Scientific objectives and research project

LMI LEAD: Laboratory of Excellence in co-engineering of Sustainable Agrosystems: Multi-disciplinary and participatory approaches to achieve sustainable rice systems. World food systems are central to meet sustainability goals, yet major transformations are required. Nearly one billion people remain undernourished, and current modalities of agricultural production tend to exacerbate social inequalities and contribute to biodiversity loss, water pollution and natural resource depletion, as well as a third of global greenhouse gas emissions. A transformation of food systems is urgently needed to achieve environmental, economic and social sustainability. In the face of these challenges, increasing attention is being paid to nature-based solutions such as agroecology that can support radical transformation. The International Joint Laboratory (IJL) LEAD addresses sustainability issues in Cambodia's rice-based food systems, which are central to the national economy and culture. The IJL is grounded in an interdisciplinary approach involving multiple scientific disciplines (natural and social sciences) and a multiplicity of actors (scientists, agricultural engineers, farmers, NGOs, decision makers and donors). The main scientific goal is to develop and promote diversification as a solution to enhance the health of rice-based agrosystems in Cambodia and their contribution to food security, via notably a reduction in chemical (pesticide) use, better water management, and a better valorisation of in-situ agrobiodiversity.

IRD units involved

• DEPARTEMENT DYNAMIQUES INTERNES ET DE SURFACE DES CONTINENTS (TERNES ET SURFACE CONTINENTS)
• G-EAU
• DEPARTEMENT ECOLOGIE, BIODIVERSITE ET FONCTIONNEMENT DES ECOSYSTEMES CONTINENTAUX (ODIV ET ECOSYS CONTINENTAUX)
• DIADE
• PHIM
• ECO&SOLS
• IEES-PARIS
• DEPARTEMENT SOCIETE ET SANTE (ET SANTE)
• QUALISUD

Member Institutions

CIRAD : Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement

ITC : Institute of Technology of Cambodia

RUA : Royal University of Agriculture

NUBB : National University of Battambang

CARDl : Cambodian Agricultural Research & Development Institute

IRRI : International Rice Research Institute

Scientific fields

Sciences végétales appliquées (y compris la production végétale, la sélection végétale, l'agroécologie, la sylviculture, la biologie des sols)

Targeted Sustainable Development Goal(s)

ODD02 - FAIM "ZERO"

ODD12 - CONSOMMATION ET PRODUCTION RESPONSABLES

ODD15 - VIE TERRESTRE