Prof Stephen Whitfield

Prof Stephen Whitfield

Profile

Stephen’s research interests are in the social and political dimensions of international development in the context of agriculture and food systems. He currently co-leads the Food Systems Transformation in Southern Africa for One Health (FoSTA Health), a three and half year programme evaluating the human, animal and environmental health implications of changes in agriculture, land use, supply chains and diets in southern Africa. He is also co-investigator on the CGIAR ClimBeR programme which is aiming to transform the climate adaptation capacity of food and agricultural systems in low- and middle-income countries. 

Stephen previously led the NERC SHEAR-funded IPACE-Malawi project, which focuses on improving preparedness to climate extremes in agricultural systems in Malawi, through climate information service provision. He is also led the GCRF Challenge Cluster on African Food Systems Transformation and Justice, which synthesised lessons on social and environmental justice within the context of food system transformation from across GCRF-funded projects. He is a Senior Engagement Lead for the Knowledge Equity Network and an Editor of Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems.
 

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Responsibilities

  • Associate Director of the Global Food and Environment Institute
<h4>Research projects</h4> <p>Any research projects I'm currently working on will be listed below. Our list of all <a href="https://environment.leeds.ac.uk/dir/research-projects">research projects</a> allows you to view and search the full list of projects in the faculty.</p>

Qualifications

  • PhD, Development Studies, Institute of Development Studies/STEPS Centre, University of Sussex
  • MSc, Environment and International Development, University of East Anglia
  • BA (Hons), Geography, Sidney Sussex College, University of Cambridge

Student education

I teach on the MSc Sustainable Food Systems progrramm and on the second year Undergraduate module SOEE2372 'People, Environment and Sustainability'

Research groups and institutes

  • Environment and Development
  • Climate Science and Impacts
  • Sustainability Research Institute

Current postgraduate researchers

<h4>Postgraduate research opportunities</h4> <p>We welcome enquiries from motivated and qualified applicants from all around the world who are interested in PhD study. Our <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk">research opportunities</a> allow you to search for projects and scholarships.</p>