Hi, I’m an anthropologist who writes about sustainability, food and agriculture. I’ve been working on food for over fifteen years, examining people’s consumption behaviours and their relationship to social and environmental sustainability. I have a master’s degree in Environmental Studies from UCL and a PhD in Anthropology from Goldsmiths. Thanks to this training, I am able to combine in-depth knowledge of the sustainability problem with an appreciation of the cultural solutions that help solve it.
Most of my research and teaching deals with organic food, fair trade, and other forms of ethical consumption. I’ve explored these phenomena as responses to people’s concerns for the environment, health, producers’ livelihoods, and social (in)justice. My work as an analyst involves understanding what constrains these responses and what nurtures them.
I have extensive experience of carrying out qualitative research and organising workshops and other events where ideas get shared. I collect data on complex issues, organise and analyse them, and report back the most significant findings, facilitating reflection and decision-making. This human insight is crucial to address the challenge of sustainability.
I’ve published widely on food and culture and therefore have considerable professional knowledge of writing and copyediting. Throughout my academic career, I have successfully applied for research grants, including from the UK Economic and Social Research Council, the Royal Anthropological Institute, and the European Union 7th Framework Program.
As a native speaker of Italian and English, I also work as a translator of both specialized texts and general ones. Finally, I provide copy-editing and proofreading services for a variety of document types.
Beyond my academic training, I remain a very practical, hands-on, and solutions-oriented person. If you’d like to get in touch, send me a message at giovanni.orlando79[at]gmail.com