Prof Moya Kneafsey

Biography

‍Moya is the director at the Centre for Agroecology Water and Resilience at Coventry University, UK. Since 1997 her research has followed two strands:

1. how ‘traditional’ cultural resources are commodified for tourism, especially in European rural contexts,
2. attempts to ‘reconnect’ consumers, producers and food through ‘alternative’, local and short food supply chains.

Both strands are connected by a critical interest in how to develop social and economic practices that contribute to the formation of more sustainable, resilient and ethically sound livelihoods and lifestyles. In a bid to develop critical insight into the social and economic innovations which have the potential to deliver human health and wellbeing, without destroying vital planetary resources, she has undertaken projects on cultural tourism, quality products, rural development and community participation in food production and conducted research on consumer perceptions of food security.

Her aim is to undertake research which is collaborative in style and accessible and meaningful to as many different audiences as possible.

Her work has been funded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council and the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the European Commission and Garden Organic.

Institution: Centre for Agroecology Water and Resilience at Coventry University, UK

You can learn about Moya's passions and concerns in Unit 3

Her full university profile can be found here