Bio

Philippe Vernier is currently a Senior Advisor for International Organizations at Centre de Cooperation Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (CIRAD) in charge of the partnership with the CGIAR system and centers, based in Montpellier France. He is an agronomist by training from AgroParisTech (formerly Institut National Agronomique Paris-Grignon). He has worked with CIRAD since 1981 with more than 20 years of experience in West and Central Africa, Latin America and in the Pacific. He was assigned for 6 years to IITA in Benin. His main research experience focuses on tropical root and tuber crops (especially yam, cassava, and sweetpotato) and partnership development.