Veteran Research Engineer Takes on Leadership Role in Potato Plant Varietal Selection
As of September 1, 2024, Sylvie Marhadour has officially assumed the position of Scientific Director at L’Institut Technique Agricole du Plant de Pomme de Terre (inov3PT). Sylvie, a research engineer who has been with the organization since 2003, takes over the scientific management role from Yves Le Hingrat, who is set to retire on January 1, 2025, after a remarkable 40 years of service in the potato industry.
Based at the INRAE UMR IGEPP facility in Ploudaniel, Sylvie brings a wealth of experience in genetics and plant breeding to her new role. Before joining the potato sector, she worked on the Génoplante project, focusing on rapeseed, at INRAE/Biogemma, and holds a doctorate in genetics and plant breeding from Institut Agro Rennes.
In her new capacity, Sylvie will be responsible for shaping the scientific direction of inov3PT, ensuring the institution’s research aligns with the needs of the potato plant industry. Her leadership will focus on supporting the genetics and technical programs critical to the selection and improvement of potato varieties.
Inov3PT’s mission is to provide innovative solutions for various stakeholders within the potato sector, including plant producers, producer organizations, laboratories, breeders, and technicians. The institute plays a key role in enhancing the competitiveness of the French potato industry by offering technical support, expertise, training, and facilitating knowledge transfer at both national and international levels.
Funded primarily by seed producers and supported by a CasDAR grant under the National Agricultural and Rural Development Program (PNDAR), inov3PT operates within an extensive network of scientific and technical partnerships. Through collaborative projects, the organization contributes to the ongoing innovation and development of the sector.
As Sylvie steps into this leadership role, her experience and vision are expected to drive inov3PT’s efforts in advancing potato varietal research, ultimately benefiting the entire agricultural industry.
