Centre for Rural Economy

Staff Profile

Dr Carmen Hubbard

Reader in Agricultural Economics and Policy

Background


Qualifications

  • PhD in Agricultural Economics, University of Aberdeen
  • BSc & MSc, Economic and Social Statistics, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania (1986-1991)

Area of expertise

  • Agricultural economics

Languages

Romanian, English, French, Spanish (basic)

Awarded Fellowships/Scholarships

  • The Agricultural Economics Society (AES) 2023 Award of Excellence for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Research and the Society’ (https://www.aes.ac.uk/aes-awards)
  • Research Fellowship, Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science, Japan (2014)
  • EU Phare - ACE PhD scholarship, European Commission, (1999 – 2003)
  • Awarded Internship, European Commission, DG Budget (2000 - 2001)


Roles and Responsibilities 

- Director of Area of Expertise for Agriculture and Food Systems (11/2022 - )

-        Director of the Applied Social Sciences Group (04/2022 – 10/2022)

·        Elected Senate Member (2018-2021)

-        Cross Faculty Seminar Series Coordinator (Animal and Human Emotions) (2021/22)

·        Research Manager, CRE (2009-2014)

·        Member, Equality, Diversity and Social Inclusion School Committee (2016-2018)

·        Member, School Research Committee (2013-2014)

·        Junior Staff Mentor (2013-2014)

·        School Research Newsletter Editor (2012 - 2014)  

·        Financial Manager, Northern Rural Network (2009-2011)

·        Project Manager ESRC-funded Case Studentships (2009-2012)

·        CRE Coordinator Rural Development Reading Group (2010-2013)

·        School Seminar Series Coordinator (2012-2014)

·        Leader of the Social Science Group, Advanced Training Partnership in Intensive

Livestock Production (BBSRC) (2011-2014)

·        CRE Research Newsletter Editor (2009-2014)

·        CRE Discussion Papers Editor (2007-2010) 

External Roles 

  • Defra’s Science Advisory Council on Exotic Diseases (Co-opted member) (2022 -)
  • Member, Executive Board, Agricultural Economics Society (2022 - 2025)
  • Visiting Professor, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (2020 – 2025)
  • Visiting Professor, CIHEAM - Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Zaragoza (IAMZ), Spain 2013 - 2021)
  • External examiner, Reading University, MSc Programme in Agricultural Economics and Rural Development (2018 - 2022)
  • Member, Farm Animal Welfare Committee (2015-2021) 
  • Member, Executive Board, Agricultural Economics Society (2014 - 2017)
  • Member, Advisory Board, EuroChoices (2014 -) 
  • Member, Steering Group, The North East Farming and Rural Advisory Network (2013 – 2019)
  • Member Steering Group, The North East Rural Growth Network (2013 - 2019)
  • CRE Representative Trans-Atlantic Rural Research Network (TARRN) (2009-2013)
  • Associate Editor, Journal of Agricultural Economics (2014 -)
  • Member, Editorial Board, ‘Studies of Agricultural Economics’(2013 -)

Professional Memberships

  • Member of the Agricultural Economics Society (AES)
  • Member of the European Association of Agricultural Economists (EAAE)
  • Member of the International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE)
  • Member of the Animal Welfare Research Network (AWRN)
  • Member of the University Association for Contemporary European Studies (UACES)

Research

Research Interests

  • The economics and political economy of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP); 
  • Food systems
  • Farm Animal Welfare
  • Applied Welfare Economics
  • Comparative country analysis

Other Expertise

  • Consumer behaviour regarding food and animal welfare
  • Innovation and rural businesses
  • The role of knowledge institutions (universities) in engaging with businesses 

Current research projects

Climate Change, New Trade Arrangements and Brazilian Agribusiness: A Sustainable Economy. Funder: the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development and the Foundation for Research Support of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (2020-2025)

Poverty, Citizenship and Environment. Funder: The National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, Brazil (2022-2025)

Completed Research Projects 

EU Horizon 2020 HealthyLivestock (Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance through improved livestock Health & Welfare)’ (2018-2023) It aimed to investigate how to reduce the use of antimicrobials applied by the pig and broiler industry in China and Europe, and the subsequent residues in the food chain and the environment, by improving on-farm animal health and welfare without compromising productivity.

ESRC-IRC UK/Ireland Networking Grants “The UK and Ireland Rural Futures Network: Preparing for social and economic transitions Post Brexit and Covid-19” (2021-2022) This award aimed to encourage networking across sectors and regions to reframe rural research and policy priorities post-Brexit and Covid-19 pandemic.

EU Horizon 2020 Valumics (Understanding food value chains and network dynamics)’ (2017- 2021). It provided decision makers with comprehensive modelling approaches and tools to evaluate the impact of strategic and operational food policies, and enhance the resilience, integrity and sustainability of food value chains.

ERA-NET SusPigSys (Sustainable pig production systems)’ (2017-2021). SusPigSys aimed at collecting, summarising and disseminating evidence-based information on successful strategies for improving sustainability in various pig production systems across the EU

EU Horizon 2020 Strenght2Food (Strengthening European Food Chain Sustainability by Quality and Procurement Policy) (2016-2021). A 5-year project (of €6.9 million) coordinated by Newcastle University. It aimed to improve the effectiveness of EU food quality schemes, public sector food procurement and to stimulate short food supply chains through research, innovation and demonstration activities. It brought together 30-partner consortium representing 11 EU member states and four non-EU countries combining leading academic institutions, communication, SMEs and stakeholder organisations.

