Dr Stacia Stetkiewicz

Personal statement:

My research interest is in using interdisciplinary approaches to identify, understand and overcome barriers to uptake in relation to win-wins for sustainable food systems. I use a mix of natural and social science techniques in my work, with a particular emphasis on stakeholder engagement and co-development. I have worked with farmers, NGOs, policy makers, and agribusinesses to understand the complexities of our food system both in the UK and internationally.

Key topic areas of research or interest:

I work behaviour change for sustainable food systems, with a focus on sustainable production and sustainable consumption. I work with farmers, agribusinesses and other stakeholders to understand and overcome barriers to reducing pesticide use, increasing biodiversity, altering land use and management practices, and taking up sustainable innovations. I also work on overcoming barriers to eating a healthier and more sustainable diet, particularly in relation to reducing meat consumption.

Collaboration opportunities:

Interested in collaborations focused on stakeholder driven research to build a more sustainable food system – particularly working with farmers to adopt more sustainable management practices or consumers to reduce meat consumption.

Publications:

Food system actor perspectives on future-proofing European food systems through plant breeding. Scientific Reports.

Going virtual: adapting in-person interactive focus groups to the online environment. Emerald Open Research.

Do ingredients matter? Exploring consumer preference for abstract vs. concrete descriptors of plant-based meat and dairy alternatives. Future Foods.

Perception vs practice: farmer attitudes towards and uptake of IPM in Scottish spring barley. Crop Protection.

Healthy and Sustainable Diets in Times of Crisis: A Longitudinal, Mixed-Methods Study of Risk Factors and Coping Mechanisms in UK Parents During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Sustainability.

European consumer and societal stakeholders’ response to crop improvements and new plant breeding techniques. Food and Energy Security.

Crop improvements for future‐proofing European food systems: A focus‐group‐driven analysis of agricultural production stakeholder priorities and viewpoints. Food and Energy Security.