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Cambridge Global Food Security

An Interdisciplinary Research Centre at the University of Cambridge
 

Professor Rachael Garrett

Professor Garrett's research examines the drivers and impacts of land change, primarily in forest landscapes, and the effectiveness and equity of forest conservation and sustainable agriculture policies and practices. She works closely with farmers and national agriculture and forestry agencies. Her research spans Brazil, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Indonesia, Switzerland, and the Republic of Georgia.

Career

Cambridge University

  • 2022-Present Moran Professor of Conservation and Development, Department of Geography & Cambridge Conservation Initiative

ETH Zürich

  • 2019-Present Assistant Professor and Chair of the Environmental Policy Lab, Departments of Humanities, Social and Political Science and Environmental System Science (dual appointment) [Part time since October 2022]
  • 2020-2022 Executive Committee, Institute for Science Technology and Policy
  • 2019-2022 Member, Institute for Environmental Decisions, Institute for Science Technology and Policy, Plant Science Center, World Food System Center, ETH 4 Development, Center for International and Comparative Studies

Boston University

  • 2018-2019 Associate Director, Land Use and Livelihoods Initiative, Global Development Center
  • 2015-2019 Assistant Professor – Human Dimensions of Global Change, Department of Earth and Environment; Faculty Associate, Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer Range Future; Core Faculty, Center for Latin American Studies

Harvard University

  • 2013-2015 Giorgio Ruffolo Postdoctoral Fellow in Sustainability Science, J.F.K School of Government,

Education

Ph.D. Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources (E-IPER), Stanford University (2013)

M.P.A. Environmental Science and Policy, Columbia University (2006)

B. A. History and Environmental Analysis and Policy (dual major), Boston University (2003) *Magna Cum Laude, Honors Program, Graduated in three years

Awards & recognitions

2021

    • International Geneva Award from the Swiss Network for International Studies for best paper in International Studies that has high relevance to International Organizations
    • Academic Advisory Council Member, United Nations Forum on Sustainable Standards
    • Advisory Council Member, Transparency for Sustainable Economies Initiative, Stockholm Environment Institute
    • Research Council Member, Evidensia, an organization that works to provide credible evidence on supply chain initiatives

2020

    • Awarded an ERC Starting Grant – FORESTPOLICY
    • Science Panel Member, United Nations Science Panel for the Amazon
    • Scientific Steering Committee, Global Land Programme
    • IOP Trusted Reviewer Award (top 15% of reviews at IOP)

2018

    • Second authored article selected for Environmental Research Letters’: i) Featured Articles and ii) IOP Select.

2015

    • Pathways to Prosperity Paper Award, FLARE (Forest and Livelihoods) Network
    • Nominated for the Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research, Rockefeller Foundation

2014

    • Fulbright NEXUS Regional Scholar, U.S. Department of State2015
    • Science Engineering and Education for Sustainability Postdoctoral Fellowship, NSF

2013

    • First authored article selected for Environmental Research Letters’: i) Annual Highlights, ii) Featured Articles, and iii) IOP Select.

2011

    • Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fellowship, Stanford University
    • School of Earth Science Excellence in Mentoring Award, Stanford University

2009

    • Richard L. Kauffman and Ellen Jewett Fellowship, Stanford University

2003

    • Franklin C. Erickson Prize for Excellence in Geography, Boston University

2000

    • Presidential Scholarship, Boston University

Grants

Awarded >4 million GBP to date.

Ongoing work

  • ERA-NET + EJP Co-fund scheme Biodiversa – Sustainable sourcing policies for biodiversity protection, climate mitigation, and improved livelihoods in the cocoa sector (PI, Coordinator)
  • ERC Starting Grant – Identifying the conditions under which forest-focused supply chain policies lead to improved conservation and livelihoods: a pan-tropical analysis (PI)
  • ETH Grant – Novel cattle detection for improved assessment of drivers and impacts of pasture intensification in South America (PI)
  • SNF Project Grant – Assessing the effectiveness and equity of zero-deforestation commitment implementation in the palm oil sector (PI)
  • ERC Marie Curie Program > ETH Plant Science Center Response – Developing climate ready apple production systems in Switzerland (PI)

Publications

Key publications: 

