Our Projects

Some of our projects

Ford Philanthropies/ HilburgAssociates (2023). Advised the Ford Philanthropies (Ford Motor Company) on strategic direction of their food security initiatives in the Detroit metropolitan area and nationally in their association with Feeding America.

Ford Philanthropies (2023)Conducted food system/food security upleveling sessions with Ford Philanthropies to improve their operational understanding of the challenges and opportunities of their current and potential future programs.

Market Study of Beef Production in USA (2023). Comprehensive study of beef production and beef industry in USA. Analysis about market size and trends, opportunities and challenges, cost structures, value chains and legal aspects.

From field to table. Challenges and opportunities facing the food systems, food security and the global Agri-Food Business Sector during times of volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA). BUS 4820-1. UPEI. (2021) The course was designed to provide data-supported understanding of cross-disciplinary themes related to the questions facing agri-food business and agri-food systems today and in the future

Halibut PEI (2020 - 21). Preparation of the strategic planning and business plan to facilitate the company sale. January 2021.

Island Nature Trust (2020). Workshop, diagnostic and analysis for the long-term strategic planning. September 2020.

Olive Oil Commission of California (2020). Workshop, diagnostic and analysis for the long-term strategic planning. June 2020.

The impact of COVID-19 in Food Systems (2020). Analysis of the impact of Covid-19 from in the food value chain. April 2020.

The impact of COVID-19 in Food Systems (2020).The impact of COVID-19 in Food Systems. Analysis of the impact of Covid-19 from the consumer and retailers perspective . March 2020.

Olive oil producer transformation (2019-2020). Assist in transforming the business model and marketing strategies of one of the most awarded global olive oil producers to more fully capitalize on integration into retail food systems.

Sustainable Food Systems and the gender context (2015 - 2020). Georgetown University Teaching Series (2015- 2020). Food systems. The role of livestock in Food Security and Climate Change. Food & Sustainable Trade. The global value chain. Georgetown University.

Latin America’s Food Policy and Strategies for the promotion of healthy diets. Modern Food Systems, Overweight and Obesity, Results, Challenges and Opportunities . Visiting Researcher at Georgetown University. January 2019 . In progress.

UCDavis Olive Center Strategic Planning Workshop (2019).Workshop, diagnostic and analysis for the 10 year strategic planning Initiative at the Olive Oil Center at the Robert Mondavi Institute.

Food Systems and Healthy diets. Hunger and malnutrition lessons from Latin America (2019). Roundtable at Georgetown University . https://lalp.georgetown.edu/events/hunger-and-malnutrition-lessons-from-latin-america

Social, health, economic and humanitarian impacts of climate change in the Americas. Keynote at the Regional Workshop on Climate Change and Building Resilience in the Americas (2018). Organized by Environment and Climate Change Canada and Canada’s Permanent Mission to the Organization of American States, with the support of the OAS Department for Sustainable Development. November 2018

Market Study of Olive Oil Production in USA (2018). Comprehensive study of olive oil production industry in USA. Analysis about market size and trends, opportunities and challenges, cost structures, value chains and legal asspects.

Losers and Winners of Bayer’s Monsanto Merger (2017). Research conducted in conjunction with leading outside consultancy . The main objective of this study is the evaluation of the positive and negative aspects of the acquisition of Monsanto by Bayer and the effects on the different actors in the agribusiness supply chain.

Market Study of Honey Production in USA (2017). Comprehensive study of honey production industry in USA. Analysis about market size and trends, opportunities and challenges, cost structures, value chains and legal aspects.

Pro and Cons of Land Redistribution/Restitution in South Africa (2017):Research carried out in conjunction with H/Malan and AgriSA resources. This study was conducted in the context of the President Jacob Zuma and ANC debates about whether land should be expropriated without compensation. The main objective was the evaluation of the positive and negative effects the actual situation of land redistribution in South Africa.

