Second Exeter Food Network Mezze Seminar

Dr Marc-William Palen, Senior Lecturer in Archaeology and History

Pax Economica: Left-Wing Visions of a Free Trade World

Beginning in the 1840s, left-wing globalists became the leaders of the peace and anti-imperialist movements of their age. By the early twentieth century, their efforts expanded into an unlikely left-wing alliance that shared a common vision: that universal free trade was essential for a food secure, prosperous, and peaceful world order. This talk seeks to introduce the forgotten history of the liberal radicals, socialist internationalists, feminists, and Christians who envisioned free trade as the necessary prerequisite for anti-imperialism, peace, and a world without hunger.

Ellen Williamson, PhD Researcher on Food, Nutrition and Health in Public Health and Sport Sciences

Considering the contribution of microalgae in human nutrition

Microalgae are a diverse group of aquatic, photosynthetic unicellular microorganisms. To date they have had a limited contribution to human diets, but are gaining wider interest as a particularly sustainable food source. My talk will discuss the nutritional value of microalgae and consider in which ways they could best be included in diets to support to human and planetary health.

Dr Tomas Chaigneau, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Social Sciences, Environment and Sustainability Institute

The role of inequalities and difference for sustainable fisheries

Fishers and fishing communities are often thought of as homogeneous entities, however the ways in which people interact with the ocean, the benefits they derive or wish to derive from the coast differs. Research is starting to show this quite clearly, but very little has discussed the role this could have in shaping sustainability. This talk will start unravelling that potential key consequences of inequalities for long term coastal sustainability.

Dr Daniel Derbyshire, Research Fellow in Public Health Economics

An economic analysis of the impacts of local authority takeaway management zones around schools in England

Higher numbers of hot food takeaways in local neighbourhood food environments can be associated with increased exposure to, and consumption of, food that is high in fat and salt, and low in health promoting nutrients. Takeaway management zones enable local authorities in England to limit the number of new hot food takeaways opening. The impacts of takeaway management zones on local economies are currently unknown and yet commercial and other actors often place emphasis on the potential negative economic impacts. We projected the future economic impacts of takeaway management zones in three purposively sampled local authorities in England using financial micro-data from the UK’s Annual Business Survey. We incorporated the value of potential healthcare cost savings due to reductions in population overweight and obesity from reduced exposure to hot food takeaways. We present the results of three scenarios that vary the length of commercial space vacancy (3, 6 or 12 months) when planning permission for a new hot food takeaway is refused. Despite the concerns of policymakers and objections from industry regarding the potential for negative economic impacts, our results suggest that takeaway management zones are associated with net economic benefits. These ranged between £8.49m and £12.78m in Manchester, £4.67m and £8.15m in Sheffield and £1.18m and £5.24m in Wandsworth. This result is largely driven by the relatively low economic contribution of hot food takeaways and relatively high economic contribution of potential alternative usages.