Curriculum vitae
Julia Wright
Personal information
| Full name | Julia Emma Wright |
|---|---|
| Profession | Food Systems Specialist with focus on Organic Agriculture |
| Nationality | British |
Key Competencies
From the UK, Julia's main expertise is as sustainable agriculture and food security development researcher, 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. Her 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. Specific country experience in Europe (UK, Netherlands and Spain); Central and South America (Peru, Mexico, Cuba, Brazil and Jamaica); Asia (Afghanistan, China, Sri Lanka, India and Indonesia); and Africa (Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Kenya and Nigeria). Besides consulting, Julia (PhD) is presently Deputy Director at the Centre for Agroecology and Food Security at Coventry University, UK.
Professional Experience
Deputy director at the Centre for agroecology and food security, Coventry University, UK (2010 - present)
Responsible for establishing, directing and managing this new applied research and development centre to influence policy and practice on sustainable and healthy farming and food systems in industrialised and less industrialised countries. Developing four major research themes of: Stabilisation Agriculture, Fair Routes to Market, Transition Technologies, and Agri-Culture and Food Democracy. Establishing the Centre's management and administration systems, strategic development and delivery of objectives, obtaining income, monitoring progress, managing staffing, providing leadership and support, and collaborating with international and national partners.
Freelance consultant (2009 - 2010)
Performing reviews, evaluation and training services for a variety of clients in the UK. Examples of work include:
- Tropical Wholefoods/Fruits of the Nile/DFID: Development of Ugandan berry fruit production for Fair Trade export to the UK (2009-2012);
- Coventry Univeristy/EU: Evaluation of EU Banana support programme ecotourism project in Jamaica (JamaicaPRIDE)(2010); and
- Overseas Development Institute: Review of "Feeding 9 Billion with a low emissions agriculture"(2010).
Head of International programme and Senior scientific officer at GARDEN ORGANIC, Warwickshire, UK (2003 - 2009)
Applying the concepts of agroecology and organic agriculture to contemporary development concerns. Responsible for management of the Programme's international advisory and research services, budgets, fundraising, campaigns, and human resources. Team leader and co-ordinator for several international research, development and capacity building projects, including:
- Mercy Corps/DFID/ICARDA: Certified organic and fair trade raisin export initiative in Kandahar, Afghanistan;
- Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Agricolas Cuba and British Embassy/DFID: Participatory development of drought mitigation strategies for smallholder farmers in Cuba;
- Coventry University: Post-Tsunami rehabilitation of home gardens and strengthening capacity of informal indigenous seed systems in Sri Lanka;
- Kenyan Agroforestry Research Institute/DFID/Kennington Overseas Aid: Management and commercialisation of drought resistant tree species in Kenya;
- International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements: Organic farming and food to mitigate the impacts of HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa; and
- Banana hill and FAO: Agrobiodiversity and Indigenous Knowledge to mitigate the impacts of HIV/AIDS in Zambia
Research felllow at Wageningen University, the Netherlands and Instituto de Nacional de Ciencias Agrícolas, Cuba (1998 - 2003)
Funded by the EU Marie Curie Training and Mobility of Researchers Award, formulated & implemented applied research project on the implications of large-scale transformation to low-petroleum systems for agricultural production, extension and food security, drawing on the Cuban experience of the 1990s. Focused on policy and practice of staple banana and maize production, seed systems, organic agriculture and national food systems.
Monitoring and Evaluation consultant for Learning by Design and IFAD (2000-01)
Research, writing and editing input for the development of a practical guide on monitoring and evaluation for the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Office of Evaluation and Studies, to orientate all IFAD projects worldwide.
Sustainable agriculture advisor for the Department for International Development (DFID), UK (1997-98)
Provided advisory support to the Policy Research Programme on sustainable rural livelihoods, and to the Natural Resources Policy and Advisory Department on organic agriculture and ethical trade issues.
Rural development expert for the International Potato Centre (CIP), Peru (1994-96)
Working as a DFID Associate Professional Officer in the Postharvest Development and Marketing Division, expanded ongoing work on sweet potato and other basic staple roots and tubers, and supervision of national staff, including:
- Participatory feasibility studies into basic urban processing of sweet potato products as a substitute for imported ingredients in the bakery industry and humanitarian infant feed supplement programmes;
- NGO-farmer participatory research into sweet potato as livestock fodder to assist post-conflict land repossession and rehabilitation in the Andean region; and
- Action research into sweet potato and Andean roots and tubers in urban home gardens and their impact on local food security systems.
Visiting Development associate at the University of Yucatan, Mexico (1993-94)
Developed outreach projects to counter widespread rural poverty and poor local markets, in the context of scarcity of both soil and water, including:
- Tree nurseries for the conservation and use of local genetic material within agroforestry systems;
- Horticultural demonstration sites with the dual aim of generating cash crops for female householders and improving household nutrition; and
- In support of ICRAF programme on Domestication of Tree Species for the Humid Tropics, designed innovative agroforestry trials for forage and underutilised tree species within a stabilised shifting cultivation system.