Journal articles

2023

  • Hänggli, A., Levy, S.A., Armenteras, D., Bovolo, C.I., Brandão, J., Rueda, X. and Garrett, R.D., 2023. A systematic comparison of deforestation drivers and policy effectiveness across the Amazon biome. Environmental Research Letters, v. 18, p.073001-. doi:10.1088/1748-9326/acd408.
  • Kalischek, N., Lang, N., Renier, C., Daudt, R.C., Addoah, T., Thompson, W., Blaser-Hart, W.J., Garrett, R., Schindler, K. and Wegner, J.D., 2023. Cocoa plantations are associated with deforestation in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. Nature Food, v. 4, p.384-393. doi:10.1038/s43016-023-00751-8.
  • Levy, S.A., Cammelli, F., Munger, J., Gibbs, H.K. and Garrett, R.D., 2023. Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon could be halved by scaling up the implementation of zero-deforestation cattle commitments. Global Environmental Change, v. 80, p.102671-. doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2023.102671.
  • Llopis, J.C., Haddaway, N.R., Omirbek, N., Simmons, B.A., Garrett, R. and Jones, J.P.G., 2023. Evidence of anticipatory forest use behaviours under policy introduction: a systematic map protocol. Environmental Evidence, v. 12, p.20-. doi:10.1186/s13750-023-00307-0.
  • Löfqvist, S., Garrett, R.D. and Ghazoul, J., 2023. Incentives and barriers to private finance for forest and landscape restoration. Nature Ecology & Evolution, v. 7, p.707-715. doi:10.1038/s41559-023-02037-5.
  • Löfqvist, S., Kleinschroth, F., Bey, A., de Bremond, A., DeFries, R., Dong, J., Fleischman, F., Lele, S., Martin, D.A., Messerli, P., Meyfroidt, P., Pfeifer, M., Rakotonarivo, S.O., Ramankutty, N., Ramprasad, V., Rana, P., Rhemtulla, J.M., Ryan, C.M., Vieira, I.C.G., Wells, G.J. and Garrett, R.D., 2023. How Social Considerations Improve the Equity and Effectiveness of Ecosystem Restoration. BioScience, v. 73, p.134-148. doi:10.1093/biosci/biac099.
  • Skydan, O., Dankevych, V., Garrett, R.D. and Nimko, O., 2023. The state of the agricultural sector in Ukraine during wartime: The case of farmers. Scientific Horizons, v. 26, doi:10.48077/scihor6.2023.134.

2022

  • Cammelli, F., Levy, S.A., Grabs, J., Valentim, J.F. and Garrett, R.D., 2022. Effectiveness-equity tradeoffs in enforcing exclusionary supply chain policies: Lessons from the Amazonian cattle sector. Journal of Cleaner Production, v. 332, p.130031-. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.130031.
  • Meyfroidt, P., de Bremond, A., Ryan, C.M., Archer, E., Aspinall, R., Chhabra, A., Camara, G., Corbera, E., DeFries, R., Díaz, S., Dong, J., Ellis, E.C., Erb, K.-.H., Fisher, J.A., Garrett, R.D., Golubiewski, N.E., Grau, H.R., Grove, J.M., Haberl, H., Heinimann, A., Hostert, P., Jobbágy, E.G., Kerr, S., Kuemmerle, T., Lambin, E.F., Lavorel, S., Lele, S., Mertz, O., Messerli, P., Metternicht, G., Munroe, D.K., Nagendra, H., Nielsen, J.Ø., Ojima, D.S., Parker, D.C., Pascual, U., Porter, J.R., Ramankutty, N., Reenberg, A., Roy Chowdhury, R., Seto, K.C., Seufert, V., Shibata, H., Thomson, A., Turner, B.L., Urabe, J., Veldkamp, T., Verburg, P.H., Zeleke, G. and Zu Ermgassen, E.K.H.J., 2022. Ten facts about land systems for sustainability. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, v. 119, p.e2109217118-. doi:10.1073/pnas.2109217118.
  • Pendrill, F., Gardner, T.A., Meyfroidt, P., Persson, U.M., Adams, J., Azevedo, T., Bastos Lima, M.G., Baumann, M., Curtis, P.G., De Sy, V., Garrett, R., Godar, J., Goldman, E.D., Hansen, M.C., Heilmayr, R., Herold, M., Kuemmerle, T., Lathuillière, M.J., Ribeiro, V., Tyukavina, A., Weisse, M.J. and West, C., 2022. Disentangling the numbers behind agriculture-driven tropical deforestation. Science, v. 377, p.eabm9267-. doi:10.1126/science.abm9267.
  • Villoria, N., Garrett, R., Gollnow, F. and Carlson, K., 2022. Leakage does not fully offset soy supply-chain efforts to reduce deforestation in Brazil. Nature Communications, v. 13, p.5476-. doi:10.1038/s41467-022-33213-z.
  • W.J, T., W.J, B.-.H., J, J., P, K., E, D., B, K., E., C., R.D, G. and J, S., 2022. Can sustainability certification enhance the climate resilience of smallholder farmers? The case of Ghanaian cocoa. Journal of Land Use Science, v. 17, p.407-428. doi:10.1080/1747423x.2022.2097455.

2021

  • de Waroux, Y.L.P., Garrett, R.D., Chapman, M., Friis, C., Hoelle, J., Hodel, L., Hopping, K. and Zaehringer, J.G., 2021. The role of culture in land system science. Journal of Land Use Science, v. 16, p.450-466. doi:10.1080/1747423x.2021.1950229.
  • Garrett, R.D., Levy, S.A., Gollnow, F., Hodel, L. and Rueda, X., 2021. Have food supply chain policies improved forest conservation and rural livelihoods? A systematic review. Environmental Research Letters, v. 16, p.033002-. doi:10.1088/1748-9326/abe0ed.

