Research interest

Joost is fascinated by the sociology of agriculture and food in the rural-urban nexus. Some current research themes are the governance of local food systems and complex decision-making as a ‘political matter'. His research focuses on European and African regions. He has been the vice-chair of an international COST network that studied the role and meaning of culture in sustainable development. He is also co-editor of the book series ‘Routledge Studies in Culture and Sustainable Development'.

Biography

Prof. Joost Dessein (°1971) is senior researcher at the Social Sciences Unit of ILVO (Flanders Research Research Institute For Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) and Associate Professor at the department of Agricultural Economics (Ghent University). He is also affiliated with the Centre for Sustainable Development (Ghent University). Joost has a degree in Agricultural Engineering and a Master's and PhD in Social and Cultural Anthropology. Joost is member of the executive committee of the ESRS, the European Society for Rural Sociology.