Julia Wright

I have worked for 30 years on sustainable agriculture and food security applied research and development, specialising in building capacity and resilience of vulnerable groups to natural and man-made disasters, regeneration of the natural resource base, and low-carbon systems.

Sectoral experience covers production and postharvest, agroforestry, food supply and distribution systems, urban agriculture and nutrition, organic and fair trade, bioregional development, research, extension and knowledge systems, and farmer livelihood strategies.

I have institutional experience of the United Nations – FAO, IFAD, WB; the EU; the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) – CIP, ICRAF; government departments of DEFRA and DFID; and the private and non-governmental sectors. Specific country experience in Europe – UK, Netherlands and Spain; Central and South America – Peru, Mexico, Cuba, Brazil, Jamaica; Asia – Afghanistan, China, Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia; Africa – Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Kenya, Nigeria. I am currently Deployable Civilian Expert with DFID’s Stabilisation Unit.

I have a doctorate in Ecological Agriculture, Knowledge Systems and Food Security in Post-Crisis Cuba, from Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands ( 2005), and am on the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Cuban Studies, Governing Board of Writtle College, Essex, Member of Research Advisory Board, Permaculture Association.