Dr. Nicolas Stephan Roux

Keynote Speaker

Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT [Principal Scientist]
16, Lotissement Rieumassel 34790 Grabels, France
Tel(mobile): (+33) 6.71.16.93.53
E-mail: n.roux@cgiar.org

Profile :

Internationally recognized Senior Researcher with over 40 years of experience and over 200 publications in tropical agriculture (H-index=30). Extensive experience in resource mobilization, building equitable teams, managing complex multi-stakeholder programs to maximize impact and align with strategic priorities. Ability to foster collaboration among multilateral partners involving government representatives, researchers, rural development agencies, farmers and private industry.

Professional Experience
Position Employer From To Main Responsibilities
Principal Scientist Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT 2023 2026 Within the CGIAR Genebanks Initiative, Strengthening the
Global System (involving NARS). For the Alliance: Leading
the High Value Crops (Tropical Fruits) Transversal Initiative.
Global Musa Genetic Resources Network (MusaNet) Coordinator.
Scientific Liaison Officer with French Research Organisations.
Principal Scientist Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT 2021 2023 Leading the Banana Program. International Musa Germplasm
Transit Center (ITC) Genebank Manager. Bioversity focal point
for Genebanks Platform. A15 (11 CGIAR Genebanks) representative.
Coordinating the Global Musa Genetic Resources Network
(MusaNet). Bioversity focal point for RTB. Scientific Liaison
Officer with French Research Organisations.
Senior Scientist Bioversity International 2006 2021 Leading the Banana Genetic Resources Team. Bioversity
Genebank Manager and focal point for Genebanks Platform.
MusaNet coordinator. RTB Theme 1 Leader
(“Unlocking the value and use potential of genetic resources”).
Research Scientist International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) 2003 2006 Leading the Banana Genetic Resources Team. ITC Genebank
Manager. Coordinating the Global Musa Genomics Consortium
(GMGC).
Consultant International Network for the Improvement of Banana
and Plantain (INIBAP) 		2003 2003 Operating the Musa Genomic Resource Centre at the Institute
of Experimental Botany, Czech Republic. Carrying out the
physical mapping of the banana genome. Assisting Members
of the Global Musa Genomics Consortium.
Research Scientist International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) 1997 2002 Research on cellular biology and mutagenesis including
molecular cytogenetics for the development of new useful
banana genotypes.
Consultant International Network for the Improvement of Banana
and Plantain (INIBAP) 		1996 1996 Coordinating a global project on the development,
dissemination and evaluation of new varieties of banana
and plantain (Musa sp.) with improved tolerance/resistance
to pest, diseases and abiotic stresses.
Associate Professional Officer Food and Agriculture Organisation (F.A.O.) 1993 1996 Research and Development on biotechnologies applied to Musa.
Transfer of technologies to developing countries through
interregional training courses and site visits.
Laboratory Director Agricar c.a. Hacienda Carabobo, Caracas, Venezuela 1990 1993 Management of a plant tissue culture laboratory with a
production capacity of three million plants per year
and employing 50 workers.
Technical Manager Agrofinca Austral c.a. Estado Monagas, Venezuela 1988 1990 Elaboration and management of a project on the production
of tropical fruit, mainly bananas for export, responsible
of a plantation of 250 hectares and 150 workers.
Junior Scientist European Union, Program on the exchange of young
Research Scientists 		1987 1988 Studies on micrografting as a new method for virus
eradication at the University of Barcelona and the
Agricultural Research Institute of Valencia, Spain.

EDUCATION

Qualification Years Institute Specialization
Doctor of Philosophy 1998–2002 Department of Botany
Palacky, Faculty of Natural Sciences University
Olomouc, Czech Republic 		Induction and selection of mutants in Musa spp.
through in vitro mutagenesis.
European Engineer
(EUR ING) 		1996 European Federation of National Engineering Associations
(FEANI), France 		Professional title obtained as an indication of
professional competence.
Industrial Engineer in Agricultural Sciences
(Msc.) 		1982–1987 Superior Industrial Institute of the State,
Huy-Gembloux-Verviers, Belgium 		Option:
Horticulture, biotechnology applied to fruit crops.

Dipl. Ing. Thesis:
“Assays to produce virus-free genotypes of Prunus
by using thermotherap ia and/or meristem culture”.

