Taking the environment seriously in production network research, policy and practice: Insights from Kenyan horticulture

This proposed research maximises the academic and non-academic impact of PhD research on the environmental, economic and social dimensions of Kenyan horticultural farmers participation in production networks. Fresh fruits and vegetables is one of Kenya's foremost foreign exchange earners, and over 12 million farmers depend on the sector for their livelihoods. Kenyan farmers face a very challenging environment, needing to simultaneously address the effects of changing trade patterns and environmental change. Much horticultural trade occurs through value chains, which are a series of linkages from the initial stages of production or farms, through processing and intermediaries and ultimately to retailers and consumers. While Kenyan farmers can find particularly lucrative opportunities through exporting to European and other developed country markets, they need to comply with stringent private standards with escalating environmental requirements which are mandated by global (or Northern) supermarkets. At the same time, regional supermarkets within East Africa are expanding and have their own standards requirements, including with environmental dimensions. Standards can threaten farmer livelihoods, while climate variability and extremes tend to further marginalize farmers' from selling into global and regional markets. The research addresses the socio-economic-environmental implications on how farmers participating in different value chains struggle with different environmental pressures.
The fellowship will build on PhD research involving a rigorous, mixed-method approach, including 106 key informant interviews, six focus group discussions and a survey of 579 farmers across four counties in Kenya (Murang'a, Machakos, Nyandarua, Meru) where snow peas, garden peas, avocados and mangoes are produced. It demonstrates that farmers' ability to environmentally upgrade, i.e. use greener products and processes in farming and adapting to climate change, varies immensely between farmers exporting to Europe compared to those selling regionally.
A central aspect of the programme of activities during the fellowship will be three articles for high impact journals on how farmers are embedded in different production networks, how they can upgrade and on regional entrepreneurial farmers. A research visit to Kenya will provide an essential opportunity to maximise the non-academic impact in relation to Kenyan horticultural communities and policymakers. It will also enable new pilot research on an emerging challenge within the Kenyan horticultural sector - Agtech and Foodtech as part of the 4th Industrial Revolution. This pilot research will provide initial insight into how new digital technologies may restructure horticultural value chains, setting a basis for future research projects. In addition to engagement events with sustainability standards' stakeholders in Europe, I will make a visit to Copenhagen Business School to collaborate with a leading researcher on the environment and production networks.
The fellowship will have a strong knowledge exchange component, focused on two key audiences - a sustainability standards stakeholders in Brussels, Geneva and London; and Kenyan horticultural policymakers and communities. A series of stakeholder meetings, workshops and policy notes will be conducted to exchange the research results with these groups. My findings will thus be used to shape legislation in Kenya on standards and contribute to creating resilient livelihoods for farmers. The fellowship provides an opportunity to make a significant contribution to emerging research on environment and production networks within academia, and to provide an evidence base to inform decision making in policy and practice. In sum, this fellowship is an excellent stepping stone to disseminating my research, building new networks and partnerships and learning new communication skills to be a successful researcher.