Economics of regenerative agriculture and carbon farming

(ref. BAP-2021-740)

Laatst aangepast : 19/10/2021

SFERE stands for Sustainable Food Economies Research Group and is an interdisciplinary team of researchers investigating the transition of the agri-food system towards more sustainability and resilience with a particular focus on the socio-economic aspects of regenerative farming practices, plant-based food systems and new business models. SFERE is involved in several European research projects, including COCOREADO on short food supply chains, RUSTICA on biofertilizers and NEWBIE on new business models. SFERE Is one of the three research groups that together form the Bioeconomics Division which is part of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences.

Project

The aim of the project is to investigate the social and economic aspects of regenerative agriculture in general and carbon farming in particular. Regenerative agriculture is a set of practices that uses ecosystem services to support soil health and to optimize agricultural production. A particular focus is the sequestration of carbon in the soil, thus contributing to greenhouse gas mitigation and adaptation. The project will investigate farmer adoption of regenerative farming practices in Belgium, calculate costs and benefits of regenerative agriculture and identify barriers and enabling factors influencing adoption. The project will also focus on possible financial mechanisms to reward farmers for their efforts (payment for ecosystem services, including carbon credits) both through subsidies in the framework of the Common Agricultural Policy and private initiatives in which food companies and retailers may set up schemes to pay farmers. Empirical work will be based on both qualitative interviews with farmers and other actors and quantitative assessments based on farm accounts and farm surveys.

Profile

• Master in agricultural economics or agronomy with interest in economics; master in economics or applied economics with an interest in agriculture and food and the environment; or an equivalent degree
• Proficient in English; proficiency in Dutch and French is an added value
• Highly motivated, critical, research-oriented

Offer

• A full-time PhD position for 1 year, which can be extended by 3 years after a positive evaluation (4 years in total)
• Academic training in agricultural and resource economics
• An internationally oriented research group involved in several EU projects
• Proximity of Brussels, location of most EU institutions and related organisations

Interested?

For more information please contact Prof. dr. ir. Erik Mathijs, tel.: +32 16 32 14 50, mail: [email protected] or Mrs. Tessa Avermaete, tel.: +32 16 37 21 75, mail: [email protected].

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