Institute of Development Studies

Biography

John Thompson has worked on power, policy and sustainability issues in food and agriculture, water resource management and rural development for nearly 25 years, in both developing and industrialised countries. He joined IDS in October 2006 as a Research Fellow in the Knowledge, Technology and Society Team and serves as Joint Co-ordinator of the Future Agricultures Consortium, which aims to encourage critical debate and policy dialogue on the future of agriculture in Africa and other developing regions.

Previously, he served as Director of the Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods Programme of the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), London, and Director of Research and Development of Just Food, New York City. Thompson has authored more than 60 peer-reviewed articles, technical papers and reports, and is author and co-editor of several books.

In addition, he has sat on several international task forces, advisory panels and editorial boards, and has worked as a Research Associate at the National Environment Secretariat, Kenya, a Research Fellow at Clark and Harvard Universities, USA, and a Fellow at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Austria.

Selected Projects and Recent Work

• Future Agricultures Consortium
• Social, Technological and Environmental Pathways to Sustainability (STEPS) Centre
• Agricultural Biotechnology & Policy Processes in Developing Countries

Thematic Expertise

Agriculture; Climate Change; Environment; Globalisation; Science and Society; Water and Sanitation; Global Agri-food and Trade; Livelihoods and Land Reform; Livestock and Pastoralism.

Geographic Expertise

Central and South Asia; East Asia (excluding Japan and South Korea); Non-OECD Europe; North America; OECD Europe; Sub Saharan Africa.

Selected Publications »»

• Scoones, I. and Thompson, J. (2011) 'The Politics of Seed in Africa’s Green Revolution', IDS Bulletin 42.4, Brighton: IDS
• Thompson, J and Scoones, I (2009) 'Addressing the Dynamics of Agri-Food Systems: An Emerging Agenda for Social Science Research', Environmental Science and Policy 12:386-397, Elsevier
• Brooks S., Thompson J., Odame H., Kibaara B., Nderitu S., Karin F. and Millstone, E. (2009) 'Environmental Change and Maize Innovation in Kenya: Exploring Pathways in and out of Maize', STEPS Working Paper 36, Brighton: STEPS Centre
• Millstone, E., Thompson, J. and Brooks, S. (2009) 'Reforming the Global Food and Agriculture System: Towards a Questioning Agenda for the New Manifesto', STEPS Working Paper 26, Brighton: STEPS Centre
• Scoones, I and Thompson, J (2009) Farmer First Revisited: Innovation for Agricultural Research and Development, Oxford: ITDG Publishing
• Thompson, J., Millstone, E., Scoones, I., Ely, A., Marshall, F., Shah, E. and Stagl, S. (2007) 'Agri-Food System Dynamics: Seeking Pathways to Sustainability in an Era of Uncertainty' , STEPS Centre
• Stirling, A., Leach, M., Mehta, L., Scoones, I., Smith, A., Stagl, S. and Thompson, J. (2007) 'Empowering Designs: Steps Towards More Progressive Social Appraisal of Sustainability', STEPS Working paper 3, Brighton: STEPS Centre
• Scoones, I., Leach, M., Smith, A., Stagl, S., Stirling, A. and Thompson, J. (2007) 'Dynamic Systems and the Challenge of Sustainability', STEPS Working Paper 1, Brighton: STEPS Centre
• Mehta, L., Marshall, F., Movik, S., Stirling, A., Shah, E., Smith, A. and Thompson, J. (2007) 'Liquid Dynamics: Challenges for Sustainability in Water and Sanitation', STEPS Working Paper 6, STEPS Centre
• Thompson, J. Porras, I.T. and Tumwine, J.K. (2001) Drawers of Water II: 30 Years of Change in Domestic Water Use and Environmental Health in East Africa, London: International Institute for Environment and Development
• Thompson, J. Hinchcliffe, F and Pretty, J (1999) Fertile Ground: The Impacts of Participatory Watershed Management, London: Intermediate Technology Publications
• Thompson, J., Veldhuizen, L. and Water-Bayer, A. (1997) Farmers' research in practice: lessons from the field, London: Intermediate Technology Publications
• Thompson, J., Guijt, I. and Scoones, I (1995) A Trainers Guide to Participatory Learning and Action, London: International Institute for Environment and Development
• Thompson, J and Scoones, I (1994) Beyond Farmer First: Rural Peoples' Knowledge, Agricultural Research and Extension Practice, London: International Institute for Environment and Development
• Scoones, I. and Thompson, J. (1994) Beyond Farmer First: Rural People's Knowledge, Agricultural Research and Extension Practice