Dr Benjamin Neimark

Research Overview

As a human geographer and political ecologist, I am passionate about exploring pathways for just socio-economic, political and ecological futures in the global south. I focus on the uneven development of the green, blue and bio-economy. I am a lead-initiator of a global political ecology network (POLLEN) and Editor at the African Geographical Review. I study international development, ‘green’ labour and high-value commodity chains.

My previous research focuses on bioprospecting on Madagascar. Bioprospecting involves search for, and commercialization of, useful natural compounds for new pharmaceutical and industrial products. I have investigated strategies to improve small-scale agriculture using innovative agroforestry methods, and traditional agricultural systems. These systems can have a major effect on farmers' adoption of new livelihood alternatives. In my Master's research, I developed techniques to improve the direction and speed of domestication of threatened Malagasy forest and fruit species, in order to increase food security and provide added income.

More recent work has included the examination of military emissions. I am the Principle Investigator of a new UKRI-ESRC funded project called, ‘Concrete Impacts,’ which examines the socio-ecological effects of military supply chains and its wider environmental footprints. Our project specifically focuses on the US military’s supply chains of sand, water and cement during war time in Iraq.