Overview

CIRAD (Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement) is a French agricultural research and international cooperation organisation established in 1984. It operates as a public establishment with industrial and commercial characteristics under the joint authority of the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space and the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. CIRAD works to support sustainable development in tropical and Mediterranean regions through research, innovation and cooperation with global partners.

Mission and focus areas

CIRAD’s mission centres on building scientific knowledge and solutions to address agricultural, food system and environmental challenges in a sustainable manner. It contributes to resilient farming systems that protect biodiversity, support agroecological transitions and enhance rural development. Its research aligns with broader sustainability goals, addressing climate change adaptation, food security, ecosystem health and inclusive development. CIRAD collaborates with scientific institutions, civil society organisations, governments and international bodies to support policy design and implementation that fosters sustainable development.

Structure and governance

CIRAD is governed through a structured framework that includes a board of trustees and scientific committees guiding strategic research priorities. Its leadership is headed by a Chief Executive Officer, with distinct offices responsible for research strategy and organisational resources. The organisation comprises three scientific departments and 28 research units that focus on diverse thematic areas, such as biological systems, production performance and socio-environmental interactions. CIRAD operates regionally with offices and partnerships in many tropical and Mediterranean countries, emphasising collaborative international research.

Programs and offerings

CIRAD conducts nearly 900 research projects annually, offering research outputs, scientific publications and technical solutions that contribute to sustainable agricultural practices. It provides training, capacity building and knowledge exchange through doctoral programmes and professional development initiatives. CIRAD also supports platforms in partnership for research and training, engages in science diplomacy and contributes evidence to policy debates, enhancing sustainable value creation for stakeholders from producers to policymakers

Mission and strategy

CIRAD’s mission, history, and values are all essential assets for contributing to addressing some of the major global challenges and achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Because agriculture is at the heart of the necessary transitions, it is urgent to make it more resilient to global changes and to multiply its positive impacts for society and the planet.
The challenges facing humanity are worsening. To avoid destroying the world we live in, we must radically change our relationship with the living world, as well as our ways of producing and consuming. With a global population expected to reach ten billion by 2050 and drive a surge in demand for agricultural products, we must focus our efforts and investments on the sustainable management of ecosystems. Agriculture is a key issue, central to the models we need to develop. Occupying 40% of the Earth’s land surface, the sector provides jobs and livelihoods for nearly 40% of the world’s adults. Beyond food production, agriculture fulfills numerous essential functions: rural development and employment, contributing to ecosystem management and health, energy production, and more.

Our mission: to contribute to the resilience of agriculture for a more sustainable and equitable world
Cirad has an ambitious mission: to contribute to a more sustainable world and to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals through agricultural and food systems that provide healthy food for populations, that pay producers a decent wage, that are resilient to global changes including climate change, while preserving biodiversity and natural resources.

We have chosen to embody this mission through a multi-faceted strategy.