My research focuses on four inter-linking themes on which I have over ten years’ experience. 

The political economy of food systems

Political economy pays attention to power within food systems. In my upcoming book, Tomatoes in Winter, I argue for a more place-based approach to understanding where food comes from so that social and ecological costs can be better understood and addressed.

The rights and wellbeing of seasonal, migrant, and other food workers

Seasonality is inherent to farming; however, consumers often experience uniformity. Behind this process, people, often migrant workers, do the work of travelling to farms and picking, packing and processing foods. Circular migration schemes are commonplace in wealthy countries, and I am active in critically analysing these schemes. See, this blog on the UK scheme and this article on the EU Directive.

Sustainability of regional horticulture

Communities benefit from having access to local food systems. Food that is decontextualised leaves problems hidden. My current project, Working for five a day, investigates UK food security in edible horticulture and will be the subject of my upcoming publications. I am a co-founder and co-lead of the Bristol Researchers’ Food Justice Network.

Seeing beyond the state

States are important, however, they are not the only frames of reference for place and people. Local, ecological and continental distinctions are also available and can do more justice to certain social issues than the state-based frame. My PhD thesis took this approach and won the Hilary Hartley Prize for best thesis in the School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies 2018-2019.

The way I work

My research is multidisciplinary. I use ethnographic observation, interviews, focus groups, surveys, freedom of information requests, participatory action research (PAR) and community theatre. For my doctoral research I undertook difficult language training prior to fieldwork, I published a chapter on language learning for ethnography that reflects on this.

Following my British Academy funded fellowship, I have the support of an ESRC Bristol Model Placement grant to explore the impact from my research findings with the Soil Association in a project titled, A people-focused approach to food system policy and practice.

Teaching and supervision

Prior to my current research position, I was a full-time lecturer in the Department of Social & Policy Sciences at the University of Bath. The majority of my former teaching roles have been with the University of Bristol, alongside guest lectures at many other Universities. My approach to teaching is deliberative and participatory. I have had the privilege of supervising master’s students in sociology, geography and international politics.