Christen Pierre

After a PhD in Process Engineering (Mines-Paris) and a post-doctorate at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, I joined the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD- formerly ORSTOM) in Montpellier to study the valorisation of agricultural by-products (sugar cane bagasse, wheat bran) through the cultivation of filamentous fungi (solid-state fermentation). This theme was pursued at the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (Mexico), in particular for the modelling of fungal growth and the production of enzymes and aromas, and later for the decontamination of gases contaminated by organic molecules. This period gave rise to collaborations with Latin American research bodies (Brazil, Cuba, etc.). On my return to France, I joined the Institut Méditerranéen d'Océanologie to study the degradation of aromatic molecules by hyperthermophilic bacteria, followed by the anaerobic production of biohydrogen.

I teach Agroecology at AMU and AgroParisTech in the DUT/BUT, licence and master's courses. In addition to my academic training, I have taken courses in agro-ecology and soil conservation. I regularly take part in public events (Nuit des Chercheurs, Fête de la Science, Café des fake news). I'm also involved in disseminating information about agroecology and bio-fertilisers to the farming community: publications in the general and specialist press, webinars, documentaries, etc. Finally, I am a member of farmers' networks (around T&H) and scientific networks (CoSav-IRD).