Scientific research that support farmers in Madagascar

In Madagascar, researcher Santatra RAVELOMANANTSOA advocates a clear approach: starting from the field, listening to farmers, and working with them to develop practical solutions for their farms.

Santatra RAVELOMANANTSOA is a Malagasy researcher specializing in genetic improvement, plant health, and postharvest quality, and she serves as head of the agricultural research department at FOFIFA. Having studied in Belgium, Réunion, and the United States, she chose to return to Madagascar to apply her expertise to the agricultural development of her country.

FOFIFA (National Center for Applied Research in Rural Development) is Madagascar’s public agricultural research institution. It conducts research on crops, livestock, and agricultural systems to develop innovations tailored to local conditions.

FOFIFA works in collaboration with farmers who are members of the Fifata group’s farmer organizations, some of whose initiatives are supported by Fert. This collaboration helps bridge the gap between scientific research and the needs expressed by farmers.

An approach focused on the realities faced by farmers

This approach echoes Fert’s collaboration with the Fifata group of farmers’ organizations: placing farmers at the center of their efforts.

This approach guided Santatra’s work on potato vascular bacteriosis, a disease that once caused up to 100% crop loss on some farms in the highlands of Madagascar. By working directly with farmers to understand the disease and adapt agricultural practices, the researcher and the farmers jointly developed concrete solutions: seed selection, crop rotations, field hygiene practices, and early detection. As a result, the infection rate has now dropped to less than 10%.

“The first key to success was listening: before proposing solutions, we had to understand the realities farmers faced, their constraints, and their practices.”

On February 17, 2026, in Paris, Santatra RAVELOMANANTSOA received the 2026 FARM Foundation Award, which recognizes researchers who, through their scientific and social commitment, make a tangible contribution to improving the living conditions of rural populations and to the development of sustainable food systems. This award recognizes not only the scientific quality of his work but also its purpose: to improve the resilience of family farms in the face of crop diseases and climate hazards. His research currently focuses on several crops that are important to Madagascar, including potatoes, cereals (corn, sorghum, millet), legumes (beans, peanuts, groundnuts, soybeans, cape peas), ginger, and vanilla.

Meaningful encounters and exchanges

During his visit to France, Santatra RAVELOMANANTSOA also met with several agricultural and technical institutions, including Arvalis, a partner of Fert, as well as FN3PT, INOV3PT, and the Central and Southern Committee. These discussions gave him a better understanding of how technical and applied research institutes operate and helped him identify best practices for structuring agricultural research in Madagascar and enhancing its impact.

“These visits helped me understand how research institutions set their priorities and coordinate their activities with farmers and other users of scientific knowledge. I observed how research themes are structured, how results are disseminated, and how governance frames the entire system. I also came to realize the importance of quality management. I realized that formalizing procedures, drafting technical data sheets, and implementing a traceability system are essential for strengthening the credibility and dissemination of our work. The visits also allowed me to identify new methodologies and technologies and pinpoint innovations transferable to our context, as well as to understand the business models of technical institutes.”

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Beyond technical training, these meetings also open up opportunities for scientific collaboration and capacity building between French and Malagasy organizations.

From Science to Impact: Innovation for Farmers

With the grant received from the FARM Foundation, Santatra RAVELOMANANTSOA aims to create an “innovation hub” dedicated to plant health and seed quality.

“In Madagascar, the expertise already exists: plant health monitoring, scientific research, seed production. The challenge isn’t a lack of expertise, but time and coordination.

Today, when a problem arises in a field, it can take months sometimes years before a proven solution actually reaches farmers. The hub will change this dynamic.”

Its goal is to reduce the time between identifying a problem in the field and disseminating effective solutions to farmers.

“It is the needs expressed by farmers that will trigger the implementation of the program: assessment, mobilization of research, testing of solutions, and rapid dissemination. The process will not end with the publication of a scientific result. It will only be considered successful once the solution has actually been adopted in the field.”

This initiative aims to accelerate agricultural innovation and strengthen the resilience of farms.

“The hub will serve as a permanent link between researchers, plant protection services, seed producers, the private sector, and financial partners, ensuring that all stakeholders work together toward a common goal: resolving a priority issue within a short timeframe. It will foster responsiveness and act as a catalyst for impact.”

Santatra Ravelomanantsoa’s work is fully aligned with the research and development efforts of the Fifata Group’s farmer organizations, which Fert has been supporting for nearly 40 years, where knowledge is built through ongoing interaction with farmers.

Pour en savoir plus

Santatra RAVELOMANANTSOA recently shared her vision for agricultural research in several media outlets. To read the full interview :

An interview on the program “Un jour au village” on RFI: In Madagascar, scientific research for sustainable agriculture
An in-depth interview with Afrik.com: Santatra Ravelomanantsoa, FARM Prize 2026: “Every innovation put into practice can transform thousands of lives”

An approach focused on the realities faced by farmers

Meaningful encounters and exchanges

From Science to Impact: Innovation for Farmers

Pour en savoir plus

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