Senior projects co-ordinator for Consultants for International Development, London UK (1990-92)
Managed complete consultancy project cycles: tendering for bi- and multi-laterally funded projects on structural adjustment, aquaculture, water resources, agricultural inputs, rural communications, and procurements, mainly in Nigeria.
Education
PhD in Communication & Innovation Studies at Wageningen University and Research Centre, The Netherlands (2005
Thesis on: "Perspectives on the emergence of a more ecological farming and food system in post-crisis Cuba".
MSc in Sustainable Agriculture at University of London - Wye College, UK (1993)
Postgrad. Dip. in Land and Water management, at Cranfield University - Silsoe College, UK (1986)
BA in Rural Environment Studies at University of Wales - Trinity College, UK (1985)
Professional Training & Activities
Training: BOND Rights-Based Approaches, Permaculture Advanced Design, DFID Participatory Rural Appraisal, DFID Training in Management, ICRA Development-oriented Research in Agriculture (with EMBRAPA Brazil), UN Security proficiency.
Activities: Trustee for Bioregional Development Group, Sutton. Steering Committee of Canalside Community Supported Agriculture, Leamington. Steering Committee of Transition Town Leamington.
Languages
| Language | speaking | reading | writing |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | mother tongue | ||
| Spanish | excellent | excellent | very good |
| French | basic | basic | basic |
| German | fair | fair | fair |
Publications and Papers
Harris P.J.C., Wright J. and Trenchard E.J. (2010)
Exploiting introduced plants in arid areas. Paper presented at the conference Holistic Approaches to Sustainable Urban and Rural Development in UK and India. Aston University, 13-14 December, 2010.
Wright J. (2010)
The agroecological transition in Cuba. Scaling up agroecology in latin America, best practices and lessons learned. The Contribution of Agroecological Approaches to Meet 2050 Global Food Needs. Seminar convened by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, 21-22 June 2010, Brussels.
Wright J. (2010)
Cuba's Low Carbon Food System: Living with it. Centre for Alternative Technology magazine, Spring/Summer.
Wright J. (2010)
The agro-ecological paradigm: A case study on drought mitigation and feeding the world. Agro-ecology and Environmental Approaches to Agriculture, of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG)on Agriculture and Food for Development, Westminster, 24 Feb.
Wright J. (2010)
Finding Solutions: Lessons from Cuba's Food Crisis. How to Balance Food Security with Sustainability of Agricultural Production. Wilton Park Conference, 18-29 January, Sussex.
Wright J. (2009)
Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security in an
Era of Oil Scarcity: Lessons from Cuba. Earthscan
Publications, 261 pp.
Wright J. (2009)
Alfabetización ecológica o mentalidad industrializada? Cuba decide. In Funes-Monzote, F.R. and Frere Roache, E.F., Transgénicos? Qué se gana, qué se pierde? Textos para un debate en Cuba, Publicaciones Acuario, Havana, pp 281-300.
Simms A.J.and Wright J. (2009)
The Cuban surprise: life without oil. In: Boyle D and Simms A (eds), The Art of Rapid Transition, How to Survive in Times of Crisis. nef, London.
Wright J. (2008)
Organic Agriculture and HIV/AIDS: The
nutritional response. Proceedings, 16th IFOAM World
Congress, Modena, Italy, 18-20 June 2008.
Wright J. (2008)
Imposing Organic Standards or Rekindling Local
Values, Encouraging ownership of the organic concept for raisin
exports from Afghanistan. Proceedings, 16th IFOAM World
Congress, Modena, Italy, 18-20 June 2008.
Wright J. (2008)
Organic Agriculture and HIV/AIDS in Sub Saharan
Africa. Policy Document. International Federation of
Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM), Germany.
Thanthriarachchi A., S. Green & J.
Wright (2007)
A successful model for increasing the
availability of quality seed in Sri Lanka. LEISA
Magazine on Low External Input and Sustainable Agriculture,
Summer, pending.
Wright J. (2007)
Relocalising food systems for food security:
successes and challenges in Cuba. Organic Agriculture and
Food Utilisation Document. International Conference on Organic
Agriculture and Food Security, 3-5 May 2007, Rome. FAO/IFOAM.
p.32-34.
Wright J. (2007)
Relocalising food systems for food security:
successes and challenges in Cuba. International
Conference on Organic Agriculture and Food Security, 3-5 May
2007, Rome. FAO/IFOAM. P.32-34.
Parrott N. & Wright J.
(2007)
Influencing attitudes of public institutions
towards organic agriculture as a means of promoting food
security. International Conference on Organic
Agriculture and Food Security, 3-5 May 2007, Rome. FAO/IFOAM.
P.7-9.
Choge S.K., Pasiecznik N.M., Harvey
M.,Wright J. Awan S.Z. & P.J.C. Harris.
