Challenge Program Directors

Alain Vidal is an expert in water conservation in agriculture and has been interested in global water, food and poverty crises all his life. In 2004, he joined the management team of the CGIAR Challenge Program on Water and Food part time, and was appointed Director in May 2009.

Alain began his professional career in Morocco, in 1986, where he worked for 10 years at the French Environmental Research Institute, Cemagref. Following that, he worked with the Food and Agriculture Organization on innovations in the uptake of scientific research and exchange of technology, before returning to Cemagref between 2003 and 2009 as director of European and international affairs. He has authored or co-authored more than 40 refereed papers, and edited five books. Alain received his PhD in water science from the University of Montpellier in 1989.