The Open Research Area (ORA) grant is a collaborative funding initiative among research agencies from France, Germany, the UK, and Canada, aimed at supporting high-quality international research projects in the social sciences.
The SusFoodMark project is a response to the scientific consensus that our current food system is unsustainable. It relies heavily on fossil fuels, chemical pesticides, and fertilizers, which contribute up to a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions, pollute ecosystems, and threaten biodiversity. This unsustainable system perpetuates rising rates of obesity alongside hunger and malnutrition. In light of these challenges, transitioning food systems towards sustainability is crucial.
Aim of the grant: SusFoodMark aims to explore how capital markets can influence sustainable food transitions. Investors play a significant role in shaping large food and agriculture businesses, but the role of capital markets in supporting or hindering sustainable transitions remains under-researched. Our project examines how financial resources can be directed to promote sustainability in food systems. We will provide insights that inform policy, contribute to academic literature, and guide non-profit, private, and public sectors towards fostering sustainable food systems.
Research Focus:
The relationship between capital and corporate power within food systems.
Identifying policy and practices that can motivate food and agriculture businesses towards sustainability.
Exploring the influence of shareholder activism, capital allocation, and financial institutions in driving the sustainability agenda.
Join us in reimagining food systems that nourish both people and the planet.