Nicolas Roux

Nicolas Roux, a Belgian national, joined the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT in 2003. As Principal Scientist, he is based in Montpellier, France and coordinates the Global Musa Genetic Resources Network (MusaNet). He also oversees work done in high value crops including research along the value chain of tropical fruits and nuts. 

Within the CGIAR Genebanks Initiative, Nicolas is leader of WP4 dealing with partnership with National Agricultural Research System to form the Global System with CGIAR Genebanks.   

Nicolas is also Scientific liaison officer for the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT with French Agricultural Research Institutes (i.e. CIRAD, IRD, INRAe, Institut Agro and University Montpellier)  based in Montpellier, France   

For the past 35 years, Nicolas was involved in projects related to the management of genetic resources, with emphasis on Musa spp. 

During the development of CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Banana (CRP-RTB), Nicolas was named the leader of Theme 1: 'Unlocking the value and use potential of genetic resources'. As focal point, he represented Bioversity International in the CGIAR Research Program 'Managing and Sustaining Crop Collections' and ensured that the activities related to the Global Musa collection (International Transit Centre) are maintained at the international standard level. 

Before he joined Bioversity International, he worked as a Research Scientist at FAO/IAEA Laboratories in Vienna from 1993 to 2003 on cellular biology and biotechnology, including mutation techniques to support conventional breeding programs. 

In Venezuela from 1988 to 1993 he managed a tropical fruits plantation and an industrial tissue culture laboratory. 

Nicolas obtained his PhD at the Department of Botany, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Palacky University, Olomouc in Czech Republic and his MSc at the Superior Industrial Institute of State, Huy- Gembloux-Verviers, Belgium.