Louise Leroux: from horses to physical geography
Louise has always lived in the countryside, in Orne, Normandy. Passionate about horses, she intended to pursue a career as an equine veterinarian. It turned out differently. Torn between science and literature, which she equally appreciates, she chose to enter a literary preparatory class after obtaining her scientific baccalaureate. As part of this curriculum, she became passionate about physical geography, the epistemology of geography, and cartography. She then joined a double degree in history and physical geography, which allowed her to find a balance between her literary appetite and her interest in physical sciences and life and earth sciences. She completed her studies with a research master’s degree in physical geography with a specialization in remote sensing (particularly by satellite).
Researcher in remote sensing applied to agriculture in Africa
Before starting her professional career, she applied to CIRAD to conduct a thesis on the topic of “monitoring and characterization of agricultural production dynamics in West Africa using medium spatial resolution remote sensing”. This step confirmed her desire to pursue research, particularly in Africa.
After completing her thesis, she was hired by CIRAD and assigned to the Centre de Suivi Écologique in Dakar, Senegal, from 2017 to 2022. Since 2022, she has been attached to the IITA (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture) based in Kenya. Her work consists of evaluating the agronomic, environmental, and socio-economic performance of African family farming in response to global changes. Satellite or drone images, as well as new analysis methods from artificial intelligence, are at the heart of her research.
Start of a new project on agroforestry
An important project has been underway since the beginning of 2025 in Louise’s work. Named GALILEO, it is funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe program and the Swiss Confederation. Involving several countries – Senegal, Ghana, Cameroon, Kenya – it will run until 2028. Its subject: “Strengthening rural livelihoods and climate change resilience in Africa: innovative agroforestry integrating people, trees, crops, and livestock”.
The objective of this European project is to promote agroforestry as a means of:
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improving agricultural and socio-economic performance of agroforestry systems for rural households;
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adapting to and mitigating climate change;
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and enhancing biodiversity in sub-Saharan Africa.
The work will involve co-constructing possible solutions with stakeholders and testing them. Remote sensing will play a major role in characterizing agricultural landscapes (land use and tree location). It will also allow for measuring the spatially distributed performance of agroforestry systems, particularly in terms of providing a diversity of ecosystem services.
Louise Leroux: winner of the photo prize from the Institute of Research for Development (IRD)
On the “occasion of the International Year of Millet” (a cereal widely cultivated and consumed in Southern countries) organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Louise Leroux was awarded the Grand Jury Prize of the photography competition launched by IRD. During “a field trip with a student, Louise” photographed him “while he was taking leaf area measurements in millet fields. The researcher and her student were at farmers’ fields in the Niakhar region, in the Senegalese groundnut basin. As the measurements had to be taken at dawn, this student” didn’t have time to remove his rosary following the morning prayer (note: 96% of the population in Senegal is Muslim). This photograph “is titled ‘science and belief’. In addition to her research, Louise also practices photography which” she uses to illustrate and document her research.
Encouragement from the researcher to join her preferred field
Louise is a passionate researcher who encourages young people to pursue what motivates and pleases them. She also indicates that “nothing is linear and there’s always a way to bounce back, that one shouldn’t be afraid to take the plunge”.
Regarding the profession of researcher in agricultural sciences, she specifies that “an engineering school is far from” being the only entry point. Indeed, adaptability is a sought-after quality in the research environment. The second would be curiosity and the ability to take an interest in other disciplines that are not one’s own specialty. For example, Louise is also very interested in work in medicine and computer science that can bring different perspectives to her research questions.
A word about CIRAD
In collaboration with its partners, CIRAD co-constructs knowledge and solutions for resilient agriculture in a more sustainable and solidary world. It mobilizes science, innovation, and training to achieve sustainable development goals. It puts its expertise at the service of all – from producers to public policies – to promote biodiversity protection, agroecological transitions, sustainability of sustainable food systems, health (of plants, animals, and ecosystems), sustainable development of rural territories and their resilience to climate change.
Created in 1984 under the status of “Établissement public à caractère industriel et commercial (Épic), it is placed under the dual supervision of the Ministry of” Higher Education, Research and Innovation and the Ministry of “Europe and Foreign Affairs. Present on all continents in about fifty countries, CIRAD” relies on the skills of its 1,750 employees, including 1,200 scientists.
CIRAD regularly welcomes middle and high school interns at its Montpellier headquarters. For example, the center is a partner in the DigiFilles operation, which offers observational internships to 9th grade female students from Montpellier and its surroundings. The objective is to promote digital professions, here in the applied sectors of agriculture and the environment.
Written by Anne Burel, web editor and edited by Intan
Do you like science and agriculture? Also read the profile of Alicia Rouge, engineer and doctor in agronomy
Do you dream of becoming a researcher or working in Africa? Share it in the comments.
Photo credits: Louise Leroux
Sources: https://www.cirad.fr/
