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Political economy, financialization and science and technology studies are the focus of Dr. Phoebe Stephens’ interdisciplinary research which considers how market dynamics influence sustainability transitions in food systems.

A member of the Department of Business and Social Sciences, Dr. Stephens, Assistant Professor, Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture, is the first researcher from Dalhousie University to receive the prestigious Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council Open Research Area (ORA) 8 grant as Principal Investigator.

The project, Capitalizing on Food System Transformation, is valued at $1.6M and represents a highly competitive international funding opportunity supporting innovative research in the social sciences.

The project involves collaboration with leading institutions in France, the UK and Germany

Launching in Fall 2025, the research focuses on how capital markets can drive sustainable practices among publicly listed food and agriculture businesses. Over three years, it will support one master’s and one PhD student at Dalhousie, one postdoctoral fellow in the UK, five master’s students in France and one PhD student in Germany, with student exchanges enhancing international learning and collaboration.

The project aims to foster international collaboration and knowledge exchange, equipping the next generation of researchers to address critical challenges in sustainable food and agriculture systems. Dr. Stephens has secured other external grants as PI that are helping support her research. Since starting at Dalhousie, she has received a SSHRC Insight Development Grant, a SSHRC Partnership Engage Grant, a SSHRC Connections Grant and a Social Finance Grant from the McCall McBain Foundation

“Food is a fascinating entry point for exploring ways that we can operate in a more socially and ecologically friendly way,” explained Dr. Stephens, who is cross appointed to the School of Environment and Resource Studies as well as the College of Sustainability.

“A cross appointment allows me to work with students on both campuses who are interested in the social science aspects of sustainable food systems,” she said.  “My research is inherently interdisciplinary so it’s very beneficial to be able to supervise students and collaborate with other researchers in these units.”

As an interdisciplinary social scientist interested in identifying intervention points for supporting more sustainable food systems, Dr. Stephens draws primarily from the fields of political economy and sustainability transitions to inform her work. Her main area of focus to date has been on the role of finance in sustainable food systems.

“To operate in a more sustainable way, our food systems need to innovate, and innovation requires finance,” she explained.  “However, finance is not neutral and influences the directionality of sustainability pathways,” she added.  “This is what I’m interested in exploring – the ways in which finance can be reoriented to support more sustainable outcomes.”

Food brings together her interests in social and ecological sustainability. With a BA in International Development Studies and an MA in Global Environmental Governance Dr. Stephens was introduced to the concept of financialization through Jennifer Clapp, her master’s and PhD supervisor at the University of Waterloo.

“Innovation could mean reorienting our food systems to become more self-sufficient, less concentrated, more diverse,” she explained. “We can innovate to support more equity along the food value chain, reward alternative business models, and grow food in a more environmentally sound way.”