement, Terre, Eau. UMR System. Plateforme doctorale du CIHEAM-IAMM. Thèse confidentielle
http://www.iamm.ciheam.org/ress_doc/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=38216
Meditagri url: https://www.iamm.ciheam.org/ress_doc/opac_css/index.php?lvl=etagere_see&id=177
Thesis Title
Élaboration d’un outil d’aide à la décision pour une gestion durable des exploitations agricoles : conception d’un cadre de modélisation basé sur un simulateur bioéconomique d’exploitation.
Thesis Summary
In France, as in several developed countries, the intensification of cereal production occurred along with weed resistance to herbicide. The future of these farms thus relies on the ability of the farmers and their agricultural advisers to bring forward the alternative production strategies that can meet the challenge of resistance within an uncertain and changing socio-economic context. The objective of this thesis is to work in concertation with the agricultural advisers and the farmers on building a decision-support tool that includes a database, a bio-economic model and a set of assessment indicators. This tool was used for two cereal farms of the Midi-Pyrénées region to assess production strategies designed to promote agricultural practices that can mitigate the risks of resistant weed growth. For modeling purposes, we built a regional database to define the current agricultural activities (527 activities) and their matrix of “inputs-outputs” variables. To this end, we relied on the Epiclès database provided by Invivo Agrosolutions. Several variables were determined by expertise or estimated from technical documents so as to complete this database. We also developed farm databases to describe the available resources, the product prices and subsidies and penalties for agricultural production. Three major strategies for the management of resistant weeds were derived from the implementation of this decision-support tool to the two cereal farms, based on the simulation of a set of scenarios developed in concertation with the agricultural advisers. A first scenario for retrieving contracts due to emerging resistant weed forecasts a drop of income of at least 21% for both farms with an increase in pesticides use (IFT cost) of at least 5% if the farmers’ practices do not change. A second scenario, similar to the first but allowing more access to irrigation water resource, leads to an increase in farm income (+13%) as a result of further use of spring crop (+28%). A third scenario for the change in practices (long rotations, diversification, ploughing) helped reduce the risk of the emergence of resistance, improved income (of at least 41%) and used less fertilizer and herbicides. However, this scenario requires more workforces and water resources, which are both scarce in the study area. We believe this tool to be an interesting basis for the farmers and their advisers to design, develop and assess agro-ecological production strategies to better adapt to the changing context of the region.
Keywords
DECISION SUPPORT ; FARM MANAGEMENT ; DESIGN ; SIMULATION MODEL ; BIOECONOMIC MODEL ; CROP SYSTEM ; AGRICULTURAL ADVICE ; PESTICIDE RESISTANCE ; CEREAL CULTIVATION ; SUSTAINABILITY ; MIDI-PYRENEES ; FRANCE
Nationality: Lebanese
University of Registration: University Paul Valéry Montpellier 3 (UPV) (France)
Year: 2017
Scientific Discipline: Geography & Land Use
Research Unit: ART-Dev UMR 5281
Thesis Director: Marc DEDEIRE (UPV)
CIHEAM-IAMM Supervisor: Mélanie REQUIER-DESJARDINS
Thesis Committee: Stephan GHIOTTI (CNRS), Pascale MAIZI (Institut Agro Montpellier), Maud HIRCZAK (Univ. Aix/Marseille), Salem DARWICH (Lebanese Univ.)
Funding: CIHEAM-IAMM
Contact: rita.jalkh@etu.univ-montp3.fr
Thesis Defence: 2 December 2022
Thesis Title
Role of entreprises in socio-spatial dynamics and marketing of traditional food products « Mouneh » in Lebanon: Case of the Bekaa Valley.
Thesis Summary
For the purpose of this study, the main concepts which will be followed to assess the case of the Bekaa valley in Lebanon will mainly encompass of the theory of bottom-up neo-endogenous territorial development processes. The approach will focus on food as a cultural identity, specifically a group of traditional Lebanese pantry foods known as mouneh and which will be ultimately considered, holistically, for their potential as a territorial resource. The study will further depict the national institutional and administrative and institutional structure for the agri-food production in Lebanon.
Research questions will entail:
- To which extent would the culture of mouneh production be considered as a specific territorial resource at the level of the Bekaa Valley?
- Does the production of mouneh translate into a Spatial and Territorial System?
- If yes, how does the production of mouneh contribute to territorial development under the Lebanese context?
Keywords
COOPERATIVES ; MOUNEH ; BEKAA VALLEY ; LEBANON ; PRODUCERS ; LOCAL DEVELOPMENT
Nationality: Lebanese
University of Registration: University Paul Valéry Montpellier 3 (UPV) (France)
Year: 2014
Scientific Discipline: Geography & Land Use
Research Unit: UMR GRED
Thesis Director: Jean-Paul BORD (UPV)
CIHEAM-IAMM Supervisor: Philippe LE GRUSSE
Thesis Committee: Salem DARWICH (Fac. Agronomy Beirut), Laurent CHAPELON
Funding: CIHEAM-IAMM
Contact: farah.kanj@hotmail.com
Thesis Defence: 06-07-2018
Cite the Thesis: Kanj F. (2018). Outils et méthodes pour une politique territoriale de gestion raisonnée des pratiques agricoles : cas d’application dans la région de la Béqaa au Liban. Thèse (Dr d’Université en Géographie et Aménagement de l’Espace) : Université Paul Valéry, Montpellier (France). 376 p. École doctorale ED 60 : TTSD – Territoires, Temps, Sociétés et Développement. UMR Gred. Plateforme doctorale du CIHEAM-IAMM.
https://www.iamm.ciheam.org/ress_doc/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=39812
Meditagri url: https://www.iamm.ciheam.org/ress_doc/opac_css/index.php?lvl=etagere_see&id=220
Thesis Title
Tools and methods for a regional policy on the sustainable management of agricultural practices: a case study in the Bekaa region of Lebanon.
