The UK is unprepared for the most complex ever change to its food system, which will be required before Brexit, according to a new briefing paper published by SPRU, titled ‘A Food Brexit: time to get real’ (PDF). The report is written by three leading food policy specialists. They are Professor Tim Lang (City, University…
A Food Brexit: Time to get real
4th BICAS Conference: call for abstracts on extractivism & rural social dynamics in the BRICS
Following the launch of the Emancipatory Rural Politics Initiative (ERPI), a call for papers has been issued for an international conference in Moscow in October. CALL FOR ABSTRACTS/PAPERS for the international conference New Extractivism, Peasantries and Social Dynamics: Critical Perspectives and Debates BRICS Initiative in Critical Agrarian Studies fourth conference Moscow, 13-16 October 2017 How…
GM mustard in India: are important questions not being asked?
The Indian researcher Poonam Pandey has written an opinion piece for the Hindustan Times about the latest controversy over GM mustard in India. DMH 11 (Dhara Mustard Hybrid) was recently approved by the country’s biotechnology regulator for commercial release. But the article lists some potential concerns with this development, including the accuracy of claims about…
Small grants call to launch Emancipatory Rural Politics Initiative
The new Emancipatory Rural Politics Initiative (ERPI) has launched with a call for small grants applications. The grants will fund working papers and fieldwork to generate new, empirical reflections and analysis on authoritarian populism and the rural world. About ERPI Deepening inequalities, failed livelihoods, mass (under)employment, climate chaos and racist anti-immigrant attacks characterise many settings…
STEPS researchers receive grants from Sussex Sustainability Research Programme
The Sussex Sustainability Research Programme (SSRP), a partnership between the University of Sussex and the Institute for Development Studies, has announced its first round of funding.
Who owns our seeds? Video ‘Intellectual Property and Seeds’ explains the issues
Limiting access to seeds means limiting food production and access, and putting biodiversity at risk. This video explains the importance of intellectual property for seeds. It was produced by STEPS America Latina to inform debates in Argentina about the corporate control and patenting of seeds. The topic is addressed by the Argentina team in the…
Debating Open Data and Land Governance – 6-20 September
From 6-20 September, 2016, the Land Portal Foundation and the Cadasta Foundation will be jointly holding a debate on Open Data and Land Governance: Increased accountability and transparency as a means to overcoming poverty
A year of STEPS: 2015 highlights
As it’s nearing the end of 2015, here are some highlights you may have missed from the STEPS Centre’s last 12 months. We’ll see you next year! Our coverage of the COP21 climate conference STEPS members wrote blogs, organised events and reflected on the future of climate change action around the Paris conference in December….
African Farmer: a new online game
African Farmer, a free, open source online game, has been launched by the Future Agricultures Consortium and the University of Sussex. The game, conceived by a team including the STEPS Centre’s Agriculture convenor John Thompson, simulates the complex decisions and uncertainties faced by small-scale farmers living in Sub-Saharan Africa. It aims to challenge and engage…
Arguing about agronomy: the changing politics of agronomy research
A new article in Outlook on Agriculture explores how agronomy has been affected by social change since the 1970s. The science of agronomy informs crucial decisions on development. It is often seen as a practical, problem-solving field, but like other areas of study is affected by politics and power. The authors suggest a ‘political agronomy’ approach, which…