Published open access in the Journal of Business Ethics in November 2023. View full text here. Title Holding Retail Corporations Accountable for Food Waste: A Due Diligence Framework Informed by Business and Human Rights Principles Abstract Retail corporations orchestrate much of what happens in today’s food supply chains. From setting sky-high cosmetic standards for fresh […]
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On the 28th of November 2023, I defended my PhD thesis ‘Safe and Sustainable Valorisation of Food Waste in the Netherlands – Reconciling Public Ambitions with Private Interests’ at Maastricht University. The ceremony entailed a brief presentation of my research, followed by a lively discussion with the committee members, and finally, the conferral of the […]
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In November 2023, I was invited to speak at Asia–Europe Foundation’s annual ENVForum conference. This year, the theme of the conference was ‘SMEs at the Heart of Circular Transition’. I presented observations from my PhD research during the session on agri-food SMEs. Summarising my own contributions as well as those of my fellow panelists Dr […]
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Written for the blog of the American Anthropological Association’s Committee for the Anthropology of Science, Technology, and Computing (CASTAC). Originally published on blog.castac.org in November 2023. Header image credit: Humyara Mahbub for ABC Everyday. Content and Trigger Warning: This post contains commentary and reflections about disordered eating. Food(ie) Fixation In September 2019, I responded to an […]
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Originally published on FoodUnfolded.com in October 2023. Header image by Reuters. It’s been over a decade since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011, but the devastation left in its wake continues to impact the Japanese public and its relationship with the government. As Japan seeks to revitalise the region’s rural economy, the task of […]
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On October 4 2023, I presented some thoughts on the impact of regulatory processes on food innovation to pursuing an MSc in Health Food Innovation Management at Maastricht University. The invited talk was part of a student conference entitled “Thinking of a better food system”. The goal of the presentation was to explore the interactions […]
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Published Open Access in Food and Agricultural Economics in September 2023. View full text here. Title Understanding the phenomenon of food waste valorisation from the perspective of supply chain actors engaged in it Abstract The repurposing of surplus food and food processing by-products is a key aspect of the shift towards a circular bioeconomy. In […]
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Originally published on foodunfolded.com in September 2023 From packaging material to disposable cutlery, today’s food system is no stranger to plastic. In fact, it is so pervasive that tiny particles even end up in the food we eat. These particles, known as microplastics, often go unnoticed because of their small size and the lack of […]
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Originally published on foodunfolded.com in June 2023. Bibimbap, Biryani, Jollof Rice, Nasi Lemak, Paella, Risotto, Sushi – the list of delicious rice dishes from around the world is truly endless. But how did this humble grain come to be a ubiquitous, universally loved food? Let’s take a look at the origins of rice and scientific […]
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Written for and originally published on aeon.co on 19 June 2023 Having lived nowhere other than the western coast of India for the first 21 years of my life, seafood was an indispensable part of my diet growing up. When the family business was prospering, we’d feast on plump pomfrets and juicy tiger prawns. When it wasn’t, […]
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Madhura Rao 