Thesis Summary
Intensification of agricultural practices resulting from modernized policies implemented in countries of North and South Mediterranean often lead to excessive use of fertilizers and Phytosanitary Products (PP). These have a negative impact on both the environment, through the leaching of pollutants to water and soil, and on the health of farmers and the population at large. This is why these agricultural practices now pose the question of the sustainability of these methods of production and food consumption. This interdisciplinary research work, which links both agronomy and geography, analyzes the impact of using PPs on the quality of soil and groundwater. To meet the identified objective of the research, we mobilized the concept of modeling the management of pollution diffused from agricultural origins. This work consists of implementing a decision support tool dedicated to stakeholders in the study area – the caza of Zahlé in Lebanon. This study was based on the use of several tools: GIS, statistical analysis and risk assessment model of PP leaching in the environment (PEARL) by introducing an indicator of frequency of treatment. The results of the analysis allowed us to identify areas of high phytosanitary pressure, which are the communes located on the plain of the caza (Hoch Ghanam, Bar Elias, Ferzol, Terbol, Ablah, Anjar, Quab Elias), crops most consuming PP (vine, apple, cherry, potato and wheat) and the most used substances in the study area (alfa cypermethrin, dimethoate, flutriafol, copper oxychloride, copper hydroxide, methomyl, ethyl-chlorpyrifos, glyphosate, lamda cyhalothrin and proquinazid). Results also allowed for the evaluation of the quality of groundwater based on the predictions of the concentrations of active ingredients leached at the level of the study area. Four active ingredients were identified as the most leached to groundwater: methomyl, flutriafol, ethyl-chlorpyrifos and alfa cypermethrin. Our results of forecasting the concentrations of these pesticides annually allowed us to identify vulnerable zones in terms of a risk of contamination. The areas cultivated with vines on sandy and sandy clay soils were found to be sensitive to the active ingredient ethyl-chlorpyrifos (> 0.1µg / l), flutriafol (> 1µg / l) and methomyl (> 1µg / l). Areas cultivated with potato on sandy and sandy clay soils were found to be sensitive to the active ingredient alfa cypermethrin (> 1µg / l) and methomyl (> 1µg / l); and finally area cultivated with apple on sandy soils were found to be sensitive to the active ingredient flutriafol with a concentration ranging between 0.1 and 1 µg / l.
Keywords
AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES ; WIDESPREAD POLLUTION ; TERRITORY ; SIMULATION MODEL ; SOIL POLLUTION ; GROUNDWATER ; RISK ; ASSESSMENT ; DECISION SUPPORT ; LEBANON
Nationality: Tunisian
University of Registration: Montpellier SupAgro (France) & University of Catania (Italy)
Year: 2013
Scientific Discipline: Agri-food Economy
Research Unit: MOISA & Di3A (Italy)
Thesis Director: Martine PADILLA (CIHEAM-IAMM), Giuseppina CARRA (Univ. Catania)
CIHEAM-IAMM Supervisor: Martine PADILLA
Thesis Committee: Martine PADILLA (CIHEAM-IAMM), Giuseppina CARRA (Univ. Catania), Iuri PERI (Univ. Catania), Marie-Claude DOP (IRD), Marie-Josèphe AMIOT-CARLIN (INRA)
Funding: CIHEAM-IAMM
Thesis Defence: 30-03-2017
Cite the Thesis: Kefi F. (2017). La biodiversité alimentaire : sa mesure, ses conditions d’accès et le rôle des politiques : cas de la Tunisie. Thèse (Doctorat en Economie Agroalimentaire) : Università degli Studi di Catania, Catania (Italie). 226 p. Thèse soutenue en co-tutelle : Università degli Studi di Catania (Italie) et Montpellier Supagro (France). École doctorale ED 231 : EDEG – Économie et Gestion de Montpellier. UMR Moisa. Plateforme doctorale du CIHEAM-IAMM. http://www.theses.fr/2017NSAM0007
Meditagri url: https://www.iamm.ciheam.org/ress_doc/opac_css/index.php?lvl=etagere_see&id=175
Thesis Title
Food biodiversity: measuring it, access to it and the role of policy: the case of Tunisia.
Thesis Summary
This thesis studies biodiversity in its food dimension. First, the understanding of “food biodiversity” and its different components was necessary. It is indeed confirmed that biodiversity can be a solution to fight hidden hunger. Do we have the instruments to measure it in terms of supply and demand? How to integrate it into the management of public policies? What actions should be implemented to conserve food biodiversity and put it at the service of food security in Tunisia? A case study was carried out in Tunisia in the governorate of Sidi Bouzid. Surveys and tools have been developed to identify all the data needed to study food biodiversity at each level of the food chain A specific analysis of the role of wild edible products was conducted. Widely known and used, wild plants are still undervalued. A generic methodology for studying the nutritional utility of available food biodiversity has been proposed with an application to markets (specific richness index, adapted Shannon and Piélou indexes). The nutritional utility of available biodiversity varies from a nutrient to another. A second part was devoted to the study of public policies. A selection of strategic options that can be levers to biodiversity has been made by experts. The Multicriteria Mapping (MCM) method was used with stakeholders for the study of option’s performance and to rank them in order to make action’s proposal. As far as policies are concerned, nutrition education has been regarded as the most effective action followed by the conservation and protection of the sea and its biodiversity, and finally, agricultural policy options for indigenous plants. The link between biodiversity and nutrition and the role of wild species was not clear for participants. Conservation and enhancement of biodiversity should be oriented to address the lack of three nutrients, calcium and vitamins A and B12. However awareness and accountability of the various stakeholders is essential especially in a difficult socio-economic context of post-revolution as in Tunisia.
Keywords
HUMAN NUTRITION ; BIODIVERSITY ; AGROBIODIVERSITY ; WILD PLANTS ; FOOD AVAILABILITY ; FOOD SECURITY ; RECOMMENDED DIETARY INTAKE ; MARKET INFORMATION ; INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE ; NUTRITIONAL VALUE ; NUTRITIONAL SURVEY ; FOOD POLICY ; TUNISIA
Nationality: Albanian
University of enrolment: Institut Agro Montpellier
Year: 2022
Scientific discipline: Economics
Doctoral school: EDEG
Research unit: UMR MoISA
Thesis supervisor: Paolo PROSPERI (CIHEAM-IAMM)
IAMM supervisor: Hatem BELHOUCHETTE
Thesis committee: Sophie DROGUÉ (Institut Agro Montpellier), Seyed Ali Hosseini Yekani (Egypt)
Funding: CGIAR & ICARDA
Contact:
Thesis Defence: March 11, 2026
Title of the thesis
From Nexus Theory to Local-Level Adoption: Operationalizing the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems Framework for Smallholder Decision-Making and Policy Design in Drylands.
