Showing papers by "Catherine Dolan published in 2013"
Environmental Change Institute1, University of Cambridge2, City University London3, University of Leeds4, University of Aberdeen5, University of Manchester6, Norwich University7, British Nutrition Foundation8, Economic and Social Research Council9, University of Oxford10, University of Warwick11, Food and Environment Research Agency12, Medical Research Council13, University of Glasgow14, Nestlé15, University of Reading16, Sheffield City Council17, Bangor University18, Cranfield University19, University of Leicester20, Sheffield Hallam University21, Newcastle University22, Plymouth Marine Laboratory23, University of Birmingham24, The Roslin Institute25, Brunel University London26, Scottish Government27, International Institute for Environment and Development28, University of Greenwich29
TL;DR: An exercise was conducted, under the auspices of the UK Global Food Security Programme, to identify priority research questions with a focus on the UK food system, and evidence needs related to food affordability, nutrition and food safety featured highly in the exercise.
Abstract: The rise of food security up international political, societal and academic agendas has led to increasing interest in novel means of improving primary food production and reducing waste. There are however, also many ‘post-farm gate’ activities that are critical to food security, including processing, packaging, distributing, retailing, cooking and consuming. These activities all affect a range of important food security elements, notably availability, affordability and other aspects of access, nutrition and safety. Addressing the challenge of universal food security, in the context of a number of other policy goals (e.g. social, economic and environmental sustainability), is of keen interest to a range of UK stakeholders but requires an up-to-date evidence base and continuous innovation. An exercise was therefore conducted, under the auspices of the UK Global Food Security Programme, to identify priority research questions with a focus on the UK food system (though the outcomes may be broadly applicable to other developed nations). Emphasis was placed on incorporating a wide range of perspectives (‘world views’) from different stakeholder groups: policy, private sector, non-governmental organisations, advocacy groups and academia. A total of 456 individuals submitted 820 questions from which 100 were selected by a process of online voting and a three-stage workshop voting exercise. These 100 final questions were sorted into 10 themes and the ‘top’ question for each theme identified by a further voting exercise. This step also allowed four different stakeholder groups to select the top 7–8 questions from their perspectives. Results of these voting exercises are presented. It is clear from the wide range of questions prioritised in this exercise that the different stakeholder groups identified specific research needs on a range of post-farm gate activities and food security outcomes. Evidence needs related to food affordability, nutrition and food safety (all key elements of food security) featured highly in the exercise. While there were some questions relating to climate impacts on production, other important topics for food security (e.g. trade, transport, preference and cultural needs) were not viewed as strongly by the participants.
72 citations
TL;DR: The bottom-of-the-pyramid (BoP) approach has gained prominence as a tool of "inclusive" capitalism in sub-Saharan Africa as mentioned in this paper, which can ameliorate poverty by bringing much-needed products and services to the poor and generating employment opportunities for informal and subsistence workers as micro-entrepreneurs.
Abstract: Over the last decade, the bottom-of-the-pyramid (BoP) approach has gained prominence as a tool of “inclusive” capitalism in sub-Saharan Africa. This approach reframes development as a seamless outcome of core business activities, one that can ameliorate poverty by bringing much-needed products and services to the poor and generating employment opportunities for informal and subsistence workers as “micro-entrepreneurs.” Yet while transnational capital has set its sights on Africa’s “underserved” yet potentially buoyant markets, BoP initiatives do more than seize upon the entrepreneurial talent and aspirations of Africa’s informal economies. This article argues, rather, that these initiatives create BoP economies through a set of market technologies, practices, and discourses that render the spaces and actors at the bottom of the pyramid knowable, calculable, and predictable to global business. The article describes how these technologies extend new forms of market governance over the informal poor, reconfiguring their habits, social practices, and economic strategies under the banner of poverty reduction.
61 citations
01 Jan 2013
10 citations
01 Oct 2013
TL;DR: Why focus on girls’ secondary education?
Abstract: Why focus on girls’ secondary education? Retaining girls in school through the secondary level is now understood to have far-reaching effects on national wellbeing and prosperity for developing nations. Many of the benefits are related to the first years of sexual maturity—for instance, fewer early pregnancies, lower HIV transmission, and reduced infant mortality—and thus could be expected to accrue within only a few years of a successful intervention.
10 citations