Valentin Pret
@pret-v.bsky.social
PhD candidate in agronomy at WUR & Cirad
Fieldwork in Zimbabwe 🇿🇼
Smallholder farms | Climate risk | Sustainable intensification | Crop modelling
Fieldwork in Zimbabwe 🇿🇼
Smallholder farms | Climate risk | Sustainable intensification | Crop modelling
Reposted by Valentin Pret
Can soil-crop models mostly tested in temperate conditions be relevant under tropical conditions to simulate long-term #soilorganiccarbon #yields? A study based on 4 trials in Kenya 🇰🇪 @mcorbeels.bsky.social @gatienfalconnier.bsky.social @johansix.bsky.social
authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...
authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...
October 3, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Can soil-crop models mostly tested in temperate conditions be relevant under tropical conditions to simulate long-term #soilorganiccarbon #yields? A study based on 4 trials in Kenya 🇰🇪 @mcorbeels.bsky.social @gatienfalconnier.bsky.social @johansix.bsky.social
authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...
authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...
Reposted by Valentin Pret
New #openaccess paper from the PhD thesis of @souleymanejules.bsky.social 👏 !
We monitored during 2 years surface albedo in conventional tillage, no tillage, & no tillage with mulch (maize residues) at 2 long-term experiments in Zimbabwe, and having 2 different soil types:
doi.org/10.1016/j.st...
We monitored during 2 years surface albedo in conventional tillage, no tillage, & no tillage with mulch (maize residues) at 2 long-term experiments in Zimbabwe, and having 2 different soil types:
doi.org/10.1016/j.st...
August 13, 2025 at 7:19 PM
New #openaccess paper from the PhD thesis of @souleymanejules.bsky.social 👏 !
We monitored during 2 years surface albedo in conventional tillage, no tillage, & no tillage with mulch (maize residues) at 2 long-term experiments in Zimbabwe, and having 2 different soil types:
doi.org/10.1016/j.st...
We monitored during 2 years surface albedo in conventional tillage, no tillage, & no tillage with mulch (maize residues) at 2 long-term experiments in Zimbabwe, and having 2 different soil types:
doi.org/10.1016/j.st...
Reposted by Valentin Pret
La Une de Libération du 18 juillet 2025. Versus la Mer de Glace en 1950.
July 17, 2025 at 10:20 PM
La Une de Libération du 18 juillet 2025. Versus la Mer de Glace en 1950.
Reposted by Valentin Pret
#IPCC's 2022 #ClimateReport shows heatwaves in Europe will become more frequent, more intense & will last longer.
By 2050, about half of the European population may be exposed to high or very high risk of heat stress during summer.
➡️ bit.ly/IICpt13
By 2050, about half of the European population may be exposed to high or very high risk of heat stress during summer.
➡️ bit.ly/IICpt13
July 3, 2025 at 8:14 AM
#IPCC's 2022 #ClimateReport shows heatwaves in Europe will become more frequent, more intense & will last longer.
By 2050, about half of the European population may be exposed to high or very high risk of heat stress during summer.
➡️ bit.ly/IICpt13
By 2050, about half of the European population may be exposed to high or very high risk of heat stress during summer.
➡️ bit.ly/IICpt13
Reposted by Valentin Pret
@ketanjoshi.co provides a very helpful alternative figure as a rejoinder to the primary energy graph in my first post in this thread...
bsky.app/profile/keta...
bsky.app/profile/keta...
Part of the reason this sort of baffles people is that we still don't widely understand just how intensely silly it is to get energy from old dead compressed plants
Made this a few years ago but it's the same today: ~2/3rds of climate impacts relate to energy that was never 'used'
Made this a few years ago but it's the same today: ~2/3rds of climate impacts relate to energy that was never 'used'
June 10, 2025 at 6:09 PM
@ketanjoshi.co provides a very helpful alternative figure as a rejoinder to the primary energy graph in my first post in this thread...
bsky.app/profile/keta...
bsky.app/profile/keta...