Summary of the thesis
By combining an integrated conceptual perspective, a participatory and multi-criteria evaluation of climate-resilient innovations, and an analysis of the diversity and readiness of farming systems to adopt certain strategies, this research aims to provide insights that are both scientifically grounded and relevant for policy and development strategies. In the end, strengthening the resilience of dryland agriculture requires approaches that account for the complexity of resource systems, incorporate the perspectives of local actors, and acknowledge the differentiated capacities and constraints across farm types.
Keywords
WEFE NEXUS ; POLICY DEVELOPMENT ; READINESS
Nationality: Algerian
University of Registration: Montpellier SupAgro (France) & ENSA Algiers (Algeria)
Year: 2012
Scientific Discipline: Management Sciences
Research Unit: UMR MOISA
Thesis Director: Selma TOZANLI (CIHEAM-IAMM), Mohamed Tahar BENYOUCEF (ENSA Algiers)
CIHEAM-IAMM Supervisor: Selma TOZANLI
Thesis Committee: Fatima EL HADAD-GAUTHIER (CIHEAM-IAMM), Myriam KESSARI (CIHEAM-IAMM), Jean-Pierre BOUTONNET, Marc DEDEIRE (UPV), Abdelhamid BENCHARIF
Funding: CIHEAM-IAMM
Contact: kheffache@iamm.fr
Thesis Defence: 13-12-2018
Cite the Thesis: Kheffache H. (2018). Combinaison et hybridation des formes de coordination de la qualité. Cas de la filière lait de la wilaya de Médéa en Algérie. Thèse de doctorat en Sciences de Gestion : Montpellier Supagro, France. 322 p. + annexes. Thèse soutenue en co-tutelle : Montpellier Supagro (France) et l’ENSA El Harrach Alger (Algérie). École doctorale ED 231 : EDEG – Économie et Gestion de Montpellier. UMR Moisa. Plateforme doctorale du CIHEAM-IAMM.
https://www.iamm.ciheam.org/ress_doc/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=40204
Meditagri url: https://www.iamm.ciheam.org/ress_doc/opac_css/index.php?lvl=etagere_see&id=148
Thesis Title
Combination and hybridisation of quality coordination mechanisms. The case of the dairy sector in the province of Médéa, Algeria.
Thesis Summary
The quality construction in agro-food chains results from the forms of organization and coordination of actors in these sectors. We propose in this research to explain the modalities of this construction and the forms of coordination between the actors in the case of the dairy sector of the wilaya of Médéa in Algeria. We conducted a series of surveys of some actors operating in the sector, as well as interviews with officials of the control, regulation and supporting institutions. We have applied the theoretical fields of convention economics for spotting conventions that allow these actors to coordinate and define the quality produced. We conducted these analyzes in the industrial sector and the traditional sector. We completed with an analysis of the products qualification by the last consumer. The latter was based on a survey of consumers of traditional products surveyed in the creamers. Since our work is limited to local milk, and the dairy industries only account for 10% of this milk in their manufacturing process, we have limited ourselves to consumers of traditional products that are 100% manufactured local milk.The findings are: a variety of forms of coordination of quality during exchanges ; collection centers, traditional creamers, and milk factories are the source of compromise between conventions of different natures ; dynamics and evolution of conventions ; the role of proximity in the qualification of products ; a weak implication of the offer in the objectification of the conventional references.
Keywords
MILK ; SUPPLY CHAIN ; DAIRY PRODUCT ; DAIRY PRODUCTION ; COORDINATION ; QUALITY ; CONTRACT ECONOMICS ; SURVEY ; STAKEHOLDER ; MEDEA ; ALGERIA
Nationality: Tunisian
University of Registration: University of Paul Valéry Montpellier 3 (UPV) (France)
Year: 2012
Scientific Discipline: Geography & Land Use
Research Unit: UMR GRED
Thesis Director: Jean-Paul BORD (UPV)
CIHEAM-IAMM Supervisor: LE GRUSSE Philippe, MANDART Elisabeth
Thesis Committee: Jean-Paul BORD (UPV), LE GRUSSE Philippe (CIHEAM-IAMM), MANDART Elisabeth (CIHEAM-IAMM)
Funding: CIHEAM-IAMM
Contact: mghirbi@iamm.fr
Thesis Defence: 11-10-2016
Cite the Thesis: Mghirbi O. (2016). Résilience des exploitations agricoles face au changement des pratiques phytosanitaires : conception d’outils de gestion des risques liés aux pesticides – cas du bassin versant de l’étang de l’Or en France. Thèse (Dr. d’Université en Géographie et Aménagement de l’Espace) : Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3, (France). 352 p. École doctorale ED 60 TTSD. UMR GRED. Lames du CIHEAM-IAMM
http://www.theses.fr/2016MON30011
Meditagri url: http://www.iamm.ciheam.org/ress_doc/opac_css/index.php?lvl=etagere_see&id=108
Thesis Title
Resilience of farms in the face of changing plant protection practices: developing tools for managing pesticide-related risks – the case of the Étang de l’Or water basin in France.
Thesis Summary
The excessive use of plant protection products has caused public health and environmental issues due to their toxicity. As part of this interdisciplinary research work between geography and agronomy, the objective is to analyse the resilience of farms and their capacity to deal with the change of plant protection practices. In order to answer this objective, our work is based on the design of a method for assessing plant protection practices at different spatial scales and on a technical-economic model for optimising plant protection treatment and managing risks related to pesticides. This work consists in providing territorial actors with decision-support tools for an integrated management of pesticide use at the “Etang de l’Or” catchment area in the South of France. This study is based on the use of several multidisciplinary tools: mathematical programming techniques, statistical analysis and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), by introducing agri-environmental indicators for plant protection pressure (TFI) and risks of toxicity on the applicator’s health and on environment (IRSA, IRTE), and economic indicators. The combination of these indicators defines the different categories of farms resilience and capacity of their production systems to deal with the change of plant protection practices. The concept of resilience, combined with spatial analysis of agri-environmental and economic indicators using GIS, allows implementing generic decision-support tools to find a compromise between the different actors to deal with problems of spatial inequality and socioeconomic in term of phytosanitary diffuse pollution. The results of multi-scale analysis allow implementing management strategies of risks related to plant protection practice based on the vulnerability of the natural environment on a territory and ensuring suitable economic outcomes to farms.
