Global Studies help unveil key drivers of the sustainability crisis
Is there a way for the world's agri-food systems to become more sustainable, inclusive and just? This is the core of Thomas Daum's research. And for him, global studies help uncover some of the root causes that contribute to the current sustainability crisis.
Despite unprecedented levels of agricultural production in the world today, 700 million people still go to bed hungry each night, and millions of children suffer from nutrient deficiencies, hindering their development. At the same time, our agri-food system causes one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions and two-thirds of biodiversity loss.
Agriculture and food are at the core of the Sustainable Development Goals, being closely linked with issues related to hunger and poverty, conflicts and migration, climate change, environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and (gender) inequality.
“Agri-food systems are central to the sustainability crisis. They are both a significant part of the problem and must be a key part of the solution,” says Thomas Daum, senior lecturer in human ecology at the School of Global Studies, University of Gothenburg.
Daum leads several research projects focused on the sustainable transformation of agri-food systems, primarily in the Global South.
“In Kenya, I explore governance options to minimize environmental trade-offs in livestock production, which is rapidly increasing. In Zambia, I investigate how agricultural development can align with biodiversity conservation. And across Benin, Kenya, Mali, and Nigeria, I focus on redesigning agricultural innovation systems to include goals such as climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and women’s empowerment.”
At the University of Gothenburg, global studies draw on insights from a wide range of disciplines, including international relations, environmental social science and social anthropology. For Thomas Daum, this allows for a better understanding of the historical development and power dynamics that have led to today’s agri-food systems.
And according to him, this interdisciplinary approach is also what makes the Master’s Programme in Global Studies stand out.
“What makes this programme truly unique is the combination of a historical and critical perspective on the root causes of today’s challenges with a very forward-looking perspective on identifying solutions and driving change.”
“As our students go on to become policymakers, researchers, journalists, entrepreneurs, and active citizens shaping the world's future, this kind of education is precisely what's needed,” says Thomas Daum.
He wants future students to know that this is a programme that will expand their horizons and foster their personal growth.
“By the end of the journey, the most significant outcome won’t just be your thesis – it will be the person you’ve become and the capabilities you have learned.”
“As a teacher, I find our lectures to be incredibly inspiring and enjoyable. Our students are highly motivated and insightful, and discussing some of the world’s greatest challenges with them is very enriching. Likewise, the School of Global Studies offers a highly stimulating environment for research. Being surrounded by leading researchers focused on today’s global challenges from diverse perspectives helps me in my thinking and keeps me motivated,” says Thomas Daum.
Read more and apply to the Master's Programme in Global Studies
“I am a Senior Lecturer in Human Ecology at the School of Global Studies, University of Gothenburg. I co-coordinate the bachelor programme on “Sustainable Development, Societal Change, and Climate Transformation” and I convene and teach as part of several courses at the master level. Prior to joining the School of Global Studies, I spent several years at the Institute of Agricultural Sciences in the Tropics at the University of Hohenheim in Germany.
Along with research and teaching, policy and civil society engagement are close to my heart. I have served as a consultant for international organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the World Bank. As a freelance journalist, I have written for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and the Süddeutsche Zeitung, two leading newspapers in Germany. I am part of the editorial board of ‘Welternährung’, a journal of the German ‘Welthungerhilfe’.”
How Thomas benefits from an interdisciplinary approach in his research:
“International relations offer insights into the emergence of today’s global agri-food systems and trade relations, often referred to as “food from nowhere”. This field also provide understanding of global governance on issues related to our agri-food system such as famines, crises, migration, climate change, and biodiversity loss,” says Thomas Daum.
“And environmental social sciences explore socio-ecological transformation, such as reconciling agriculture with biodiversity conservation. Social anthropology offers invaluable insights into how cultural factors shape agricultural and food-related attitudes, behaviors, and practices, including farmer-wildlife conflicts, alternative food networks, and artificial meat.”