Reposted by Valentin Pret
Earlier this year, Chen et al. @science.org showed that droughts are intensifying globally, with warming. www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/science.ado4245,
Now, Gebrechorkos et al. @nature.com confirms the same findings. Very important work, but not wholly novel doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Now, Gebrechorkos et al. @nature.com confirms the same findings. Very important work, but not wholly novel doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Warming accelerates global drought severity - Nature
Increased atmospheric evaporative demand in recent years has increased drought severity by an average of 40% globally across both dry and wet regions, and the trend is likely to continue under future ...
doi.org
June 5, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Earlier this year, Chen et al. @science.org showed that droughts are intensifying globally, with warming. www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/science.ado4245,
Now, Gebrechorkos et al. @nature.com confirms the same findings. Very important work, but not wholly novel doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Now, Gebrechorkos et al. @nature.com confirms the same findings. Very important work, but not wholly novel doi.org/10.1038/s415...
"These techniques are all however considered more expensive or energy-intensive than cutting emissions in the first place by burning fewer fossil fuels"
I do not understand how credits from complex forms of CO2 removal like enhanced rock weathering are priced (averages at $352 per tonne of CO2 here) when scientists are still in the process of figuring out MRV. No idea about actual sequestration but let's price and trade it
www.ft.com/content/ffc2...
www.ft.com/content/ffc2...
Investors pile into rocks to absorb carbon emissions
‘Enhanced weathering’ draws backers including Microsoft, Musk and JPMorgan
www.ft.com
June 3, 2025 at 8:54 AM
"These techniques are all however considered more expensive or energy-intensive than cutting emissions in the first place by burning fewer fossil fuels"
Reposted by Valentin Pret
Last week I defended my 'Habilitation à diriger des Recherches'
Thanks to those who attended!
Thanks to the fantastic jury: L.Alletto A.METAY L.Hossard L.Bell R.Zougmore G.Martin G. Corre-Hellou
The slide deck:
lnkd.in/g-eJik8P
The HDR manuscript:
lnkd.in/gF4XcmnU
Thanks to those who attended!
Thanks to the fantastic jury: L.Alletto A.METAY L.Hossard L.Bell R.Zougmore G.Martin G. Corre-Hellou
The slide deck:
lnkd.in/g-eJik8P
The HDR manuscript:
lnkd.in/gF4XcmnU
May 23, 2025 at 6:52 AM
Last week I defended my 'Habilitation à diriger des Recherches'
Thanks to those who attended!
Thanks to the fantastic jury: L.Alletto A.METAY L.Hossard L.Bell R.Zougmore G.Martin G. Corre-Hellou
The slide deck:
lnkd.in/g-eJik8P
The HDR manuscript:
lnkd.in/gF4XcmnU
Thanks to those who attended!
Thanks to the fantastic jury: L.Alletto A.METAY L.Hossard L.Bell R.Zougmore G.Martin G. Corre-Hellou
The slide deck:
lnkd.in/g-eJik8P
The HDR manuscript:
lnkd.in/gF4XcmnU
Reposted by Valentin Pret
Cropping season over in Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 ! After cowpea a few weeks ago, maize 🌽 has now been harvested at our rainfall exclusion site at the University of Zimbabwe @cirad.bsky.social. Yields will for sure be much higher than during the once-in-century El Nino drought last year.
May 16, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Cropping season over in Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 ! After cowpea a few weeks ago, maize 🌽 has now been harvested at our rainfall exclusion site at the University of Zimbabwe @cirad.bsky.social. Yields will for sure be much higher than during the once-in-century El Nino drought last year.
Reposted by Valentin Pret
So exciting to see our commentary out! With a super team of Yean-Uk Kim of @zalf.bsky.social, @alexruane.bsky.social of @agmip.bsky.social and @robertfinger.bsky.social, we outline needed advances for more robust risk assessments of cropping systems.
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
May 12, 2025 at 7:14 AM
So exciting to see our commentary out! With a super team of Yean-Uk Kim of @zalf.bsky.social, @alexruane.bsky.social of @agmip.bsky.social and @robertfinger.bsky.social, we outline needed advances for more robust risk assessments of cropping systems.