(2006)
Prosopis pods as a human food in Kenya.
Proceedings of International Symposium on the Nutritional
Value and Water Use of Indigenous Crops for Improved
Livelihoods, 19-20 Sept. 2006, University of Pretoria, South
Africa. P114-118.
Wright J. (2006)
Cuba's enforced ecological learning
experience. LEISA Magazine on Low External Input and
Sustainable Agriculture, June 2006 Vol 22 no.2. p. 6-9.
Wright J. (2005)
The nationwide transformation to a more
ecological agriculture for food security in Cuba.
Congress Handbook, Shaping Sustainable Systems. 15th IFOAM
Organic World Congress, Adelaide, South Australia. P. 182.
Wright J. & Harvey M.
(2005)
Local organic agriculture and resilience to
disasters: a major focus of HDRA's International Development
Programme. Tropical Agriculture Association
Newsletter, 25(2), July 2005, p. 3-7.
Wright J. (2005)
Feeding the World with Ecological Agriculture:
So What's Stopping Us? Proceedings, Sustainable World
Conference, 14-15 July 2005, Portcullis House, House of
Commons, London. Institute for Science in Society.
Wright J. (2005)
Falta Petroleo! Perspectives on the emergence of
a more ecological farming and food system in post-crisis
Cuba. PhD Thesis, Wageningen University,
Wageningen. 351 pp.
Wright J. & Harvey M.
(2005)
Organic agriculture brings resilience to
disasters. The Organic Way, Issue 179, Spring:
22-23.
Wright J. (2004)
Going with the grain: Mainstreaming an
ecological paradigm for food security. Paper presented at:
LEAD International Workshop on Sustainable Agriculture and the
Global Food Economy, April 2004, Wye College.
Harvey M. & Wright J.
(2004)
Improving the agricultural component of disaster
mitigation strategies for long term resilience. Presented
at Second International Conference on Post-Disaster
Reconstruction: Planning for Reconstruction, 22-23 April
2004, Coventry University, UK.
Harris P., A. Browne, H. Barrett. F. Gandiya
& J. Wright. (2003)
Opportunities for export of organic livestock
products from lower to higher income countries. Ecology
and Farming (Sept.-Dec. 2003): 16-17.
Wright J. (2002)
Where There's a Will. Organic agriculture and
Food Security in Cuba. Presented at: Cultivating
Communities, 14th IFOAM Organic World Congress, Victoria,
Canada, 21-24 August, 2002.
Wright J. (2001)
Falta Petroleo! The Implications of a more
ecological production for the agricultural support and food
system, drawing on the Cuban experience. Presented at:
CERES Graduate Summer School, 3-6 July 2001, Wageningen
University, The Netherlands.
Wright J. (2001)
The future for organic agriculture in Cuba:
Perspectives from the Cuban agricultural research and development
sector. Presented at: IV Meeting on Organic
Agriculture, 17-19 May 2001, Havana, Cuba. ACTAF.
Rios Labrada H. & Wright J.
(1999)
Early attempts at stimulating seed flows in
Cuba. LEISA Magazine on Low External Input and
Sustainable Agriculture 15(3/4 Dec.): 38-39.
Fernandes L., J. Mejia del Cid, M. Nishat,
J. Wright & J. Zabaleta. (1997)
Building a Bridge to Sao Jose do Norte:
Diagnosis for Research Needs of Family Farms in Brazil.
International Centre for development-oriented Research in
Agriculture (ICRA), Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Maldonaldo L.A., J. Wright & G.J.
Scott. (1997)
Constraints to the Production and Use of Potato:
Results of an Investigation of National Programs in Asia.
Asian Potato Journal.
Zhang D., L. Diaz & J.
Wright. (1996)
Rapid Identification of Sweetpotato Cultivars
Suitable for Non Traditional Use in Peru. Sub-project
Annual Progress Report, IPC International Potato Centre,
Lima, Peru.
Scott G., R. Basay & J.
Wright. (1996)
Potatoes: Thought for Food. Potato
Business World, USA. 4(July): 8-12.
Espinola N., J. Wright, L. Diaz &
M. van Hal. (1996)
Productos Procesados de Camote. Latin
American Congress on Tropical Roots, 7-11 October 1996.
Centro de Raizes Tropicais, Botucatu, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Wright J.E., N. Espinola & J.
Woolfe. (1995)
From Pigfeed to Patisseries: Sweetpotato in the
Urban Food System. 1st International Conference on
Urban Agriculture. Havana, Cuba, 3-8 December 1995.
Wright J.E. (1994)
Hemp as an Organic Rotation Crop.
Research paper. Bioregional Development Group, Sutton, Surrey,
UK.
Wright J.E. (1993)
Potential for Integrated Aquaculture in S.E.
England. In: Desai P. (ed.), Bioregional Surrey.
Bioregional Development Group, Sutton, Surrey, UK.