A 新澳门六合彩开奖 researcher has been awarded a major federal grant to explore how dynamics in capital markets can drive sustainability in food systems.听
Dr. Phoebe Stephens's interdisciplinary research draws on political economy, financialization, science and technology to better understand the influence markets have in promoting sustainable practices among publicly listed food and agriculture businesses.
鈥淔ood is a fascinating entry point for exploring ways that we can operate in a more socially and ecologically friendly way,鈥� explained Dr. Stephens, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Agriculture's Department of Business and Social Sciences.听
Dr. Stephens is the first researcher from Dal to receive the prestigious Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council Open Research Area (ORA) 8 grant 鈥� an international collaborative research grant 鈥� as Principal Investigator (PI).听
The project, Capitalizing on Food System Transformation, is valued at $1.6 million and represents a highly competitive international funding opportunity supporting innovative research in the social sciences. It involves collaboration with leading institutions in France, the UK and Germany.
Supporting sustainability
Over three years starting this fall, the grant will support one master鈥檚 and one PhD student at 新澳门六合彩开奖, one postdoctoral fellow in the UK, five master鈥檚 students in France and one PhD student in Germany, with student exchanges enhancing international learning and collaboration.
The project aims to foster international collaboration and knowledge exchange, equipping the next generation of researchers to address critical challenges in sustainable food and agriculture systems.听
Dr. Stephens, who is cross-appointed to the School of Environment and Resource Studies as well as the College of Sustainability, has secured other external grants as PI that are helping support her research. Since starting at 新澳门六合彩开奖, she has received a SSHRC Insight Development Grant, a SSHRC Partnership Engage Grant, a SSHRC Connections Grant and a Social Finance Grant from the McCall McBain Foundation.
鈥淎 cross appointment allows me to work with students on both campuses who are interested in the social science aspects of sustainable food systems,鈥� she said.听 鈥淢y research is inherently interdisciplinary so it鈥檚 very beneficial to be able to supervise students and collaborate with other researchers in these units.鈥�
To operate in a more sustainable way, our food systems need to innovate, and innovation requires finance.
Dr. Stephens draws primarily from the fields of political economy and sustainability transitions to inform her work. Her main area of focus to date has been on the role of finance in sustainable food systems.
鈥淭o operate in a more sustainable way, our food systems need to innovate, and innovation requires finance,鈥� she explained.听 鈥淗owever, finance is not neutral and influences the directionality of sustainability pathways.
鈥淭his is what I鈥檓 interested in exploring 鈥� the ways in which finance can be reoriented to support more sustainable outcomes.鈥