Keywords
PESTICIDE ; PESTICIDE TOXICITY ; ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICITY RISK INDICATOR ; HEALTH RISK INDICATOR ; ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATOR ; WIDESPREAD POLLUTION ; RISK MANAGEMENT ; MODEL ; FARM ; RESILIENCE ; GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM ; STAKEHOLDER ; TERRITORY ; HERAULT ; FRANCE ; SPATIAL ANALYSIS
Nationality: Albanian
University of Registration: University of Paul Valéry Montpellier 3 (UPV) (France)
Year: 2019
Scientific Discipline: Geography & Land Use
Research Unit: ART-DEV
Thesis Director: Marc DEDEIRE (UPV)
CIHEAM-IAMM Supervisor: Mélanie REQUIER-DESJARDINS
Thesis Committee: Pascal CHEVALIER (UPV), Elena KOKHTI (Albanian Univ.)
Funding: CIHEAM-IAMM
Contact: muco@iamm.fr
Thesis Defence: 4 April 2024
Thesis Title
An analysis of territorial capital from the perspective of social capital in Southern Albania.
Thesis Summary
Recent studies show that regional growth requires a balanced and controlled mix of tangible and intangible assets in order to be achieved. Thus, the success of a territorial system depends not only on the quantity and quality of the material resources it possesses, but also, and above all, on the richness of its cognitive elements and the way in which individuals think and behave towards one another in relation to the various resources of their territory. All these aspects are now encapsulated in the concept of territorial capital. According to Camagni (2009), territorial capital encompasses all the ‘assets’ located within a territory, whether natural, artificial, human, organisational, relational or cognitive. Territorial capital is a multidimensional concept; all resources are constitutive and contribute to development potential (Camagni, 2006). Territorial development adapts to the specific characteristics of territorial capital and is, by its very nature, contextual (Yildirim, Réquier-Desjardins and Rey-Valette, 2017).
This thesis proposal aims to apply the concept of territorial capital as a key component of the territorial economy to three Albanian micro-regions, which find themselves in distinct stages of development.
In this proposal, we will focus on analysing three dimensions of territorial capital: natural capital, which underpins the local economy. Combined with a system of productive activities, it gives rise to the economic dimension of the territorial system. The third dimension is built on a system of local relationships that constitute social capital. The relationships between actors refer to a system of shared values underpinning local identities. Finally, the territorial system operates according to a system of rules and standards which, through partnership structures and cooperation networks, define a model of local governance (Lacquement and Chevalier, 2016).
According to the European Commission, ‘Each region has specific territorial capital, distinct from that of other regions, which generates a higher return for specific types of investment than for others, as these are better suited to the region and utilise its assets and potential more effectively. Territorial development policies (policies with a territorial approach to development) must above all help territories to develop their territorial capital’.
The aim of this PhD is to measure territorial capital in three Albanian regions, namely Gjirokastra (Southern Albania), and to compare it with two other regions in Albania (one more developed and one less developed).
Keywords
TERRITORIAL CAPITAL ; SOCIAL CAPITAL ; DEVELOPMENT ; ALBANIA
Nationality: Lebanese
University of Refistration: AgroParisTech, Paris (France)
Year: 2016
Scientific Discipline: Geomatics
Research Unit: TETIS (Territories, Environment, Remote Sensing & Spatial Information)
Thesis Director: Nicolas BAGHDADI (IRSTEA)
CIHEAM-IAMM Supervisor: Hatem BELHOUCHETTE
Thesis Committee: Séverin PISTRE (HSM Montpellier), Salem DARWICH (Univ. Lebanon), Mohammad EL HAJJ (IRSTEA, UMR TETIS)
Funding: CNRS Lebanon
Contact: ali.nasrallah@agroparistech.fr
Thesis Defence: 06-12-2019
Cite the Thesis: Nasrallah A. (2019). Crop mapping and yield estimation of wheat in the Bekaa plain of Lebanon. Thèse de doctorat en Géomatique : AgroParisTech, Montpellier (France). 230 p. École doctorale ED 584 : GAIA – Biodiversité, Agriculture, Alimentation, Environnement, Terre, Eau. UMR TETIS-Territoires, Environnement, Télédétection et Information Spatiale Montpellier. Plateforme doctorale du CIHEAM-IAMM. https://www.iamm.ciheam.org/ress_doc/opac_css/doc_num.php?explnum_id=19370
Meditagri url: https://www.iamm.ciheam.org/ress_doc/opac_css/index.php?lvl=etagere_see&id=218
Thesis Title
Crop mapping and yield estimation of wheat in the Bekaa plain of Lebanon.
Thesis Summary
With global production exceeding 750 million tons in 2017, wheat is considered a staple food for the world’s population. Wheat mapping and monitoring could then be a very effective tool for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG2-Zero Hunger). In Lebanon, wheat receives technical and financial support, yet many errors occur in estimating the wheat acreage due to absence of reliable agricultural census and lack of wheat mapping using satellite images. In addition, identifying the best rotation type and agricultural practices leads to identify the most efficient wheat-based cropping system in terms of productivity (protein production and net profit), efficiency (water and nitrogen use), as well as the economic risk on the farmer. Thus, the aim of the current study, which is conducted in the Bekaa plain of Lebanon, is to utilize remote sensing technology and crop modelling for supporting policy makers and end-users in making strategic decisions regarding one of the most food security-driving crop in the Mediterranean (i.e. winter wheat). The first part of the thesis evaluates the potential of optical data for early winter wheat mapping by allowing the transfer of knowledge from one year to another (2016 and 2017 in this study). For its high spatial and temporal resolutions, Sentinel-2 data are employed. Results show that when the developed approach was applied on Sentinel-2 time series of 2017 in using 2016 ground truth data, the overall accuracy reaches 87.0%, whereas, when implemented using 2017 ground truth data, the overall accuracy is 82.6% on 2016 data. The outputs are executed up to six weeks before harvest, as well as distinguishing winter wheat from similar cereals (barley and triticale). The second part of the thesis examines the ability of the SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) C-band data of the new radar satellite (Sentinel-1) regarding its ability to monitor winter wheat crop by identifying the economically important phenological phases that cannot be detected relying solely on NDVI derived from optical satellite Sentinel-2. Results show that VV polarization at incidence angle of 32°-34° is best for predicting heading, VH polarization at incidence angle of 43°-45° for predicting soft dough, and the ratio VV/VH at incidence angle of 32°-34° for predicting germination and harvesting. The third part of the thesis is dedicated to test, in contrasted biophysical and management conditions, the hypothesis that promoting wheat-fava bean rotation leads to a significantly better productivity and resources use efficiency, as well as, reducing economic risk than the promoted intensive wheat-wheat and wheat-potato rotations. The cropping simulation model “CropSyst” is used after being calibrated and validated by using experimental data for different wheat-based rotations combining different soil, climate and management options. The results show that there is no particular optimal scenario that can simultaneously ensure high productivity, reduce economic risk, and achieve high wheat- water- and nitrogen-use efficiency. However, the wheat-fava bean rotation cultivated with no wheat fertilization appears to be a better substitute to the wheat-wheat rotation in terms of protein production in both (low and high) Water Holding Capacity (WHC) soils (0.93 t/ha versus 0.8 t/ha in low WHC and 1.34 t/ha versus 1.17 t/ha in high WHC). This cropping system could achieve a higher net profit, showing high resource-use efficiency and good economic sustainability. Moreover, a very high profit could only be attained with the wheat-potato rotation (8640 US$/ha and 12170 US$/ha), yet with low input-efficiency and high economic risk.
