Key details
Professor Ben Bennett
Deputy Director, Professor of International Trade and Marketing Economics and NRI Director of Research and Knowledge Exchange
Professor Bennett has been with the Natural Resources Institute for 30 years, much of it spent overseas as an agriculture and trade policy advisor in Namibia and the Philippines. His work has been largely in the field of trade and market economics for tropical commodities in developing countries with a particular focus on aspects of agricultural value chains for novel products. He has undertaken consultancy and research in over 40 countries working on cereals, legumes, horticulture, fisheries, fibres, non-timber forestry products, livestock, oilseeds and industrial crops.
He is known for his value chain analysis work on many different commodities as well as market research for primary and secondary products. He has long experience in leading research and consultancy teams including complex evaluations and reviews for major multi-national bodies and donors. He has an interest in the marketing of wild harvested natural products and the relationship between markets and conservation of natural resources. He has supported a number of trade negotiations including SADC, COMESA and SACU and led an international effort to improve Trade Capacity Building, particularly in the area of standards.
A full staff profile can be seen on the Natural Resources Institute website.
Research / Scholarly interests
Professor Bennett's work on agricultural and wild harvested value chains brings farmers and harvesters into the formal economy and improves livelihoods. He is particularly interested in postharvest losses, their measurement, mitigation and impact on incomes in developing countries.
Recent publications
Article
Bennett, Ben and , (2022), Special issue editorial: food loss and waste. Practical Action Publishing. In: , , , . Practical Action Publishing, Enterprise Development and Microfinance, 33: Editorial (4) . pp. 1-3 ISSN: 1755-1978 (Print), (doi: http://doi.org/10.3362/1755-1986.2022.33-4.ED_SP).
Lalani, Baqir , Hassan, Rania, Bennett, Ben (2021), Examining Heterogeneity of Food Fortification and Biofortification Business Models: Emerging Evidence for a Typology. MDPI. In: , , , . MDPI, Nutrients, 13: 1233 (4) 2072-6643 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13041233).
Tomlins, Keith , Parmar, Aditya, Omohimi, Celestina, Sanni, Lateef Oladimeji , Adegoke, Adekola , Adebowale, Abdul-Rasaq Adesola , Bennett, Ben (2021), Enhancing the shelf-life of fresh cassava roots: A field evaluation of simple storage bags. MDPI. In: , , , . MDPI, Processes, 9: 577 (4) 2227-9717 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/pr9040577).
Lalani, Baqir , Ndegwa, Michael, Bennett, Ben (2020), Unpacking the ‘Business Model’ for fortification initiatives in low- and middle-income countries: Stakeholder identified drivers of success and constraints to progress. MDPI. In: , , , . MDPI, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17: 8862 (23) . pp. 1-15 1660-4601 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17238862).
Shee, Apurba , Mayanja, Sarah, Simba, Eria, Stathers, Tanya , Bechoff, Aurelie , Bennett, Ben (2019), Determinants of postharvest losses along smallholder producers maize and sweetpotato value chains: An ordered probit analysis. Springer. In: , , , . Springer, Food Security, 11 (5) . pp. 1101-1120 ISSN: 1876-4517 (Print), 1876-4525 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-019-00949-4).
Bennett, Ben and , Rich, Karl M. (2019), Using preferential trade access to promote global development goals: the case of beef and market access to Norway from Namibia and Botswana. Taylor & Francis. In: , , , . Taylor & Francis, Agrekon, 58 (4) . pp. 485-502 ISSN: 0303-1853 (Print), 2078-0400 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/03031853.2019.1636669).
Lalani, Baqir , Bechoff, Aurelie, Bennett, Ben (2019), Which choice of delivery model(s) works best to deliver fortified foods?. MDPI. In: , , , . MDPI, Nutrients, 11: 1594 (7) ISSN: 2072-6643 (Print), 2072-6643 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11071594).
Bechoff, Aurelie , Tomlins, Keith I., Bennett, Ben, Westby, Andrew (2019), Variability in traditional processing of gari: a major food security product from cassava. Practical Action Publishing. In: , , , . Practical Action Publishing, Food Chain, 8 (1) . pp. 39-59 ISSN: 2046-1887 (Print), 2046-1879 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.3362/2046-1887.18-00015).
Mukanga, Mweshi , Matumba, Limbikani, Makwenda, Beatrice, Alfred, Sharon , Sakala, Whytson , Kanenga, Kennedy , Chancellor, Timothy , Mugabe, Jonas , Bennett, Ben (2019), Participatory evaluation of groundnut planting methods for pre-harvest aflatoxin management in Eastern Province of Zambia. EDP Sciences. In: , , , . EDP Sciences, Cahiers Agricultures, 28: 1 ISSN: 1166-7699 (Print), 1777-5949 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1051/cagri/2019002).
Bennett, Ben and , (2018), Editorial: Special Edition on Innovations in Cassava Processing. Practical Action Publishing. In: , , , . Practical Action Publishing, Rugby, United Kingdom Food Chain, 7 (2) ISSN: 2046-1879 (Print), 2046-1887 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.3362/2046-1887.2018.7-2ED).