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
Great work by PPS colleagues: Intensifying legumes with phosphorus fertiliser and inoculants in smallholder fields increases yields and reduces weed pressure, enabling greater resilience to weeding delays and more flexible farm management
shorturl.at/SnHYu
shorturl.at/SnHYu
May 7, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Great work by PPS colleagues: Intensifying legumes with phosphorus fertiliser and inoculants in smallholder fields increases yields and reduces weed pressure, enabling greater resilience to weeding delays and more flexible farm management
shorturl.at/SnHYu
shorturl.at/SnHYu
Reposted by Valentin Pret
Low yielding and low data in smallholder farming systems is not a question of fate.
I was able to talk on the topic at the last #AgMIP10 conference
youtu.be/gAAFJtg2Qb0?...
I was able to talk on the topic at the last #AgMIP10 conference
youtu.be/gAAFJtg2Qb0?...
AgMIP10 April 2 Plenaries (ENG)
YouTube video by AgMIP
youtu.be
May 5, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Low yielding and low data in smallholder farming systems is not a question of fate.
I was able to talk on the topic at the last #AgMIP10 conference
youtu.be/gAAFJtg2Qb0?...
I was able to talk on the topic at the last #AgMIP10 conference
youtu.be/gAAFJtg2Qb0?...
Reposted by Valentin Pret
"Le moins que l’on puisse dire, c’est que la doctrine de l’excellence scientifique ne suit pas une démarche scientifique." www.liberation.fr/debats/2020/...
L’obscurantisme de l’excellence
La loi sur la recherche risque de favoriser les «meilleurs» laboratoires en créant des grosses structures. Or des études prouvent qu’il est plus efficace de diversifier les financements.
www.liberation.fr
April 20, 2025 at 12:47 AM
"Le moins que l’on puisse dire, c’est que la doctrine de l’excellence scientifique ne suit pas une démarche scientifique." www.liberation.fr/debats/2020/...
Reposted by Valentin Pret
📢 Great postdoc (3 years) opportunity in our group @cirad.bsky.social in the FairCarboN #ALAMOD project to coordinate a modeling excercice @agmip.bsky.social on #soilorganicmatter and nitrogen dynamics in tropical cropping systems.
Deadline: 08/05/25
recrutement.cirad.fr/job/job-rese...
Deadline: 08/05/25
recrutement.cirad.fr/job/job-rese...
Cirad - Chercheur.e en modélisation de la matière organique dans les systèmes de culture tropicaux
recrutement.cirad.fr
April 30, 2025 at 12:23 PM
📢 Great postdoc (3 years) opportunity in our group @cirad.bsky.social in the FairCarboN #ALAMOD project to coordinate a modeling excercice @agmip.bsky.social on #soilorganicmatter and nitrogen dynamics in tropical cropping systems.
Deadline: 08/05/25
recrutement.cirad.fr/job/job-rese...
Deadline: 08/05/25
recrutement.cirad.fr/job/job-rese...
Reposted by Valentin Pret
Transdisciplinary coordination is essential for advancing agricultural modelling with machine learning. The opportunities are great, but to avoid pitfalls, we need to establish benchmarks, evaluation criteria and best practices. Our perspective: www.cell.com/one-earth/fu... @cp-oneearth.bsky.social
Transdisciplinary coordination is essential for advancing agricultural modeling with machine learning
Crop models play a key role in understanding and improving the climate-change resilience
of food systems. If appropriately used, machine learning can help tackle some of the
critical challenges of agr...
www.cell.com
April 28, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Transdisciplinary coordination is essential for advancing agricultural modelling with machine learning. The opportunities are great, but to avoid pitfalls, we need to establish benchmarks, evaluation criteria and best practices. Our perspective: www.cell.com/one-earth/fu... @cp-oneearth.bsky.social
Reposted by Valentin Pret
Interesting opinion in Science suggesting to replace 'scientific consensus' with convergent evidence.
Because it is less easily derailed by quoting one dissenting opinion.
Seems like a good idea!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Because it is less easily derailed by quoting one dissenting opinion.
Seems like a good idea!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Convergence and consensus
In these days of political instability, geopolitical tensions, and social discontent around the world, there are continued threats to the principles, conduct, and findings of science. This assault on ...
www.science.org
April 25, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Interesting opinion in Science suggesting to replace 'scientific consensus' with convergent evidence.
