Thesis awards: four ABIES doctoral students honored

On September 24, 2026, during the Ministry’s first Doctoral Students’ Day, Minister Annie Genevard presented the first Thesis Awards from the Ministry of Agriculture, Agri-Food, and Food Sovereignty. This inaugural edition generated significant interest within the scientific community, with more than 70 applications received across the two award categories.

As the recipient of the “Parcours Doctoral au MAASA” award, which honors Ministry employees who have completed a thesis as part of their continuing education through research, Marie Marteau-Bazouni conducted her thesis research at the Joint Research Unit (UMR) Agronomie (AgroParisTech, INRAE, Université Paris-Saclay). Her research models the impacts of climate change on legume crops in Europe and proposes strategies to support public policies aimed at bolstering these sectors, which are strategic for protein self-sufficiency.

As the recipient of the “Enseignement Supérieur Agricole” award, Emma Le Merlus also completed her dissertation at the Joint Research Unit (UMR) Agronomie. Her work analyzes pesticide usage patterns using data from the DEPHY network, combining agronomy and social sciences. This approach provides a better understanding of how agricultural practices are evolving and helps improve the support tools offered to farmers to reduce their use of plant protection products.

As a doctoral student at the Joint Research Unit (UMR) PRODIG, (AgroParisTech, CNRS, IRD, University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, University of Paris, University of Paris-Sorbonne), Isaline Réguer received a special mention as part of the “Enseignement Supérieur Agricole” award for her achievements in agricultural education. Her study on the effects of anaerobic digestion in Brittany highlights the trade-offs between energy production, food security, and inequality, and calls for better coordination of sectoral policies.

A doctoral student at CIRED and the Joint Research Unit (UMR) PSAE (AgroParisTech, INRAE, Université Paris-Saclay), Valentin Cocco is the recipient of the “Parcours Doctoral au MAASA” award. His study of the economic and ecological trade-offs associated with hedgerows and bocage landscapes in agricultural settings provides valuable insights for the design and evaluation of agri-environmental policies.

These four awards recognize not only the doctoral students but also the quality of their supervision and doctoral training provided by the ABIES doctoral school. These theses contribute original and useful insights to public policy and underscore that an integrated and interdisciplinary approach is essential to addressing the many climate and societal challenges.