Centre for Sustainable Agrifood & Environmental Systems (CSAES)
IHRI
Centre for Sustainable Agrifood & Environmental Systems (CSAES)
The Centre for Sustainable Agrifood & Environmental Systems (CSAES) cultivates the visionary leadership and strategic acumen vital for transforming global food systems and safeguarding our planet. We champion sustainable innovation and the responsible integration of technology to drive resilient solutions across agriculture and the environment. Our mission is to foster impactful leadership and strategic management practices that positively shape food security, address pressing climate change challenges, optimize resource management, and secure a sustainable future for all, from local ecosystems to global environmental policy.
Our Vision
The Centre for Sustainable Agrifood & Environmental Systems (CSAES) aspires to be a global nexus for thought leadership, applied research, and executive education at the dynamic intersection of sustainable agriculture, environmental resilience, and strategic resource management. We empower professionals to confidently navigate and lead the complex challenges shaping Food Systems, Climate Change, and broader Environmental Systems, driving sustainable growth and innovation for a healthier, more secure planet tomorrow.
Core Research Areas
Our research at CSAES delves into critical domains that shape sustainable practices, drive innovation, and optimize systems across the vital sectors of agriculture and the environment, directly supporting IHRI’s Expanded Global Focus:
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Sustainable Agrifood Systems & Resilience
We develop frameworks and insights for effective leadership that drives growth, adaptability, and resilience within food production and distribution systems navigating complex global challenges like Climate Change and Food Security.
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Environmental Innovation & Ethical Stewardship
We investigate the responsible adoption, integration, and scaling of new technologies, including AI ethics in environmental applications, to enhance ecological health and resource management. Our focus is on ensuring innovation serves both humanity and the planet ethically and effectively.
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Ecological Operations & Resource Optimization
We apply advanced decision-making strategies to optimize processes, improve efficiency, and ensure robust system performance across diverse Environmental Systems. This research directly contributes to Resource Security and prepares for future complexities in planetary health.
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Policy, Governance & Sustainable Futures
We examine the regulatory, ethical, and governance frameworks essential to guide innovation and ensure responsible progress in Agritech and broader environmental advancements. This includes shaping policies for land use, water management, and biodiversity protection for a sustainable future.
Doctoral Research Pathway: Sustainable Agrifood & Environmental Systems
The Challenge: The Nexus of Planetary and Human Health
The world faces a dual imperative: to sustainably feed a growing global population while protecting the environmental systems that support all life. The challenges of climate change, resource depletion, biodiversity loss, and soil degradation are not merely ecological issues; they are profound public health crises in the making. Our modern food systems, while productive, contribute to chronic disease and pose risks from foodborne illness and antimicrobial resistance.
The "One Health" Approach
To address these interconnected risks, this pathway adopts the "One Health" paradigm as its core strategic framework. "One Health" is a collaborative and transdisciplinary approach that recognizes the profound interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment. It provides an authoritative lens for structuring research that is holistic, impactful, and essential for a sustainable future.
The DHS Curriculum: A Launchpad for "One Health" Research
- D801: Transforming Services/Delivering Quality – Re-envisioned as: Engineering Resilient and Sustainable Systems. Apply Lean principles to reduce waste in food production, use QI frameworks to design robust food safety systems, or develop risk management for agricultural supply chains.
- D802: Implementation Science – Re-envisioned as: Driving the Adoption of Sustainable Practices. Study the barriers preventing farmers from adopting regenerative agriculture, design behavior-change strategies for public health, or develop national implementation plans for new environmental policies.
- D803: Research Methods – Re-envisioned as: The Toolkit for the Environmental & Agrifood Scientist. Master diverse methods to analyze satellite data on deforestation (quantitative), understand the socio-economic drivers of land-use change through interviews (qualitative), or both.
- D804: Literature Review & Research Proposal – Re-envisioned as: Identifying a Critical Gap at the Nexus of Food, Environment, and Health. Systematically review literature on topics like the link between biodiversity and infectious disease to propose field studies or appraise food waste policies to propose new circular economy models.
- D805: Thesis – Re-envisioned as: A Legacy Contribution to a Healthy Planet and Healthy People. Conduct a practical project, such as developing a new policy framework for urban agriculture or an evidence-based program to combat antimicrobial resistance in livestock systems.
Illustrative Doctoral Pathways
The Food System Architect: Designing a Resilient and Equitable Urban Food System
This project would use systems design principles (D801) and mixed-methods (D803) to map a city's food system, identifying weaknesses. The research would culminate in a policy and implementation playbook (D802) for creating a more localized, sustainable, and equitable urban food system, improving food security and public health.
The One Health Vanguard: A Systems Approach to Mitigating Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
This project, grounded in Implementation Science (D802), would identify behavioral and systemic barriers to antibiotic stewardship in clinical and veterinary practice. The final thesis would provide a comprehensive framework for implementing a coordinated "One Health" AMR action plan to combat one of the greatest threats to global health.
Portfolio of Potential Thesis Topics
| Research Domain | Potential Thesis Topics |
|---|---|
| Sustainable Agriculture & Food Production | - The Impact of Regenerative Agriculture Practices on Soil Health and Crop Nutrient Density. - A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Precision Agriculture Technologies for Smallholder Farms. - Developing a Framework for the Ethical Implementation of Gene-Editing in Livestock. |
| Environmental Health & Policy | - A "One Health" Surveillance Model for Early Detection of Zoonotic Disease Spillover. - Developing a Policy Framework for Managing Agricultural Water Runoff to Protect Aquatic Ecosystems. - An Implementation Science Study on Community-Based Forest Management Programs. |
| Food Systems & Public Health Nutrition | - The Role of Urban Agriculture in Mitigating Food Deserts and Improving Community Health. - Policy and Behavioral Levers to Reduce Consumer Food Waste in the Retail Sector. - A Systems Analysis of the Global Food Supply Chain's Vulnerability to Climate Change. |