Keywords
LEBANON ; BEKAA PLAIN ; WINTER WHEAT ; REMOTE SENSING ; SENTINEL-1/2 ; CROP MODELLING ; CROPSYST
Nationality: French
University of Registration: Institut Agro Montpellier (France)
Year: 2017
Scientific Discipline: Agronomy
Research Unit: LEPSE (Laboratory of Plant Ecophysiology under Environmental Stress)
Thesis Director: Denis VILE (LEPSE)
CIHEAM-IAMM Supervisor: Hatem BELHOUCHETTE
Thesis Committee: Pierre MARTRE (LEPSE), Eric JUSTE (GAIA), Anne-Sophie VOISIN (INRA), Laure HOSSARD (INRA)
Funding: Occitania Region & ANR Arimnet Project
Contact: pitchers@iamm.fr
Thesis Defence: 14 December 2020
Thesis Title
Characterisation and use of legume species diversity for the design of sustainable cropping systems under dry conditions.
Thesis Summary
Thanks to their high-protein content and environmental benefits, grain legumes are once again recognised as key components of agricultural systems, particularly in the Mediterranean region. They represent an affordable source of protein for human consumption and, through atmospheric nitrogen fixation, help to reduce the use of nitrogen fertilisers. They are also adaptable to various growing seasons, fairly drought-resistant, and offer the potential for multiple benefits (ground cover, green manure, fodder production, etc.).
Yet they are under-represented in most cropping systems, despite growing demand from the food industry. In Occitanie, only three species of grain legumes are grown under dry conditions on less than 10,000 ha (Solagro report, 2016). The species diversity of legumes is very poorly utilised in the region. Globally, the production of food legumes also consists mainly of a very small number of species: Peas (Pisum sativum), chickpeas (Cicer arietinum), beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), broad beans (Vicia faba), cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata) and lentils (Lens culinaris) (National Academy of Sciences, 1994). The range of varieties is also very limited in France (for example, only seven varieties of chickpeas are listed in the French catalogue, compared with over 20,000 accessions in global genetic resources). Furthermore, the lack of guidance and support on managing this diversity of legumes is hindering the expansion of their cultivation areas. Exploring the existing diversity of agronomic performance within legume species would help improve knowledge and the range of options available for designing more diversified cropping systems.
The aim of this thesis is to assess the diversity of agronomic performance among legumes across a wide range of species (15) and varieties (4 per species) of grain legumes, categorised according to their growing season (autumn, winter, spring, summer) and their intended use (food production or ground cover). In addition to quantitative and qualitative seed production, these legumes will be assessed on three types of services: the ability to supply nitrogen (for their own needs or for the subsequent crop), the maintenance of stable and sufficient production under water-limiting conditions (non-irrigated or with supplementary irrigation depending on sowing dates), and their competitiveness against weeds. Following an initial phase of field performance evaluation, the thesis will draw on an experimental study of the physiological mechanisms underpinning each of these services and will utilise modelling tools to scale up from the plant to the crop rotation level, providing a multi-criteria assessment of these systems at farm and regional scales.
Keywords
LEGUMES ; DIVERSITY ; NITROGEN ; DROUGHT ; WEEDS
Nationality: Italian
University of Registration: Institut Agro Montpellier (France) & University of Catania (Italy)
Year: 2011
Scientific Discipline: Economics
Research Unit: UMR MOISA
Thesis Director: Martine PADILLA (CIHEAM-IAMM), Iuri PÉRI (Univ. Catania)
CIHEAM-IAMM Supervisor: Martine PADILLA
Thesis Committee: Martine PADILLA (CIHEAM-IAMM), Iuri PÉRI (Univ. Catania), Jean-Louis RASTOIN (Montpellier SupAgro), G. BRUNORI (University of Pisa, Italy), S. MORSE (University of Surrey, United Kingdom)
Funding: University of Catania (Italy)
Thesis Defence: 06-03-2015
Cite the Thesis: Prosperi P. (2015). Mesures de la sécurité alimentaire et de l’alimentation durable en Méditerranée, basées sur les approches de la vulnérabilité et de la résilience. Thèse de doctorat en Economie Agroalimentaire : Università degli Studi di Catania, Italie. 327 p. Thèse soutenue en co-tutelle : Università degli Studi di Catania (Italie) et Montpellier Supagro (France) / École Doctorale n. 231 EDEG Économie et Gestion de Montpellier / UMR Moisa / LAMES du CIHEAM-IAMM
http://www.iamm.fr/ressources/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=35961
Meditagri url: https://www.iamm.ciheam.org/ress_doc/opac_css/index.php?lvl=etagere_see&id=107
Thesis Title
Measures of food security and sustainable food systems in the Mediterranean, based on vulnerability and resilience approaches.
