AKOUTOU MVONDO Etienne

Company: IRAD

Position: Research officer

Expert Summary

I'm a research fellow at the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD), specialising in agroforestry, plant pathology and agroecology. I have a PhD in Plant Organism Biology and am developing innovative solutions for the integrated management of crop diseases, particularly in cocoa agroforestry systems. I am an expert in biostatistics using R software, and I am studying data science and machine learning using Python software. I have given short courses to engineers and students in agronomic data collection and analysis techniques. I am currently involved in several international projects (RADiUS, GALILEO) and national and sub-regional standards committees (CPAC, ANOR). I have co-authored numerous publications in top-level scientific journals, and I am exploring the ecological regulation of pathogens via the spatial structure of complex agroforests. I am also active in world congresses on agroforestry. My commitment to sustainable development and environmental protection makes me a key player in agricultural research in Central Africa.


Publications

1.       Etienne Akoutou Mvondo, Camille Ulrich Dzokouo Dzoyem, Lucien Bidzanga Nomo, Zachée Ambang, Faustin Bella Manga, Christian Cilas, Eunice Golda Danièle Ndo (2025). Structural characteristics of cocoabased agroforestry systems can mitigate citrus Phytophthora foot rot disease intensity. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-025-01780-7 (in production stage, accepted for publication in European Journal of Forest Research)

2.       Manga, J. N., Bep, G. M. A., Akoa, S. P., Mewouo, H. A., Ondobo, M. L., Akoutou Mvondo, E., … Niemenak,

N. (2024). Expression of Tc-MYBPA gene involved in the regulation of the biosynthesis of proanthocyanidins in cacao beans (Theobroma cacao L.). Journal of Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13562-024-00921-0

3.       Akoutou Mvondo, E., Dzokouo Dzoyem,. et al. Microclimatic variations in cocoa-based agroforestry systems affect citrus Phytophthora foot rot disease intensity. Agroforest Syst (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-024-00954-3

4.       Mfoumou Eyi C., Akoutou Mvondo E., et al., 2024. Working conditions in non-timber forest products gathering in eastern Cameroon. Trees, Forests and People 15, 100472. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tfp.2023.100472

5.       Ndo, E.G. D., Akoutou Mvondo, E., et al. 2023. Farmer’s strategies in the choice of citrus spatial structures in cocoa-based agroforests in Cameroon. Agroforest Syst. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-023-00817-3

6.       Ndo, E. G. D., Akoutou Mvondo, E., et al., 2023. Spatial Distribution of Citrus Pseudocercospora Leaf and

Fruit          Spot      Disease              and       Shade     Effect    on         Disease              Intensity.     Crops    3,          11–23. https://doi.org/10.3390/crops3010002

7.       Akoutou Mvondo, E., et al., 2022. Tree diversity and shade rate in complex cocoa-based agroforests affect citrus foot rot disease. Basic and Applied Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2022.08.003

8.       Akoutou Mvondo, E., et al., 2020. Effects of complex cocoa-based agroforests on citrus tree decline. Crop Protection 130, 105051. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2019.105051

9.       Ndo, E.G.D., Kuate, J., Akoutou Mvondo, E., et al., 2019. Tolerance of citrus genotypes towards Pseudocercospora leaf and fruit spot disease in western highlands zone of Cameroon. Crop Protection 124, 104828. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2019.05.022

10.   Ndo, E.G. D., Akoutou Mvondo, E., et al., 2019. Spatial Organisation Influences Citrus Leaf and Fruit Spot

Disease     Severity             in          Cocoa-Based     Agroforestry      Systems.            AJPS      10,     221–235. https://doi.org/10.4236/ajps.2019.101017

11.   Akoutou Mvondo, E., Ndo, E., Bieng, M.-A., Ambang, Z., Manga, B., Cilas, C., Manga, M., N.L, B., 2017. Assessment of the interaction between the spatial organization of citrus trees populations in cocoa agroforests and Phytophthora foot rot disease of citrus severity. Agroforestry Systems 93.

 

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-017-0140-3


Additional Info

 

Projects, grants and funding

-        Regional      multi-actor        agroecology        research            network             (RMRN-RADiUS),     2025-2028 https://www.coraf.org/actualite/lancement-du-projet-radius-une-initiative-pour-promouvoirlagroecologie-en-afrique-de-louest-et?locale=en

-        GALILEO Agroforestry Living Labs, 2025-2028 https://galileo-project.eu/

-        International Foundation for Science (IFS): January 2019 grant No. I-1-C-6218-1, 2018

-        World Congress on Agroforestry; organizing committee: April 2019 -      DP Agroforesterie Cameroun: December 2018, 2019 and 2020

Training courses/Supervision of thesis students, Master's students and agricultural engineers

2024- MEWA KOLLA Ines Solange, Agronomic and pedoclimatic factors influencing proanthocyanidin 2025 content in cocoa genotypes in Cameroon. Master's degree in research, University of Yaoundé 1. Octobre Writing and publishing scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals; Akoutou Mvondo E., Trainer,

2023           CRAM-IRAD.

Mai Techniques for collecting, processing and statistically analyzing agronomic data; Akoutou 2023 Mvondo E., Trainer, CRAM-IRAD.

2022 KANSE Emile; Effect of microclimatic variations in cocoa-based agroforestry systems on the spread of Phytophthora-caused citrus gum blight. Dissertation supervision for the Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences Faculty of the University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon. 68p.

2020 SALY Lionnel; In vitro antifungal activity of lemongrass and vetiver essential oils on Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, causal agent of soursop anthracnose. Dissertation supervision for the Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences Faculty of the University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon. 79p.

 


Education

 

Dates                    Institution            Diplomas obtained

2023-2016           University of Yaoundé 1          Ph.D. in Biology of Plant Organisms (BOV)

2015-2012           University of Yaoundé 1               BOV Research Master

2011-2008           University of Yaoundé 1               BOV Bachelor's degree

 

2008-2007           Lycée Classique de Mfou             Baccalauréat D


Experience

 

August 2024 Co-focal point IRAD at the Central African Pesticides Committee (CPAC)
March 2020 Co-focal point IRAD/MINRESI-ANOR (Agence Nationale de Normalisation); Comité Technique CT48 (Technologie et Produits Alimentaires) and Comité Miroir des Produits Alimentaires (CMPA)
December 2020 Research Fellow at IRAD/MINRESI, assigned to the Central Plant Pathology Laboratory
January 2016 Research Associate IRAD/MINRESI
April 2013 Student trainee: professional internship at DP-Agroforesterie