Because it is less easily derailed by quoting one dissenting opinion.
Seems like a good idea!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Because it is less easily derailed by quoting one dissenting opinion.
Seems like a good idea!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Valentin Pret
In a new paper, we propose the 'ecological yield gap' as a framework to strengthen collaboration between agronomists and ecologists in our quest to enhance on-farm ecosystem services in ways that effectively sustain crop yields while minimising input use:
doi.org/10.1016/j.gf...
🧪🌱🌾🧑🌾🐞💚🤎
doi.org/10.1016/j.gf...
🧪🌱🌾🧑🌾🐞💚🤎
Narrowing the ecological yield gap to sustain crop yields with less inputs
Sustainable production of sufficient and healthy food requires efficient use of agricultural inputs. In many regions of the world with intensive agric…
www.sciencedirect.com
April 22, 2025 at 2:03 PM
In a new paper, we propose the 'ecological yield gap' as a framework to strengthen collaboration between agronomists and ecologists in our quest to enhance on-farm ecosystem services in ways that effectively sustain crop yields while minimising input use:
doi.org/10.1016/j.gf...
🧪🌱🌾🧑🌾🐞💚🤎
doi.org/10.1016/j.gf...
🧪🌱🌾🧑🌾🐞💚🤎
Reposted by Valentin Pret
📢 New #PhD offer. You have a MSc degree in agronomy, soil science or plant ecophysiology AND you are from Kenya? This offer might be for you.
"Contribution of #agroforestry systems 🌳 🌽 🥑 🐐 to provisioning ecosystem services, #climatechange adaptation and mitigation in Kenya"
Deadline: 31.05.2025.
"Contribution of #agroforestry systems 🌳 🌽 🥑 🐐 to provisioning ecosystem services, #climatechange adaptation and mitigation in Kenya"
Deadline: 31.05.2025.
April 16, 2025 at 9:18 AM
📢 New #PhD offer. You have a MSc degree in agronomy, soil science or plant ecophysiology AND you are from Kenya? This offer might be for you.
"Contribution of #agroforestry systems 🌳 🌽 🥑 🐐 to provisioning ecosystem services, #climatechange adaptation and mitigation in Kenya"
Deadline: 31.05.2025.
"Contribution of #agroforestry systems 🌳 🌽 🥑 🐐 to provisioning ecosystem services, #climatechange adaptation and mitigation in Kenya"
Deadline: 31.05.2025.
Reposted by Valentin Pret
Could drought and poor soil undermine the performance of intercropping ?
Our study in semi-arid Zimbabwe found that the benefits of intercropping are maintained even with water and N stress.
doi.org/10.1016/j.fc...
Congrats Illiana Kwenda - A nice combination of field experiments and modelling
Our study in semi-arid Zimbabwe found that the benefits of intercropping are maintained even with water and N stress.
doi.org/10.1016/j.fc...
Congrats Illiana Kwenda - A nice combination of field experiments and modelling
April 9, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Could drought and poor soil undermine the performance of intercropping ?
Our study in semi-arid Zimbabwe found that the benefits of intercropping are maintained even with water and N stress.
doi.org/10.1016/j.fc...
Congrats Illiana Kwenda - A nice combination of field experiments and modelling
Our study in semi-arid Zimbabwe found that the benefits of intercropping are maintained even with water and N stress.
doi.org/10.1016/j.fc...
Congrats Illiana Kwenda - A nice combination of field experiments and modelling
Reposted by Valentin Pret
Check out this paper just published by our colleague Antoine Couëdel @cirad.bsky.social in @naturefood.bsky.social
Statistical approaches are inadequate for accurate estimation of yield potential and gaps at regional level
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
Statistical approaches are inadequate for accurate estimation of yield potential and gaps at regional level
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
Statistical approaches are inadequate for accurate estimation of yield potential and gaps at regional level - Nature Food
Yield potential estimates from statistical models and process-based crop models are compared across diverse climates and soil conditions. The findings reveal limitations of statistical methods, unders...