Thesis Summary
Recurrent food crises and global change, along with habitat loss and micronutrient deficiencies, placed food security and environmental sustainability at the top of the political agenda. Analyses of the dynamic interlinkages between food consumption patterns and environmental concerns recently received considerable attention from the international community. Socioeconomic and biophysical changes affect the food system functions including food and nutrition security. The sustainability of food system is at risk. Building sustainable food systems has become a key effort to redirect our food systems and policies towards better-adjusted goals and improved societal welfare. Food systems involve multiple interactions between human and natural components. The systemic nature of these interactions calls for systems approaches and integrated assessment tools. Identifying and modeling the intrinsic properties of the food system can help tracking progress towards sustainability and setting policies towards positive transformations. The general objective of this thesis is to analyze and explore the sustainability of the food system through identifying a set of metrics at the Mediterranean region level. The specific aims consist of developing a multidimensional framework to evaluate the sustainability of food systems and diets, identifying the main variables to formalize and operationalize the abstract and multidimensional concept of sustainable food systems, and defining metrics for assessing the sustainability of food systems and diets, at a subregional level. Through a broad understanding of sustainability, the methodological approach of this thesis builds on the theories of vulnerability and resilience. Following the steps of the global change vulnerability assessment a causal factor analysis is presented concerning three Mediterranean countries, namely Spain, France and Italy. Formulating “what is vulnerable to what” hypotheses, we identified eight causal models of vulnerability. A three-round Delphi survey was then applied to select indicators on the basis of the vulnerability/resilience theoretical framework. A conceptual hierarchical framework was identified for modeling the complex relationships between food and nutrition security and sustainability for developing potential indicators of sustainable diets and food systems. A feedback-structured framework of the food system formalized eight selected causal models of vulnerability and resilience and identified intrinsic properties of the food system, shaping the interactions where a set of drivers of change (Water depletion; Biodiversity loss; Food price volatility; Changes in food consumption patterns) directly affect food and nutrition security outcomes at a subregional level (Nutritional quality of food supply; Affordability of food; Dietary energy balance; Satisfaction of cultural food preferences). Each interaction was disentangled in exposure, sensitivity and resilience. This theoretical framework was operationalized through the identification of a set of 136 indicators. The Delphi study revealed low, medium, and high consensus and majority level on indicators in 75% of the interactions out of the 24 initial ones. The results obtained in terms of global response, expert participation rates, and consensus on indicators were then satisfactory. Also, experts confirmed with positive feedback the appraisal of the components of the framework. This theoretical modeling exercise and the Delphi survey allowed the identification of a first suite of indicators, moving beyond single and subjective evaluation, and reaching consensus on metrics of sustainable diets and food systems for supporting decision-making. The operationalization of the theories of vulnerability and resilience, through an indicator-based approach, can contribute to further analyses on the socioeconomic and biophysical aspects and interlinkages concerning the sustainability of diets and food systems.
Keywords
VULNERABILITY ; SUSTAINABLE FOOD ; HUMAN NUTRITION ; SUSTAINABILITY ; FOOD SECURITY ; RESILIENCE ; AGRI-FOOD SYSTEM ; INDICATOR ; DELPHI METHOD ; MEDITERRANEAN REGION
Nationality: French
University of Registration: University of Montpellier (UM) (France)
Year: 2017
Scientific Disicpline: Management
Research Unit: Lab. MRM Montpellier Management Research
Thesis Director: Gérald NARO (UM)
CIHEAM-IAMM Supervisor: Myriam KESSARI
Thesis Committee: Nicolas BALAS (Univ. Montpellier, LMRM), Marie BOITIER (Toulouse Business School, TBS Research Centre)
Funding: ADEME
Contact:
Thesis Defence: 16 December 2022
Thesis Title
Stakeholder dynamics in the context of the transition to a circular economy: the organisational challenge.
Thesis Summary
The aim of this thesis is to gain a better understanding of the interactions at play in the organisational functioning of the transition to the circular economy at the regional level. The various roles of the participants, their interactions and the organisational mechanisms will be examined, along with their development. More specifically, this process-based analysis will focus on the strategies of the various stakeholders, modes of governance, steering mechanisms, motivations, multiple values and modes of exchange.
This thesis, which adopts an action-research approach, aims both to provide practical insights for management by analysing the operational approaches of various stakeholders—based on theoretical analytical frameworks and lessons learnt from other regions—and to make a theoretical contribution to social and organisational innovation, and to the EC in particular, as a new area of research within management sciences. A dialogue will be established with research on processes of institutional change (Berger and Luckmann, 1967; Greenwood, Suddaby and Hinings, 2002) and on networks of actors from different fields of action engaged with issues of translation (Callon and Ferrary, 2006; Star and Griesemer, 1989). At the organisational level, theories of organisational learning (Argyris and Schön, 2002; Ingham, 2015) and innovation (Aggeri, 2011) will be drawn upon, as well as work on convivialism (Alphandéry et al., 2013; Hatchuel, 2014; Orange and Vatteville, 2009).
Keywords
SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSITION ; CIRCULAR ECONOMY ; LOCAL AREA ; STAKEHOLDER DYNAMICS ; ACTION RESEARCH
Nationality: Lebanese
University of Registration: AgroParisTech Claude Bernard (France)
Year: 2012
Scientific Discipline: Management
Research Unit: Business Studies & Economics
Thesis Director: Jacques NEFUSSI (AgroParisTech)
CIHEAM-IAMM Supervisor: Selma TOZANLI
Thesis Committee: Selma TOZANLI (CIHEAM-IAMM), Doudja KABECHE (AgroParisTech), Sébastien DAMART (Univ. Paris Dauphine), Jacques NEFUSSI (AgroParisTech), Gwenola BERTOLUCCI
Contact: Hiam.serhan-murray@agroparistech.fr
Thesis Defence: 20-10-2017
Cite the Thesis: Serhan H. (2017). Pratiques d’appropriation et dynamique des connaissances de la norme ISO 9001 : outil de conformation et creuset d’innovation. Thèse (Dr. d’Université en Sciences de Gestion) : Université Paris-Saclay, (France). 408 p. École doctorale ABIES. AgroParisTech. Lames du CIHEAM-IAMM. https://www.iamm.ciheam.org/ress_doc/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=38217
Meditagri url: https://www.iamm.ciheam.org/ress_doc/opac_css/index.php?lvl=etagere_see&id=157
Thesis Title
Practices of adoption and the dynamics of knowledge regarding the ISO 9001 standard: a tool for compliance and a crucible for innovation.