Brexit: How might UK Agriculture Thrive or Survive? (2017- 2018). It assessed the economic impacts of a selected number of UK trade and domestic agricultural policy scenarios following Brexit by integrating state of the art economic modelling approaches at macro, sector and farm levels. It provided policy makers and the farming industry with a comprehensive and robust analysis to support future policy development and decision making. Full report available at https://research.ncl.ac.uk/esrcbrexitproject/. Funder: Economic and Social research Council (ESRC)

Adding Value to the Vietnamese Agri-food sector (2015-2017). It aimed to build links between Newcastle University and the University of Economics, Ho Chi Minh City, to investigate how precision farming techniques could be applied more widely and what the current barriers to that are, what opportunities exist for building brands and penetrating international markets, and how the agri-food sector could be helping to build and strengthen the country's economy. Funder British Council Newton Fund

COMPETE (International comparison of product supply chains in the agri-food sectors: determinants of their competitiveness and performance on EU and international markets) (2012-2015). It focused on the evaluation of competitiveness and determinants of competitiveness of various European agri-food supply chains in order to provide better targeted and evidence based policies at both EU and national levels. Funder: European Commission FP7

Collab4Safety (Strengthening cooperation for global food safety research) (2012-2016) - aimed at developing a sustainable coordination platform for exchange of food safety information about research findings, capacity building and policies and facilitate the control and mitigation of existing and emerging food risks. Funder: European Commission FP7

International Research Staff Exchange Scheme: Knowledge and Expertise Exchange Europe – New Zealand (KEEENZ) (2014-2015) - a multidisciplinary exchange programme to promote research collaboration between Europe and New Zealand focused on EU External Relations and Public Diplomacy; Funder: The European Commission and the New Zealand Ministry of Research Science and Technology           

Unlocking Rural Innovation in the North East of England: The Role of Knowledge Institutions. This investigated how Newcastle University engages with rural businesses, and how this engagement may be improved to release innovative potential in rural firms. Funder: The Strategic Development Fund for Research and Innovation, Newcastle University 

EconWelfare (‘Good animal welfare in a socio-economic context: project to promote insights on the impact for the animal, the production chain and society of upgrading animal welfare standards’) (2009-2011); Funder: European Commission FP7 

Rural Businesses, Innovation and Newcastle Science City, (2009 – 2010); Funder: Newcastle University  

Scarled (Structural Change in Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods) (2006 and 2009) Funder: European Commission FP6 

Welfare Quality (‘Integration of animal welfare in the food quality chain: from public concern to improved welfare and transparent quality’) (2004-2009); Funder: European Commission FP6 (team-member)

EDORA (European Development Opportunities in Rural Areas) (2008 – 2010), Funder: ESPON DG Regio 

TIPTAP (Territorial Impact Package for Transport and Agricultural Policies) (2008-2009); Funder: European Commission FP7

Postgraduate Supervision

Since 2007, some 30 MSc students completed successfully their dissertation under my supervision.

Current PhD Supervision 

-        Khalid Ramadan Abdelaziz Medani (2021 – 2025)

- Eleni Hadjigeorgiou (2022-2024)

Past PhD Supervision

Yumi Isaka Kato. ‘Land Transactions in Rural Areas: Comparative Analysis between Scotland and Japan’ (2018 - 2023)

Fathir Fajar Sidiq. ‘Developing Responsible Research and Innovation Framework: Promoting Sago for Local Food Security in West Papua, Indonesia ‘ (2018 - 2023)

Essien Antia-Obong (2014 - ) "Market participation under import ban: policy implications for smallholder poultry farmers in Nigeria" 

Moses Chukwu (2014 -) "Estimating the potential of herbaceous feedstocks for cellulosic ethanol production in Nigeria"

Yong Jung: "Impacts of rural development policy on farm households in South Korea" (2013 - 2016)

Namgeun Song: “The Dynamics, Process and Pitfalls of Policy Transfer/Learning: Comparative Study of Partnerships Based on Leader Approach in the UK and South Korea” (2009-2012)

 

 


Teaching

 

Undergraduate Teaching

Module Leader:

  • NES1201 'Economics for Business" (2015 - )
  • NES2102 'Agricultural Economics and Policy'
  • ACE3000 'Globalisation: Patterns, Processes and Challenges' (2017 - 2022) 
  • ACE3099 ‘Agribusiness Management Dissertation, BSc Degree Programme in Agribusiness Management (2014 - 2016)

Contributing teaching to:

  •  ‘Qualitative Techniques’ module (2011 – 2013), BSc in Rural Social Science Research
  •  ‘Sustainable Development” module, BSc Joint Honour ‘Economics and Mathematics’


Postgraduate Teaching


  • Contributing teaching to ACE8100 'Food Security: Societal, Policy and Regulatory Changes' (2015 - )
  • Contributing teaching to ACE8111 'Research methods for Food Policy' (2015 - )

Module Leader (2012-2015)

  • 'People in the System’, Royal Veterinary College (within the BBSRC Advanced Training Partnership)  

Module Leader (2007-2009)

  • ACE8001 Research Methods and Project Management
  • ACE8036 Participation and Rural Development

Contributing teaching to ‘Dissertation Planning’ module (2010-2013), for MSc in Advanced Food Marketing 


Publications