Habilitation to direct research / RIMBAUD Loup

Abstract of his HDR: It is crucial to define efficient, cost-effective and durable strategies to control pests, in order to limit their propagation in our crops and compensate for the economic losses in the long term, despite their evolutionary potential to adapt to control methods. At the interface between experimental biology and mathematical modelling, my research project aims at identifying such strategies against plant pathogens. For this, I first intend to understand the biology of the interaction between pathogens and their host plant or their vectors. For instance, I try to decipher the key factors of the recent emergence of cucumber mosaic virus epidemics in the fields of Espelette pepper. Secondly, I evaluate and optimize control strategies over large spatiotemporal scales. For this, I co-developed the model landsepi, destined to assess the epidemiological, evolutionary and economic outcomes of a wide range of strategies to deploy plant resistance against pathogens. Finally, to have an impact into the real world, my goal is to identify strategies that fill farmers’ needs, for example by co-building control scenarios with stakeholders. I also pass on my knowledge to students during my teachings, and to the young scientists I supervise.

Members of the jury:

• President: Ivan Sache
• Rapporteurs: Pauline Ezanno, Frédéric Hamelin, Ivan Sache
• Examiners: Eugénie Hébrard, Josselin Montarry
• Director: Benoît Moury
   

• Read his webpage 
• His scientific productions in the open archive HAL INRAE