Thesis Summary
This research analyses the structure and dynamics of ISO 9001 standard of quality management, as a management tool composed of three interdependent elements (an artefact, a managerial philosophy and a reduced vision of knowledge and relations), and having two functions oriented paradoxically to the exploitation of good practices (standardization function) and the exploration of opportunities (innovation function). Our research questions focus on what are the managers’ practices that guide the standard requirements’ appropriation to one or the other strategy? What are the tensions, learning and innovations that emerge during the standardization process? Using the activity system model in our empirical study, our findings indicate that the appropriation practices in the standardization process are knowledge management processes oriented to both quality assurance and new knowledge exploration. These processes create tensions and learning mechanisms that stimulate the continuous improvement cycle of quality management, through the processes of acquisition, identification, codification, and leveraging organizational knowledge. This continuous cycle of internal/external knowledge conversion, places ISO 9001 as a tool for conformation and crucible for valuing internal competencies that support innovation.
Keywords
INNOVATION ; STANDARDS ; KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT ; QUALITY MANAGEMENT ; CORPORATE STRATEGY ; BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
Nationality: Tunisian
University of Registration: Institut Agro Montpellier (France)
Year: 2016
Scientific Discipline: Agricultural Sciences
Research Unit: UMR SYSTEM
Thesis Director: Jacques WERY
CIHEAM-IAMM Supervisor: Hatem BELHOUCHETTE
Thesis Committee: Crystelle LEAUTHAUD, Philippe TIXIER, Marie GOSME
Funding: CIHEAM-IAMM
Contact: fida.temani@cirad.fr
Thesis Defence:
Thesis Title
Distribution and sharing of water resources within a Mediterranean agroforestry system combining olive trees and cereals/olive trees and legumes.
Thesis Summary
Objectives
- Evaluation of the performance of annual crops in mixed cropping systems versus an open-field control across a water availability gradient: Determination of the performance of annual crops in mixed cropping systems and in open fields.
- Experimental evaluation of olive-annual crop mixtures along an irrigation gradient: Highlighting the impact of olive trees on the growth and dry matter produced by annual crops compared to agricultural controls.
- Evaluation of the effect of intercropping on water use by intercropped crops at different distances from the tree. As well as the identification of zones of influence that promote positive interactions and reduce negative interactions within the row.
Keywords
WATER RESOURCES ; AGROFORESTRY ; OLIVE TREES ; SHARING ; CEREALS ; LEGUMES
Nationality: Tunisian
University of Registration: University of Paul Valéry Montpellier 3 (UPV) (France)
Year: 2012
Scientific Discipline: Geography & Land Use
Research Unit: UMR GRED
Thesis Director: Jean-Paul BORD (UPV)
CIHEAM-IAMM: Philippe LE GRUSSE
Thesis Committee: Jean-Paul BORD (UPV), Philippe LE GRUSSE (CIHEAM-IAMM), Elisabeth MANDART
Contact: trabelsi@iamm.fr
Thesis Defence: 23-10-2017
Cite the Thesis: Trabelsi M. (2017). Comment mesurer la performance agroécologique d’une exploitation agricole pour l’accompagner dans son processus de transition ? Thèse (Dr d’Université en Géographie et Aménagement de l’Espace) : Université Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, Montpellier (France). 354 p. École doctorale ED60 TTSD. UMR GRED. Lames du CIHEAM-IAMM.
http://www.iamm.ciheam.org/ress_doc/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=38400
Meditagri url: https://www.iamm.ciheam.org/ress_doc/opac_css/index.php?lvl=etagere_see&id=149
Thesis Title
How to measure the agroecological efficiency of a farm in order to support it through its transition process?
Thesis Summary
The excessive use of plant protection products enables farmers to maximise economic performance and yields, but in return, their toxicity can significantly affect the environment as well as human and animal health. There are currently strong calls for farmers to reduce the use of these toxic products for the preservation of the environment and of human and animal health, and it has become urgent to invest in more sustainable models that help reduce or even exclude these risks. Transition toward agro-ecological production systems could be a solution. To be sustainable, these new systems must be efficient agronomically, economically, socially, environmentally and in terms of health. There are many tools available, based on a range of indicators, for assessing the sustainability of agricultural systems on conventional farms. These methods poorly adapted to the organic and agro-ecological systems, and do not make it possible to measure the performance of agro-ecological transition of farms. This interdisciplinary research work between geography and agronomy aims to contribute to the reflection on the possibility of designing a decision-support tool for the process of agro-ecological transition allowing the assessment of this transition performance, to propose scenarios for improvement and to simulate later the consequences of possible modifications. This work is based on the joint and interactive use of two interdisciplinary tools: pressure and impact indicators, and GIS (Geographical Information Systems). These tools enabled us to exploit the data gathered from the bibliographic research and the surveys with the farmers. The developed tool is tested in the framework of a CASDAR (Special Assignment Account for Agricultural and Rural Development) project “Collective mobilization for agroecology” using data from farms, most of which have been engaged in agro-environmental process and in reducing plant protection treatments since 2008. This new tool helped position the agro-ecological performances of these farms in relation to the optimal situation and also compare them. Given the research objectives and approaches discussed, this study constitutes an original step for the establishment of strategies for the agricultural management in favour of agroecology.
Keywords
AGROECOLOGY ; PESTICIDE ; ASSESSMENT ; SUSTAINABILITY ; RISK MANAGEMENT ; HEALTH RISK INDICATOR ; DECISION SUPPORT ; PERFORMANCE ; FARM ; GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM ; AGRI-ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPORT ; INDICATOR ; DIAGNOSTICS ; SIMULATION MODEL ; FRANCE ; AGROECOLOGICAL TRANSITION
Nationality: Turkish
University of Registration: University of Montpellier 1 (France)
Year: 2014
Scientific Discipline: Economics
Research Unit: UMR LAMETA
Thesis Director: Hélène REY-VALETTE (UM1)
CIHEAM-IAMM Supervisor: Mélanie REQUIER-DESJARDINS
Thesis Committee: Michel GARRABÉ (UM1), Maya LEROY (AgroParis Tech), Bernard PECQUEUR (Univ. Grenoble)
Funding: CIHEAM-IAMM
Contact: hevalyildirim@gmail.com
Thesis Defence: 06-12-2017
Cite the Thesis: Yildirim H. (2017). Approche écosystémique et institutionnelle du développement durable territorial. Le panier de services écosystémiques dans la Péninsule de Karaburun (Turquie). Thèse (Dr d’Université en Economie) : Université de Montpellier, (France). 477 p. École doctorale ED 231 : EDEG – Économie et Gestion de Montpellier. UMR Lameta. Plateforme doctorale du CIHEAM-IAMM
http://www.theses.fr/2017MONTD041
Meditagri url: https://www.iamm.ciheam.org/ress_doc/opac_css/index.php?lvl=etagere_see&id=112
Thesis Title
An ecosystem-based and institutional approach to sustainable regional development. The ecosystem services package in the Karaburun Peninsula (Turkey).
