Research and Policy

Using a wide variety of stakeholder led techniques, I have extensive experience in writing policy position papers, food sustainability trends, briefings and policy white papers for a wide variety of organisations.

I focus on research using robust evidence and primary, credible data sources to help organisations develop position/policy papers and other actionable insights that can be used to help meet their needs, whilst underpinning the need to move towards more sustainable food systems.

I combine research with unique insights from a huge network of food system stakeholders, across a wide range of stakeholders groups (business, governments, producers and civil society) with whom I have access, as well as my own deep experience of sustainable food system challenges around the world.

I believe that sustainable nutrition, addressing the need for action across the food system, is a powerful tool which can be used to deliver on a range of social, health and environmental outcomes. It brings together thinking and action, from field to fork, to deliver better overall outcomes across the whole food system, both for human health and for the ecosystems that people and food production depend on.

It is a powerful lens through which to embed sustainability across many businesses across the food and beverage sector at a senior level, as well as using the framing to explore how organisations can collaborate to deliver on the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

I have worked with a variety of businesses, growers, funding bodies and civil society organisations and have sat on a number of food company business advisory boards.

Current & Recent Work

WWF European Policy Office

The compilation of a discussion paper to assess options for WWF EPO to engage in the new EU law on Sustainable Food Systems. Based on interviews with European WWF offices and desktop research. (May 2021 – September 2021)

World Health Organisation (WHO)

Lead author of a health narrative report which identifies 5 interconnected and interrelated health impact pathways that result from food systems. The report also identifies key opportunities and challenges for food system actors to address systemic actions that deliver better human, ecosystem and animal health outcomes. The report was written using interviews and a review of existing scientific literature and was published in July 2021 (January 2021 – July 2021).

World Animal Protection

Author of a report ‘The Hidden Health Impacts of Industrial Livestock Systems’. This report, based on extensive desk top research and stakeholder interviews, unveils the true hidden health impacts and costs of industrial livestock systems, which damage our health through multiple and interconnected pathways of impact. ( August 2021 – April 2022) 

Salzburg Climate Emergency and Food System Transformation International Dialogues

Lead author for the conference discussion paper focussing on sustainable healthy diets and opportunities for collaboration and action. For further information and a link to the paper click here. (January – July 2020)

Food Systems Project Evaluator

External evaluator for a number programmes including the Rockefeller Food System vision prize, EIT Food and the EC Farm to Fork funding Programme. (Ongoing)

Eating Better Alliance

The production of a ‘Recipes for Successful Collaboration Guide’, based on interviews with coalitions across Europe working on the dietary transition. 

The aim of this guide is to share  insights on those key ingredients for successful collaboration, together with those lessons shared  by a diverse range of other organisations and individuals working on healthy and sustainable and healthy diets, across Europe.  These include coalitions working in France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom ( ongoing May 2022 – October 2022) 

Get in Touch

If you have any questions or if I can help you in any way, please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to hearing from you.

Email Address
mark@tastingthefuture.com
Telephone
00 44 (0)7809 321788

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