Institute of Development Studies

Agriculture Programme

Work on agriculture at IDS cross-cuts a number of teams, including Vulnerability and Poverty Reduction, Globalisation and Participation, Power and Social Change.

The work of the KNOTS team focuses on:

• The relationship between science, technology and livelihood systems in dynamic agroecologies
• Governing agricultural technologies: making technologies work for the poor.
• Innovation systems and the role of scientific and indigenous knowledge.
• The politics of agricultural and environmental policy processes.

• Agricultural biotechnologies, including GM crops
• Livestock and pastoralism
• Veterinary issues and animal health
• Land reform and livelihood change
• Soil fertility management

KNOTS Agriculture projects

• Agricultural Biotechnology & Policy Processes in Developing Countries - (Ongoing)
• Crop-livestock Integration in Africa - The aim of this project has been to explore the dynamics of crop-livestock integration in contrasting agroecological settings in Africa through an analysis of the institutions which mediate change. (1997 - 2000)
• Future Agricultures Consortium - The DFID funded Future Agricultures Consortium aims to encourage critical debate and policy dialogue on the future of agriculture in Africa. The Consortium is a partnership between research-based organisations in Africa and the UK, with work currently focusing on Ethiopia, Kenya and Malawi. (Ongoing)
• Livelihoods After Land Reform - (Ongoing)
• Social, Technological and Environmental Pathways to Sustainability (STEPS) Centre - The STEPS Centre is an interdisciplinary global research and policy engagement hub, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. It aims to develop a new approach to understanding, action and communication on sustainability and development. (Ongoing)
• Sustainable Livelihoods in Southern Africa - (2000 - 2003)
• Veterinary Science, Transboundary Animal Diseases and Markets - (2006 - 2008)

Recent KNOTS Agriculture publications




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• Sumberg, J., R. Irving, E. Adams, and J. Thompson (2012) 'Success making and success stories: agronomic research in the spottlight' in Sumberg J and J. Thompson (eds), Contested Agronomy: Agricultural Research in a Changing World, London: Earthscan
• Sumberg, J. and Sabates-Wheeler, R. (2011) 'Linking Agricultural Development to School Feeding in Sub-Saharan Africa: Theoretical Perspectives', Food Policy 36.3:341-349
• Brooks, S. (2011) 'Is International Agricultural Research a Global Public Good? The Case of Rice Biofortification', Journal of Peasant Studies 38.1:67 – 80
• Lucas, H. and Longhurst, R. (2010) 'Evaluation: Why, for Whom and How?', IDS Bulletin 41.6, Brighton: Blackwell Publishing
• 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
• Brooks, S. (2010) 'Opening up the GM Crop Debate', People and Science March
• Sumberg, J. (2009) 'Re-framing the Great Food Debate: The Case for Sustainable Food' , London: The New Economics Foundation
• 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
• Loevinsohn, M. (2009) 'Seasonal Hunger, the 2001-03 Famine and the Dynamics of HIV in Malawi', Paper presented at the Seasonality Revisited International Conference, Institute of Development Studies, UK, 8–10 July, 2009 , IDS
• Glover, D. (2009) 'Undying Promise: Agricultural Biotechnology’s Pro-poor Narrative, Ten Years on', STEPS Working Paper 15, Brighton: STEPS Centre



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