23/04/2026
PhD Opportunity in Agroforestry Carbon Accounting
The GALILEO EU-AU project, in collaboration with CIRAD, is offering an exciting PhD opportunity focused on improving carbon accounting in agroforestry systems and strengthening their role in climate mitigation. By joining this PhD, you will contribute to cutting-edge research addressing how agroforestry systems can be better integrated into global climate frameworks, including IPCC methodologies.
PhD title
Towards better carbon accounting for agroforestry systems at global scale
Keywords
Agroforestry, climate change, soil organic carbon, biomass, IPCC
Application deadline
31 May 2026
Expected starting date
1 November 2026
Project summary
Agroforestry is recognised for its benefits in terms of food security and climate change mitigation, particularly through carbon sequestration. However, its integration into measurement, reporting and verification systems remains limited. This PhD aims to refine the IPCC’s default factors for agroforestry and to develop statistical and mechanistic tools for a more accurate estimation of carbon stocks in soils and biomass. The research draws on a unique global scale database including climate, soil and management variables. A statistical tool will be validated using independent data, with expected impacts on MRV methodologies and future revisions of IPCC guidelines.
Context
Agroforestry offers strong opportunities for food security, climate change adaptation and mitigation, especially through carbon sequestration in tree biomass and soils. Land based measurement, reporting and verification systems are essential for achieving countries’ climate goals under the Paris Agreement, yet MRV for agroforestry systems remains underdeveloped and complex. Since the 2019 refinement of the 2006 IPCC Guidelines, agroforestry has started to be better recognised through Tier 1 default factors for carbon stocks in tree biomass for major agroforestry systems. This PhD will contribute to improving this knowledge base and advancing carbon accounting approaches for agroforestry at global level.
Objectives
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Refine current IPCC Tier 1 default coefficients for biomass carbon and soil organic carbon in agroforestry systems, and develop national Tier 2 coefficients where possible.
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Compile allometric equations used in agroforestry systems and evaluate their accuracy for estimating biomass carbon stocks compared with equations developed for forests.
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Develop, test and validate a statistical tool to estimate potential carbon sequestration in soils and biomass in agroforestry systems.
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Evaluate the capacity of the DayCent model to simulate carbon accumulation in tree biomass and soil under agroforestry, moving towards Tier 3 estimates at national scale.
Methodology
The work will rely in part on a new global database on carbon in agroforestry, covering both biomass and soil carbon. The dataset also includes variables that may explain carbon stocks, such as climate, soil type and characteristics, tree density and diversity, and the management of companion crops. Allometric relationships developed for agroforestry systems have also been collected. The DayCent agroecosystem model and the ZonalCent approach will be tested at one or two GALILEO project sites in Kenya and Senegal, covering semi arid to sub humid conditions and agroforestry systems with fruit trees or hedgerows combined with annual crops such as maize, millet and legumes. Different agroforestry adoption scenarios may also be tested at national level to estimate carbon sequestration potential.
Expected results
Several scientific publications are expected, including on Tier 1 and Tier 2 emission factors in agroforestry systems at global scale, on allometric equations used in agroforestry and their implications for estimating carbon in tree biomass, and on the use of the DayCent model. The methodological developments and results of this PhD are expected to have an impact both in France and internationally, particularly regarding global carbon accounting compatibility.
PhD supervision
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PhD Director: Rémi Cardinael, Cirad, UR AIDA
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PhD Co-director: Guerric le Maire, Cirad, UMR Eco&Sols
Host institution and location
The PhD student will be based in Montpellier, France, at UMR Eco&Sols.
PhD school and research area
GAIA Doctoral School, EFSA track: Functional Ecology and Agronomic Sciences.
Type of funding
Half CIRAD scholarship and half Horizon Europe GALILEO project scholarship.
Funding status
Secured.
Applicant profile
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MSc in environmental sciences
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Proficiency in R software
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Strong skills in data analysis, especially machine learning
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Experience in modelling with soil crop or ecosystem models
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Experience in writing scientific articles
Language requirements
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Minimum French level: B2
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Minimum English level: C1
Application process
Applications should be sent by email, with the subject line “Agroforestry PhD”, to the contacts below. The application must include the following documents:
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CV
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Cover letter
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Full marks from Master’s first and second year, or equivalent if engineering studies. If the second year of the Master’s programme is still ongoing, the most recent transcript available should be provided.
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Email addresses of at least two contact persons
Please note that no letters of recommendation will be accepted and incomplete applications will not be processed.
Contact for applications
Rémi Cardinael: remi.cardinael@cirad.fr
Guerric le Maire: guerric.le_maire@cirad.fr
About GALILEO
GALILEO is a Horizon Europe project that aims to strengthen rural livelihoods and resilience to climate change in Africa through innovative agroforestry systems integrating people, trees, crops and livestock. The project relies on Multi Actor Approaches to co develop context specific and people centred agroforestry innovations across Sub Saharan Africa. For more information, visit the GALILEO project website.
About CIRAD
CIRAD is the French agricultural research and international cooperation organisation working for the sustainable development of tropical and Mediterranean regions. It works with its partners to build knowledge and solutions for resilient farming systems in a more sustainable and inclusive world.
For additional information about the PhD position see the pdf below
All project activities will be published on the project’s social media accounts. Stay tuned!
