CIRAD Advances Agroecological Innovation in the Sugarcane Sector
At the ISSCT Congress, CIRAD—France’s premier agricultural research institution for sustainable development—reaffirmed its leadership in sugarcane research and agroecological transformation across tropical and Mediterranean regions.
Transforming Sugarcane through Science & Agroecology
CIRAD brings impactful, science-backed solutions to the sugarcane value chain through initiatives such as:
- Agroecological Cultivation Systems
CIRAD promotes sustainable cropping practices that enhance environmental stewardship—integrating pest management, using sugarcane by-products, optimizing cropping systems, and building agroecological resilience - Visacane Quarantine Services
Based in Montpellier, Visacane offers a secure quarantine facility providing over 150 disease-free sugarcane varieties for global distribution—ensuring phytosanitary safety and varietal innovation—including support for breeding and genetic resource exchange. - Decision-Support Tools & Modelling
Tools like Mosicas help simulate production scenarios based on variety, environment, irrigation, and climate adaptation. CIRAD also develops mapping systems for cane-to-factory supply management and tools like REEFCANE to assess economic and environmental impacts across the sugar-energy supply chain. - A Forward-Thinking Roadmap
In February 2024, CIRAD released a visionary roadmap for the agroecological transition in sugarcane—addressing sustainable cultivation in French overseas territories, enabling transitions in Africa, leveraging varietal diversity, and exploring multifunctional sugarcane uses.
Global Research Network & Expertise
- International Reach & Capacity Building
With headquarters in Paris and Montpellier, CIRAD also operates regional offices across over 100 countries. They collaborate with local institutions to drive research, training, and agricultural innovation. - Human & Institutional Resources
CIRAD comprises around 1,650 staff, including 800 researchers, distributed across 33 research units. Their work spans biological systems, tropical production performance, and environment-society interactions.
Contact Information
- Head Office (Paris, France)
Address: 42, rue Scheffer, 75116 Paris
Phone: +33 1 53 70 20 00 - Research Center (Montpellier, France)
Address: Avenue Agropolis, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5
Phone: +33 4 67 61 58 00
Why CIRAD Made an Impact at ISSCT
CIRAD stands at the intersection of innovation, science, and sustainability, offering a rich intersection of quarantine capacities, decision-support modeling, agroecological systems, and strategic roadmaps. Their work empowers sugarcane stakeholders to transition toward resilient, eco-efficient, and multifunctional agricultural systems.