Grade: “High Distinction”

ADDITIONAL TRAINING

Date Training / Course Institution
March 2022 Genetic Resource Policies for CGIAR Scientists. The Open University, London, UK
January 2022 Change Management Certificate through the eCornell courses:
Organisational change; leading collaborative teams;
negotiating skills; leading strategic change initiative;
strategic decision making and navigating power relationships. 		SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University
October 2009 Management Skills Training. Learning Tree International, London, UK
April 2002 Molecular cytogenetic characterization of induced aneuploids
by Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) and
Genomic In Situ Hybridization (GISH). 		Laboratory of Molecular Cytogenetics and Cytometry,
Institute of Experimental Botany, Olomouc, Czech Republic
May 2000 Cryopreservation of banana embryogenic cell suspensions. Laboratory of tropical crops improvement,
K.U. Leuven, Belgium
July 1996 Training on cytogenetic techniques such as chromosome
counting, flow cytometer to measure the ploidy and
the DNA content of several Musa clones. 		Laboratory of Molecular Cytogenetics and Cytometry,
Institute of Experimental Botany, Olomouc, Czech Republic
September 1995 Training on molecular techniques such as Polymerase
Chain Reaction (PCR)-Hybridisation method for the
detection and identification of plant viruses. 		Phytopathology Unit of the University of Gembloux, Belgium

KEY SKILLS / ROLES

Skills / Roles Details
Leadership and Management
  • Management of significant resources for the Banana
    Program (approximately 6 million USD in 2021).
  • Managing many large grants (e.g. DGD, GIZ, Gatsby
    Foundation, Crop Trust, RTB) dealing with genetic
    resources, Musa genomics, and genetic improvement.
  • Managing a global genebank (ITC) and related operations
    (e.g. Health Unit, Musa genotyping Centre, Germplasm
    Information unit).
  • Coordinating work on genetic resources conservation
    and use of scientists across different crops and
    different research centres.
  • Coordinator of international Musa networks
    (GMGC, MusaNet).
  • Leader of a team of 40+ staff members including
    scientists, technicians and admin staff.
  • Serving as focal point for large research platforms
    and themes (Genebanks, RTB).
  • Scientific liaison officer with French Research Institutes.
  • Member of the international scientific advisory board
    (ISAB) of ‘AgroBRC-RARe’, linking CGIAR Genebanks with
    the French national research infrastructure devoted
    to biological resource centers for agriculture research.
  • Representing foreign and international organizations
    for Agropolis International.
  • Chair of the Banana Working Group, under the Tropical
    and Subtropical Fruit and Nuts Division of the
    International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS).
Research and Development
  • Developing genomics resources such as BAC libraries
    and molecular cytogenetic markers for physical mapping.
  • Genome characterisation using molecular cytogenetics
    and cytometry methods.
  • Plant virus detection using enzyme-linked
    immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and molecular biology
    techniques.
  • Genetic improvement using in vitro
    mutagenesis techniques.
  • Early mass screening for disease tolerance using
    phytotoxins.
  • Field evaluation for agronomical performances.
Technology Transfer
  • Participating in international program activities
    for fellowship holders and training course participants.
  • Providing technical “back-stopping” to field projects.
  • Organizing group regional training workshops on
    characterization and documentation of Musa
    Germplasm and other Genebanks operations across crops.
Lecturing
  • Lecturer in international courses on advanced methods
    of plant conservation and breeding.
  • Invited to lecture at international meetings
    and conferences.
  • Invited Speaker at the EU Parliament.
Language
  • French (mother tongue)
  • English (fluent)
  • Spanish (fluent)
Computer Skills Common software applications for PC, statistical,
presentation software.

PUBLICATIONS

More than 200 publications
in total from 1994 to 2025 can be found here:


View Publications on Google Scholar ↗

REFERENCES

Name Position / Affiliation Contact
Dr. Stephan Weise Managing Director, Asia • Asia Region

Global Director Partnerships and Communications
ad interim

Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
Penang, Malaysia


s.weise@cgiar.org
Dr. Richard Markham Cocoa farmer in Fiji, and an Associate Professor at the
Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research,
University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia.

He is a former Research Program Manager at ACIAR
and former Director of INIBAP.


Richardhmarkham@gmail.com


rmarkham@usc.edu.au

Prof. Dr. Luis E. Pocasangre Director General of Centro Agronómico Tropical
de Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE)
Turrialba, Costa Rica

Former regional coordinator of INIBAP in LAC region.


luis.pocasangre@catie.ac.cr
© 2027 VIII International Symposium on Lychee, Longan and Other Sapindaceae Fruits