Matumba, Limbikani , Singano, Lazarus, Tran, Bruno, Mukanga, Mweshi , Makwenda, Beatrice , Kumwenda, Wycliffe , Mgwira, Sharif , Phiri, Sam , Mataya, Frazer , Mthunzi, Talentus (2018), Managing aflatoxin in smallholder groundnut production in Southern Africa: Paired comparison of the windrow and Mandela cock techniques. Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, Crop Protection, 112 . pp. 18-23 ISSN: 0261-2194 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2018.05.007) NB Item availability restricted.
Tomlins, Keith , Bennett, Ben, Stathers, Tanya, Linton, John , Onumah, Gideon , Coote, Hilary , Kleih, Ulrich , Priebe, Jan , Bechoff, Aurelie (2016), Reducing postharvest losses in the OIC member countries. COMCEC Coordination Office. In: , , , . COMCEC Coordination Office, COMCEC Agricultural Working Group . pp. 1-194 (doi: ).
Silva, Ana Patricia , Franco, Maria Isabel, Mady, Cissé, Pallet, Dominique , Tomlins, Keith , Bennett, Ben , Pintado, Manuela , Sottomayor, Miguel (2016), Drivers of acceptance of a new beverage in Europe. MDPI AG. In: , , , . MDPI AG, Beverages, 2: 12 (2) . pp. 1-14 2306-5710 (Online) (doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/beverages2020012).
Book
McHugh, Karen and , Bennett, Ben (2020), CGIAR Research Program 2020 Reviews: Livestock. CGIAR Advisory Services Shared Secretariat. In: , , , . CGIAR Advisory Services Shared Secretariat, CGIAR Advisory Services Shared Secretariat. Rome. (5) (doi: ).
Book section
Wilkin, Paul , Bennett, Ben, Cameron, Sam, Howes, Melanie-Jane , Jeannoda, Vololoniaina , Tiana Rajaonah, Mamy , Rakotoarison, Feno , Razanamparany, Louisette , Viruel, Juan (2022), Dioscoreaccae, yams, ovy, oviala, angona. Princeton University Press. In: , , In: Steve M. Goodman (ed.), The New Natural History of Madagascar. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey; Oxford, UK; Beijing, China , 1 (1st) . pp. 545-550 . ISBN: 9780691222622; 0691222622; 9780691229409 (doi: https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691222622/the-new-natural-history-of-madagascar) NB Item availability restricted.
Conference item
Naziri, Diego , Quaye, Wilhelmina, Siwoku, Bernard, Wanlapatit, Sittichoke , Phu, Tu Viet , Bennett, Ben (2016), Postharvest losses in cassava value chains differ across countries and demand tailor-made solutions. In: 1st World Congress on Root and Tuber Crops, 18-22 January 2016, Nanning, China , . , (doi: http://www.gcp21.org/wcrtc/S18.html).
Monograph
Palmieri, N. , Bennett, B., Fakoya, K., Meisner, C. , Molinari, M.M. (2024), Resilient Agrifood System Science Group: Evaluation Report. IAES Evaluation Function. In: , , , . IAES Evaluation Function, Rome (1st) (doi: https://iaes.cgiar.org/sites/default/files/pdf/RAFS_SG_Eval_Report_Final.pdf).
Palmieri, N. , Bennett, B., Fakoya, K., Meisner, C. , Molinari, M.M. (2024), Resilient Agrifood Systems Science Group: Evaluation Report, Annexes. IAES Evaluation Function. In: , , , . IAES Evaluation Function, Rome (1st) (doi: https://iaes.cgiar.org/sites/default/files/pdf/RAFS%20SG_Evaluation.Report.Annex_Final.pdf).
Bechoff, Aurélie , Bennett, Ben, Abayomi, Louise (2020), Establishing the feasibility of developing a locally-made RUTF for Sierra Leone. Natural Resources Institute. In: , , , . Natural Resources Institute, (doi: ) NB Item availability restricted.
Bennett, Ben , Figué, Muriel, Vigne, Mathieu, Chakoma, Charles , Katic, Pamela , Value Chain Analysis for Development Project , European Union , DG-DEVCO (2019), Beef Value Chain Analysis in Zimbabwe. European Union. In: , , , . European Union, Belgium (doi: https://europa.eu/capacity4dev/value-chain-analysis-for-development-vca4d-/documents/zimbabwe-study-brief).
Working paper
Bennett, Ben , Rich, Karl M., Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (2020), Can trade preferences stimulate sectoral development? The case of Namibian and Botswanan beef exports to Norway. Norwegian Institute of International Affairs. In: , , , . Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, Oslo, Norway (doi: https://www.nupi.no/nupi/Publikasjoner/CRIStin-Pub/Can-trade-preferences-stimulate-sectoral-development-The-case-of-Namibian-and-Botswanan-beef-exports-to-Norway).