Missions

Development and implementation of a digital model for projecting the food transport system in the context of the relocation of agricultural production in France and the reduction of the environmental impact of feeding the population.

Activités

A transport demand simulation model, TKM Carbon, was developed as part of the SISAE project (Prospective Simulation of the Food System and its Carbon Footprint), linked to the Amstram model (Silvestre, 2012). This model makes it possible to assess current and future food transport flows from production areas to points of sale in terms of traffic, energy and GHG emissions. It takes into account international and domestic transport, segmented by production area (country or metropolitan department), mode of transport and product category. The aim is to develop this model to better characterise and parameterise future changes in the transport system following changes in the food system itself.
The proposed mission will contribute to the development of this model in several ways
- Bibliographic analysis of physical models for projecting freight transport between a territory and its trading partners.
- Updating of the databases used by the Amstram and TKM-Carbon models for recent years. Characterisation of the links between the two models.
- Development of the TKM_carbon model to simulate prospective changes in production areas, products traded in kind and in volume, modes of transport, and the energy and carbon performance of modes of transport.
- Computer implementation of the food traffic model for a territory and its trading partners for each of the scenarios defined in the project.

Compétences

- Strong skills in modelling, applied mathematics and Python programming.
- Skills in database development and management, SQL (PostgreSQL-PostGIS)
- Knowledge of the transport sector and/or environmental assessment would be an advantage.
- Ability to work independently, rigour, good writing skills, good understanding of written English.

Contexte de travail

This position is part of the SouvNutri research project funded by the French National Research Agency: 'A prospective analysis of the tensions between greater food autonomy and a healthier and more environmentally friendly food system'. Food accounts for 25% of the French population's carbon footprint. Given the multiple crises facing our societies, moving towards greater food sovereignty and a more resilient food system is essential. The study The energy and carbon footprint of food in France (CECAM) shows that food transport accounts for nearly 20% of this carbon footprint. Household food consumption in France generates 201 billion tonne-kilometres of freight traffic per year, 77% of which comes from imports. Imported fruit and vegetables and soybean meal for animal feed are among the commodities that generate the most traffic.
Etudier les possibilités de réduire ces importations en faisant évoluer les régimes alimentaires, les pratiques agricoles, mais aussi en relocalisant une partie des productions agricoles ou alimentaires en France ou en priorisant des modes de transport moins consommateurs d'énergie, est un enjeu majeur. Le projet SouvNutri vise à analyser comment et dans quelle mesure le système de production alimentaire français pourrait assurer des régimes sains et durables à sa population tout en réduisant sa dépendance aux importations. Dans ce projet, le CIRED mène des travaux sur l'évaluation des consommations d'énergie et des émissions de gaz à effet de serre des transports de denrées agricoles et alimentaires dans le cadre des scénarios en cours d'élaboration visant à une plus forte souveraineté alimentaire.
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BARBIER C., COUTURIER C., POUROUCHOTTAMIN P., CAYLA J-M, SYLVESTRE M., PHARABOD I., (2019) L'empreinte énergétique et carbone de l'alimentation en France, CLIP, Paris. https://www.centre-cired.fr/carine-barbier/