Benjamin Neimark

I am a Lecturer (Assistant Prof.) at one of the leading interdisciplinary environment research institutes in the UK –Environment Center, Lancaster University. I received my Master’s degree at Cornell University and a PhD at Rutgers University. I am a human geographer with research and teaching interests in international development, environmental policy and governance, coupled human environmental relations, natural resource extraction, and bioeconomy/green economy, food security and sustainable development with a regional focus on Africa and Madagascar. My interest in the politics of natural resources extraction stems from my work with the Agribusiness in Sustainable Natural African Plant Products program at Rutgers University. This work included the creation of the first Malagasy Natural Products Label (NATOIRA)

I have over 15 years’ experience in international sustainable development with a particular interest on high-value natural products. I have a large research and scholarly network in Madagascar, Europe and in the US and I am co-founder of the Political Ecology Network (POLLEN). My work engages directly with policy and local governance institutions, working directly with development agencies and civil society groups, such as USAID and Conservation International.

Former research explores the history and politics of bioprospecting in Madagascar. I examine case studies of drug discovery and analyze the politics of biodiversity access and local effects of conservation outcomes. This research, funded by a Fulbright Institute for International Education (IIE) Award involved over 14 months of intensive ethnographic work with local resource users, policymakers, government officials and CEOs of Malagasy firms and representatives of US companies. My current research was funded by a National Geographic Research Award concerns the politics of biofuels and large-scale land acquisitions in Africa and Madagascar.

November 2016