Outreach - Videos

Reine du Safou - Cameroun

Rencontre avec Jérôme Duminil, généticien des plantes à l’IRD, et Marie-Louise Avana, enseignante chercheuse à l’Université de Dschang au Cameroun. Jérôme et Marie-Louise œuvrent à la mise en commun des connaissances du safou, fruit du safoutier, en Afrique de l’Ouest.  Laissez-vous  porter par l’histoire de Gloria et Joyce qui ont, de leur rencontre, trouvé une solution pour redonner au safou l’importance qu’on lui doit. 

Emission radio MICROF[R]ICTIONS de Radio France International (rfI).

Amazon rainforest

Account of a botanical expedition on the Shiripuno then Conanaco river, in the region of Orellana in the Ecuadorian Amazon, for the collection of species mainly from the Annonaceae and Palm family of plants.

Presentation of the botanical collections in the press for drying in the herbarium in this rather remote region, in particular in a territory where peoples still remain in voluntary isolation, including the Omakaweno community.

Du vestige aux vertiges

The preventive archeology program at the Nachtigal Amont hydroelectric site, 60 km north of Yaoundé, was carried out by a Franco-Cameroonian team of archaeologists from 2019 to 2022. More than 200 archaeological sites have been discovered and nearly two tons of remains have been preserved. This made it possible to develop a scientific project focused on the interactions between human societies and their environments over the long term. Food remains and the remains of prehistoric cultivated plants have been studied, showing both the antiquity of agricultural practices in the region and their subsequent evolution. This made it possible to show that the organic matter of archaeological soils has been modified by human impact. The preventive archeology program of Nachtigal amont has been a great human experience, shared with local populations, and an organizational feat that has enabled major scientific advances for the history of Cameroon and Central Africa.

The importance of African plum diversity

As part of the ARBOPOLIS project, environmental education activities were organized with school groups in Cameroon. The film "The importance of African plum diversity" produced by students in a class at Les Marguerites primary school (Oyom-Abang, Cameroon) addresses the theme of farmers managing their genetic diversity in the context of their market expectations. The story is based on the example of an emblematic fruit tree of Cameroon, locally known as African Plum or safoutier (Dacryodes edulis; Torchwood family [Burseraceae]). Historically, Cameroonian farmers own and manage a wide variety of fruit species on their land. This broad diversity of fruit species embraces rich genetic diversity. However, not all fruits are equally appreciated by consumers, and some are worth more. Consumers can therefore influence farmers in choosing which trees to keep in their fields and which to remove. But beware, this is not without risk, as the children explain…

Discovering the African plum tree

The film "Discovering the African plum tree" produced by students in a class of Saint Jean Baptiste de la Salle primary school (Eséka) deals with the theme of domestication. The story is based on an example of an emblematic fruit tree of Cameroon, locally known as African Plum or safoutier (Dacryodes edulis; Torchwood family [Burseraceae]). In this stop motion animated movie, we encounter a farmer selecting fruits that he likes in the forest (the original habitat of the species) so he can plant their seeds at home and obtain the same fruits. He is disappointed that the fruits obtained are not always those anticipated. What mystery is that? The farmer's children provide the answer…

Le safoutier, prune des villes, prune des champs, pour une agriculture d'avenir

Strengthen livelihoods, food and nutritional security in Central Africa through the enhancement of local fruit trees. For the Arbopolis project team, the production of safou and its sustainable management are one of the avenues to be explored in order to feed an ever-growing population under good conditions. The objective is to support local populations in the sustainable management of this production. 

On Raphia and Humans

The palm Raphia is the African tree of life. Its constituent species play vital roles within African societies at economic, societal, ecological and even spiritual levels. Raphia species have a large array of uses providing beverages such as “Raphia wine”, construction and fishing materials, music instruments and even medicine. Ondoua Bikélé is a young student born and raised in town. Intrigued by the numerous uses of these plants she decides to follow a team of researchers from the Université de Yaoundé 1 and the IRD based in Cameroon. She learns that Raphia species are not only little known scientifically but are also generally exploited in a non-sustainable way. Scientists are now trying to fill the scientific knowledge gap surrounding Raphia palms. Original music composed and played by Ralin Nganmo (RAS) from Raphia made instruments.

The genome of millet sequenced

A study coordinated by an international consortium of French (IRD), Indian and Chinese researchers has enabled the genome sequence for millet to be obtained for the first time. This discovery improves our understanding of the organisation and evolution of the genome of this cereal, which provides food security of the poorest people in the world. Secondly, because it provides new prospects for selecting or improving varieties of millet which may be better equipped to cope with climate change for almost 100 millions people. These results are published in the journal Nature Biotechnology on September 18th 2017. Interview of Yves Vigouroux, Plant Geneticist at the IRD.

Tropical rainforest in Cameroon

MOOC organized by from Tela Botanica.

What is biodiversity?

Interview of Thomas Couvreur by French actress Audrey Dana.