Main pillars for a Sustainable Food Systems (2016) Evaluation of the effects of food systems transformation on sustainability and study of the main pillars and principles that needs to be implemented in order to reshape broken food system. Focus in USA and LatinAmerica.

Africa Agripreneurship Academy - AAA (2016): AAA will grow the next generation of values-directed farmers and agri-business entrepreneurs. It will be a farming/agribusiness incubator that enables young women and men to develop commercially successful SMEs. Most importantly, we believe in leveling the playing field for all entrepreneurs – particularly young women and young men who can be drawn into agri-business— in order to create stronger communities, close the opportunity gap and scale creative solutions to persistent social and economic problems.

Pearston Agripreneurship Social Enterprise - PASE (2015 - 2016): PASE is a social enterprise agribusiness model. PASE's purpose is to maximize human well-being, generate employments and business opportunities, eliminate food insecurity and achieve economic transformation in one of South Africa's poorest communities while driving sound profit-making principles.

Festa Tlala, South Africa Food Security pogramme and Small Scale Farming (2015) Study of policies and programs that link family farming to food security in helping reduce poverty. Comparison between the Brazilian Food Procurement Program (Programa de aquisição de alimentos – PAA) and South African ‘s Fetsa Tlala experience.

Diasporas and Agriculture Investment in El Salvador (2014 – 2015):In partnership with Inter-American Dialogue, the main focus of the project is to analyze the feasibility of investments in agriculture production in El Salvador by the Salvadoran Diaspora. The project is divided into three sections: a- study about the agriculture Salvadorean market and production b.- interest and availability of potential investors in agriculture from the Diasporas in USA c.- development of the mechanisms to promote investments in agriculture in El Salvador.

The Hluma Project. (2014- 2015): In partnership with Sophakama - The Eastern Cape town of Pearston is not a South African anomaly. A once thriving farming community, Pearston has steadily deteriorated into a community that has no economic relevance. The community has a high level of poverty, a high unemployment rate, and is food insecure. The main objective of the project is create agriculture opportunities with the objective of mitigating the current economic/social conditions, end food insecurity, create financial self-sustainability and income generalization opportunities.

KwaZulu Natal Project (2014): .Research conducted for the investment arm of the Dallas Police and Firemen’s Pension Fund (DPFP) as an assessment of the impact of an agri-forestry community development project in Giant’s Castle Area. The DPFD had obtained a large parcel of forest and commissioned FfD to study different alternatives and formats to connect community resources and knowledge with local market opportunities. Additonally, the research helped the DPFD better understand the stakeholders/ support landscape from the perspective of reasonable expectations in terms of scope of participation, reliability and capacities to build broader shared-value community sustainability.

Food Insecurity and Trade in Guatemala (2013): Report presents a needs integrated measure and comprehensive policy approach to reduced food insecurity in Guatemala, specifically addressing how the free trade model affects food security in the country.

Land Grabbing in Brazil (2013): The challenge of land control, Study looked into the problems of land grabbing, the concentration of the production of commodities, and the value chain in Brazil, and how all players relate and interact with small farmers

Commercialization of Quinoa in Bolivia (2012): Commercialization of the quinoa crop, identifies and analyzes current issues between supply and demand, and the consequences for Bolivian society and soil. The study analyzes the social, nutritional, economic, environmental, and political effects of changing global patterns. The study proposes strategies to fight malnutrition and to protect small Bolivian quinoa producers.

Zero Hunger, Small Producers and Markets Alternatives in Brazil (2012): Food Security and Small Scale Farming. Policies and Programs that link family farming to food security in helping reduce poverty in Brazil. Evaluation of the impact

of the Food Procurement Program (Programa de aquisição de alimentos – PAA) applied in Brazil under Zero Hunger program.

Globalization of Supermarkets: How Wal-Mart Affects Local Food Systems in Mexico (2011): Case study of Wal-Mart in Mexico, to discuss the conditions that led to the internationalization of retailing. In depth analysis of retailing landscape in

Guadalajara to assess strengths and weaknesses as Wal-Mart opens more stores.

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