PhD-Thesis in horticulture

Food demand and agroecological transition: analysis of the interactions between consumption and production in West African food systems

The agroecological transition of food systems in West Africa has largely focused on transforming production systems, while the role of food demand, particularly for fresh fruits and vegetables, remains insufficiently documented. This thesis aims to address this gap through an empirical analysis of the interactions between consumption dynamics, agroecological arrangements, and the structuring of food supply at the territorial level. The study will be conducted in Senegal across two contrasted territories: the peri-urban Niayes area and the rural Lake Guiers area, with an operational grounding in living labs. It is structured around two complementary components. The first component characterizes local demand for fruits and vegetables produced under agroecological practices, by identifying consumer preferences, their socio-economic determinants, and barriers to sustainable consumption of these fresh and safe F&V, based on field surveys and stated or revealed preference methods. The second component evaluates the impact of existing territorial agroecological interventions on local food supply, using quasi-experimental methods. This work aims to generate empirical evidence useful to the design of public policies and territorial interventions supporting the agroecological transition in West Africa.

Keywords: Agroecology, food demand, consumer preferences, co-design, West Africa

More details:
https://pole-aeb.umontpellier.fr/files/2026/04/Appel-a-candidature-These-en-Economie-agricole.pdf
https://pole-aeb.umontpellier.fr/en/quest-ce-que-les-programmes-thematiques-longs/ptl2-agroecologie-et-systemes-alimentaires/
Questions? Contact Dr. Rémi Kahane at remi.kahane@cirad.fr