Thibaud Martin

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT THIBAUD MARTIN

Thibaud MARTIN, an entomologist and senior scientist at CIRAD, specializes in the agroecological protection of tropical crops. He serves as the deputy director of the Hortsys research unit within the PERSYST department at CIRAD (Hortsys website), and currently supervises two doctoral theses affiliated with the GAIA Doctoral School at the University of Montpellier. Since 1989, Thibaud has worked extensively in sub-Saharan Africa, collaborating with both national and international institutions on the protection of cotton and horticultural crops. He earned his PhD from the University of Toulouse, based on research conducted in West Africa on pest resistance to chemical insecticides and the development of integrated pest management strategies for cotton. In recognition of his work, he and Dr. Ochou Germain received the Ivory Coast Research Prize in 2003. In Benin, Thibaud characterized the phytosanitary practices of local cropping systems and co-developed the concept of protected horticulture using anti-insect nets, in collaboration with INRAB and IRD. In 2013, he obtained his Accreditation to Supervise Research (HDR) from the University of Montpellier. Following a training period in chemical ecology, he joined the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) in Kenya, where he spent six years researching plant-insect and prey-predator interactions. During this time, he supervised three PhD theses and developed innovative protected cultivation techniques. He also coordinated the USAID-HIL BIONETAGRO project, aimed at promoting net-based vegetable protection strategies through partnerships with lead farmers. From 2018 to 2022, he continued his work in Ivory Coast at the WASCAL Center of Excellence at Félix Houphouët-Boigny University, where he led and contributed to several R&D projects focused on agroecological crop protection. Since 2021, Thibaud has been leading the EU-funded DESIRA MARIGO project (project website), which focuses on strengthening the market gardening value chain in Côte d’Ivoire. The project aims to enhance the production and health quality of local vegetables through agroecological techniques rooted in local resources and multi-stakeholder collaboration. He also represents CIRAD on the steering committee (COPIL) of the DESIRA SAFEVEG project (2021–2025).