Thesis Summary
Today environmental issues are at the heart of development debates. At the origin of the introduction of the sustainable development concept in the Brundtland Report in 1987, there has been the need of taking other dimensions of development into account rather than the economic dimension in order to minimize the impact of the human activity on resources. The development experiences of certain territories have been at the center of the territorial development approach, particularly the French territories which constitute important cases for the basket of goods and services approach of the Grenoble model developed by Bernard Pecqueur and Amédée Mollard. Moreover, ecosystem services began to have an important place as a framework of land planning and territorial development since the Millenium Ecosystem Assessment in 2005. From a territorial approach perspective, ecosystem services (ES) can allow can allow one to take into account environmental issues and enrich development perspectives based on different dimensions of sustainability. The aim of this PhD research is to develop a research framework based on ecosystem services for a sustainable territorial development. Thus, by proposing a new concept, the notion of ES basket, we hypothesize that the basket of ecosystem services framework can facilitate the inventory of physical, ecological and cultural resources derived from the ecosystems of a territory and encourage the actors of the territory to adopt sustainable practices in the valorization process of resources, creating a collective identity around the services. To confirm this hypothesis, we first define the notion of SE basket and then show the relevance of developing a non-monetary methodological framework based on multicriteria indicators and perceptions. This methodological framework has been applied to a case study in Turkey, the territory of the Karaburun Peninsula, located in the Aegean Region about a hundred kilometers from Izmir. This case study made it possible to identify the prospects for territorial development and the policy of support for the sustainable valorization of Karaburun ES baskets. It also allowed identifying some methodological, financial and institutional limitations that must be taken into account in future work to improve the research framework.
Keywords
ECOSYSTEM SERVICE ; SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ; REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT ; LOCAL DEVELOPMENT ; MENTAL MODEL ; NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ; STAKEHOLDER ; BEST PRACTICE ; TURKEY ; ECOSYSTEM SERVICES PACKAGE ; REGIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY RENT
Nationality: Tunisian
University of Registration: University of Montpellier (France)
Year: 2016
Scientific Discipline: Economics
Research Unit: CEE-M (Centre for Environmental Economics)
Thesis Director: Hélène REY-VALETTE
CIHEAM-IAMM Supervisor: Mélanie REQUIER-DESJARDINS
Thesis Committee: Hélène REY-VALETTE (UM), Mélanie REQUIER-DESJARDINS (CIHEAM-IAMM), Thierry BLAYAC (UM), Hatem BELHOUCHETTE (CIHEAM-IAMM)
Funding: CIHEAM-IAMM
Contact: zaatra@iamm.fr
Thesis Defence: 08-07-2021
Cite the Thesis:
Zaatra A. (2021). Vulnérabilité des exploitations agricoles et préférences d’adaptation au changement climatique dans le territoire du Pays Haut Languedoc et vignoble (PHLV). Thèse de Doctorat en Économie : Université de Montpellier, Montpellier (France). 282 p. École Doctorale Économie et Gestion. Unité de recherche : Centre d’Économie de l’Environnement – Montpellier (CEE-M). Plateforme doctorale du CIHEAM-IAMM
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-03548914
Meditagri url: https://www.iamm.ciheam.org/ress_doc/opac_css/index.php?lvl=etagere_see&id=271
Thesis Title
Vulnerability of farms and preferences for adapting to climate change in the region of Pays Haut Languedoc et Vignoble (PHLV).
Thesis Summary
Several studies confirm an unprecedented acceleration in climate change (CC), which presents a pervasive source of risk to agriculture. In public policy, CC has become a matter of concern. Although the agricultural sector is recognized as particularly sensitive to the effects of CC, public policies are more oriented towards approaches in terms of energy saving (PCAET: Territorial Climate-Air-Energy Plan) and have favored measures of mitigation at the expense of adaptation measures for the agricultural sector and territories. Indeed, the main options put forward for agriculture and rural areas concern the production of renewable energy, the intensification of carbon sequestration and the management of water resources. To progress in the implementation of adaptation policies in agriculture, it is necessary to develop a more coherent integrated approach mobilizing approaches on territorial development, on vulnerability assessment and on feasibility and acceptability of adaptation measures. In the territory of the Pays Haut Languedoc et Vignoble (PHLV) which is marked by a strong rurality, CC presents a major risk for agriculture, a sector constituting a base on which rests the territorial economy. This particular sensitivity to the climate and this strong dependence on agriculture make this territory a privileged field of investigation. By combining empirical and theoretical work, this thesis offers an operational research framework that contributes to a better understanding of the vulnerability of different agricultural systems and provides valuable information on decision-making at the farm level with regard to adaptation. First, the multi-criteria vulnerability analysis made it possible to assess the level of vulnerability of the different types of farms. This first analysis is then supplemented by a discriminant analysis to determine the main vulnerability factors. Finally, the econometric model (method of Discrete Choice Expriment (DCE)) made it possible to assess farmers’ preferences with respect to adaptation methods and to determine the main factors that influence their decisions to adopt these measures of adaptation. Results indicate that the majority of the surveyed farms have a relatively high vulnerability index, with vineyards and field crop farms being the most vulnerable. This analysis shows an interesting link between the low level of vulnerability and the adaptation efforts already made over the past ten years (irrigation, diversification, sustainable soil management, etc.) by certain farms that have changed or introduced crops and improved their cultivation practices. Finally, results show that farmers have preferences that lean towards irrigation and varietal diversification in the short term. In addition, the willingness of farmers to adopt an adaptation measure depends on five main factors (agricultural experience, UAA, age, level of vulnerability and the farm’s transmission plan).
Keywords
FARMING ; VULNERABILITY ; FARMERS’ BEHAVIOUR ; ADAPTATION TO CHANGE ; CLIMATE CHANGE ; MULTICRITERIA ANALYSIS ; ECONOMETRIC MODEL ; LANGUEDOC ; FRANCE