Emerging best practice in responsible agribusiness in the global south

Faculty: Engineering and Sciences
Natural Resources Institute
University of Greenwich currently has funding available for one VC scholarship within the Natural Resources Institute. Candidates may apply to pursue one of two projects advertised by NRI, with the expectation that the top-ranked candidate out of the applications to both projects will receive the scholarship. This advert relates to the following project.

There is significant interest among donors, companies, multi-stakeholder platforms, and consultant partners in advancing responsible business practices in food and beverage sectors. The focus of interpretation of responsible business and activity has primarily been on the practices of companies based in the global north, and those in the south with a dominant focus on export commodities. There is emerging interest in understanding how international principles and best practice are being adapted, interpreted, and promoted for businesses operating in lower income countries. Responsible business could include product quality (nutrition contributions), supply chain issues, employment and growth, and other social and environmental issues that are often present in international and national sustainability policy agendas.

Agribusiness takes place at different scales including international MNC supply chains (e.g. cocoa), regional processing industries (e.g. breweries), and domestic and regional SME value chains (e.g. cassava processing). Behavioural changes with regard to increased business accountability and transparency concerning social and environmental aspects of business operations are emerging in different business models and geographies. Understanding the effectiveness of responsible business activities, and future pathways represent key research areas of interest to businesses, donors, NGOs, and academics. Donors are increasingly supporting private sector development to generate wealth and employment, and at the same time promoting policies and standards for responsible business with social and environmental well-being objectives. Significant challenges exist in low income countries with respect to the incentives for businesses to engage in responsible business and for assurance mechanisms, but initiatives are underway to promote the expansion of responsible business particularly in emerging markets, sometimes supported by sustainable procurement.

Education and Training:
 1st Class or Upper 2nd class Honours Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s degree (UK or UK equivalent) in a relevant discipline

 For those whose first language is not English and/or if from a country where English is not the first language (as recognised by the UKBA), a language proficiency score of at least IELTS 6.5 (in all elements of the test) or an equivalent UK VISA and Immigration secure English Language Test is required, unless the degree above was taught in English and obtained in a majority English speaking country, e.g. UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand, etc, as recognised by the UKBA.

Experience & Skills:
 Previous experience of undertaking research (e.g. undergraduate or taught masters dissertation)

 Some knowledge of one of the themes

Personal Attributes:
 Understands the fundamental differences between a taught degree and a research degree in terms of approach and personal discipline/motivation

 Able to, under guidance, complete independent work successfully

Other Requirements:
 This scholarship may require Academic Technology Approval Scheme approval for the successful candidate if from outside of the EU/EEA

 A PhD project research proposal that is related to the research area

 The scholarship must commence before 1 April 2016