Biological Diversity and Agroecological Systems - Soil and Crop Health
How can we make use of biological and organic processes and resources to design sustainable practices?
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Horticulture
The horticulture value chain at CIRAD cover plants grown to produce fruits and vegetables, herbs, and medicinal plants. It does not include leguminous plants with large seeds or pulses (eg groundnut) or ornamental plants. CIRAD sees banana as a specific value chain.
Books and documents
- Fruit and Vegetables: opportunities and challenges for small-scale sustainable farming. FAO and CIRAD. 2021. Rome. https://doi.org/10.4060/cb4173en
- Fruits tropicaux - Invitation au voyage. Editions Quae, 2020 Valérie and Fabrice Le Bellec.
A lavishly illustrated book covering more than 80 tropical fruits, their histories, their specificities, and their food and medicinal uses. - Guide de reconnaissance des mouches des fruits et des légumes à la Réunion. Application de la protection agroécologique des cultures, Franck A., Deguine J.P., Vincenot D., CIRAD, Réunion Chamber of Agriculture, 2018
- Les oasis en Afrique du Nord : dynamiques territoriales et durabilité des systèmes de production agricole, Ahmed Bouaziz, Ali Hammani, Marcel Kuper (ed.), Cahiers Agricultures, 26-27, 2017-2018
- Insectes et acariens des cultures maraîchères en milieu tropical humide, P. Ryckewaert, B. Rhino, Quæ, 2017
- Sustainable Development and Tropical Agri-chains, Estelle Biénabe, Alain Rival, Denis Loeillet (ed.), Springer, 2017
- Agroecological Crop Protection, J.P. Deguine, C. Gloanec, P. Laurent, A. Ratnadass, J.N. Aubertot, Springer, 2017
Journals
- Fruitrop, monthly journal containing news about trade flows of fresh and processed tropical fruits, citrus fruits, and counter-season fruits.
- The journal FRUITS, which has now been taken over by the journal eJHS (European Journal of Horticultural Sciences) run by ISHS: bimonthly journal on tropical and Mediterranean fruits.
Scientific websites
Agroecological Functioning and Performances of Horticultural Systems
Horticulture is seen as an essential factor in food security and safety and health worldwide. Horticultural systems are also a major source of income and jobs for the poorest populations in tropical areas. In this context, is it possible to ensure high, sustainable production of safe, quality fruit and vegetables? The aim of UR HortSys is to establish the principles of agroecology of tropical horticultural systems with a view to developing sustainable cropping systems, in partnership with local players.
Plant Communities and Biological Invaders in Tropical Environments
UMR PVBMT develops innovative control methods against pests, diseases and weeds in agrosystems, but also new ways of conserving indigenous forest environments. Its associated research and training concern tropical crop protection and biodiversity preservation in terrestrial ecosystems.
Preventing the spread of HLB in citrus orchards
The goal of the PreHLB project is to reduce the risk of introduction and spread of Huanglongbing disease (HLB) in European citrus orchards. A multidisciplinary approach is adopted to develop new long-term solutions to manage the disease.
Development of agroecological market gardening encouraging the pooling of resources between territorial actors: Peri urban agroecological market gardening
The MARIGO project covers the agroecological transition of market gardening practices in peri-urban areas that will contribute to the sustainable and productive transformation of Ivorian agriculture and food systems.
Related news items
All news items
Science at work 16 December 2025
Preserving the extraordinary biodiversity of citrus fruits
Science at work 10 July 2025
Europe preps itself against invasive agricultural pests through research
Results & impact 30 January 2025
History of the emergence of Huanglongbing disease in three ultraperipheral regions of the European Union
See also
Banana and plantain
Innovating hand in hand with players in the banana and plantain value chains, to ensure greater sustainability.
Cocoa
Improving the livelihoods of rural households through sustainable, diversified, quality cocoa production.
Coffee
Returning to ecologically viable systems and boosting the profitability of agroforestry systems that favour smallholders in more than 40 countries.