www.nature.com
April 8, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Check out this paper just published by our colleague Antoine Couëdel @cirad.bsky.social in @naturefood.bsky.social
Statistical approaches are inadequate for accurate estimation of yield potential and gaps at regional level
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
Statistical approaches are inadequate for accurate estimation of yield potential and gaps at regional level
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
Reposted by Valentin Pret
🌍 We hosted the 10th #AgMIP Global Workshop at #CIMMYT, where global leaders tackled urgent conversations! From science & policy to crop modeling, we’re advancing #FoodSecurity and a #Sustainable future. 🌱
April 8, 2025 at 7:10 PM
🌍 We hosted the 10th #AgMIP Global Workshop at #CIMMYT, where global leaders tackled urgent conversations! From science & policy to crop modeling, we’re advancing #FoodSecurity and a #Sustainable future. 🌱
Reposted by Valentin Pret
Carbon #sequestration in #agroforestry 🌳 🌽 🥑 🐄 is a hot topic.
Here we provide #openaccess guidelines to improve the quantification & reporting of carbon stocks in #soils & #biomass & additional #carbon storage in agroforestry systems, and to maximize manuscript acceptance.
doi.org/10.1007/s104...
Here we provide #openaccess guidelines to improve the quantification & reporting of carbon stocks in #soils & #biomass & additional #carbon storage in agroforestry systems, and to maximize manuscript acceptance.
doi.org/10.1007/s104...
Guidelines for improved quantification and reporting of carbon stocks and additional carbon storage in agroforestry systems - Agroforestry Systems
The number of scientific publications related to biomass carbon or soil organic carbon under various land management practices has globally and dramatically increased during the last two decades, the ...
doi.org
April 7, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Carbon #sequestration in #agroforestry 🌳 🌽 🥑 🐄 is a hot topic.
Here we provide #openaccess guidelines to improve the quantification & reporting of carbon stocks in #soils & #biomass & additional #carbon storage in agroforestry systems, and to maximize manuscript acceptance.
doi.org/10.1007/s104...
Here we provide #openaccess guidelines to improve the quantification & reporting of carbon stocks in #soils & #biomass & additional #carbon storage in agroforestry systems, and to maximize manuscript acceptance.
doi.org/10.1007/s104...
Reposted by Valentin Pret
Interested in participatory approaches and spatial modelling applied to smallholder farming system? ➡️ we have a PhD opportunity in the #GALILEO project on #agroforestery for #climatechange resilience! 🌍🧑🌾🌳🌽
📅Deadline : 11 May 2025
📝Modalities : gaia.umontpellier.fr/documents/SU...
📅Deadline : 11 May 2025
📝Modalities : gaia.umontpellier.fr/documents/SU...
April 3, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Interested in participatory approaches and spatial modelling applied to smallholder farming system? ➡️ we have a PhD opportunity in the #GALILEO project on #agroforestery for #climatechange resilience! 🌍🧑🌾🌳🌽
📅Deadline : 11 May 2025
📝Modalities : gaia.umontpellier.fr/documents/SU...
📅Deadline : 11 May 2025
📝Modalities : gaia.umontpellier.fr/documents/SU...
Reposted by Valentin Pret
#AgMIP10 officially launched this morning, but we hosted seven pre-workshop Side Meetings yesterday, including the GGCMI, Wheat, Ozone, Global Econ, Low-Input, and Calibration #AgMIPTeams.
April 1, 2025 at 4:24 PM
#AgMIP10 officially launched this morning, but we hosted seven pre-workshop Side Meetings yesterday, including the GGCMI, Wheat, Ozone, Global Econ, Low-Input, and Calibration #AgMIPTeams.
Reposted by Valentin Pret
#Agmip10 Understanding of nutrient soil supply is key to design relevant srategies for fertility management in smallholder system
We are kick-starting a new Agmip intercomparison to asses how well models deal with soil organic matter mineralisation
We are kick-starting a new Agmip intercomparison to asses how well models deal with soil organic matter mineralisation
April 4, 2025 at 10:52 PM
#Agmip10 Understanding of nutrient soil supply is key to design relevant srategies for fertility management in smallholder system
We are kick-starting a new Agmip intercomparison to asses how well models deal with soil organic matter mineralisation
We are kick-starting a new Agmip intercomparison to asses how well models deal with soil organic matter mineralisation