2020

  • Cammelli, F., Garrett, R.D., Barlow, J. and Parry, L., 2020. Fire risk perpetuates poverty and fire use among Amazonian smallholders. Global Environmental Change, v. 63, p.102096-. doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2020.102096.
  • dos Reis, J.C., Kamoi, M.Y.T., Latorraca, D., Chen, R.F.F., Michetti, M., Wruck, F.J., Garrett, R.D., Valentim, J.F., Rodrigues, R.D.A.R. and Rodrigues-Filho, S., 2020. Assessing the economic viability of integrated crop−livestock systems in Mato Grosso, Brazil. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, v. 35, p.631-642. doi:10.1017/s1742170519000280.
  • Ermgassen, E.K.H.J.Z., Ayre, B., Godar, J., Lima, M.G.B., Bauch, S., Garrett, R., Green, J., Lathuillire, M.J., Lfgren, P., MacFarquhar, C., Meyfroidt, P., Suavet, C., West, C. and Gardner, T., 2020. Using supply chain data to monitor zero deforestation commitments: an assessment of progress in the Brazilian soy sector. Environmental Research Letters, v. 15, p.035003-. doi:10.1088/1748-9326/ab6497.
  • Garrett, R., Ryschawy, J., Bell, L., Cortner, O., Ferreira, J., Garik, A.V., Gil, J., Klerkx, L., Moraine, M., Peterson, C., dos Reis, J.C. and Valentim, J., 2020. Drivers of decoupling and recoupling of crop and livestock systems at farm and territorial scales. Ecology and Society, v. 25, doi:10.5751/es-11412-250124.
  • Koh, I., Garrett, R., Janetos, A. and Mueller, N.D., 2020. Climate risks to Brazilian coffee production. Environmental Research Letters, v. 15, p.104015-. doi:10.1088/1748-9326/aba471.
  • Leal, C.G., Lennox, G.D., Ferraz, S.F.B., Ferreira, J., Gardner, T.A., Thomson, J.R., Berenguer, E., Lees, A.C., Hughes, R.M., Mac Nally, R., Aragão, L.E.O.C., de Brito, J.G., Castello, L., Garrett, R.D., Hamada, N., Juen, L., Leitão, R.P., Louzada, J., Morello, T.F., Moura, N.G., Nessimian, J.L., Oliveira-Junior, J.M.B., Oliveira, V.H.F., de Oliveira, V.C., Parry, L., Pompeu, P.S., Solar, R.R.C., Zuanon, J. and Barlow, J., 2020. Integrated terrestrial-freshwater planning doubles conservation of tropical aquatic species. Science, v. 370, p.117-121. doi:10.1126/science.aba7580.
  • Meyfroidt, P., Brner, J., Garrett, R., Gardner, T., Godar, J., Kis-Katos, K., Soares-Filho, B.S. and Wunder, S., 2020. Focus on leakage and spillovers: informing land-use governance in a tele-coupled world. Environmental Research Letters, v. 15, p.090202-. doi:10.1088/1748-9326/ab7397.

2019

  • Cortner, O., Garrett, R.D., Valentim, J.F., Ferreira, J., Niles, M.T., Reis, J. and Gil, J., 2019. Perceptions of integrated crop-livestock systems for sustainable intensification in the Brazilian Amazon. Land Use Policy, v. 82, p.841-853. doi:10.1016/j.landusepol.2019.01.006.
  • de Waroux, Y.L.P., Garrett, R.D., Graesser, J., Nolte, C., White, C. and Lambin, E.F., 2019. The Restructuring of South American Soy and Beef Production and Trade Under Changing Environmental Regulations. World Development, v. 121, p.188-202. doi:10.1016/j.worlddev.2017.05.034.
  • Gardner, C.D., Hartle, J.C., Garrett, R.D., Offringa, L.C. and Wasserman, A.S., 2019. Maximizing the intersection of human health and the health of the environment with regard to the amount and type of protein produced and consumed in the United States. Nutrition Reviews, v. 77, p.197-215. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuy073.
  • Gardner, T.A., Benzie, M., Börner, J., Dawkins, E., Fick, S., Garrett, R., Godar, J., Grimard, A., Lake, S., Larsen, R.K., Mardas, N., McDermott, C.L., Meyfroidt, P., Osbeck, M., Persson, M., Sembres, T., Suavet, C., Strassburg, B., Trevisan, A., West, C. and Wolvekamp, P., 2019. Transparency and sustainability in global commodity supply chains. World Development, v. 121, p.163-177. doi:10.1016/j.worlddev.2018.05.025.
  • Garrett, R.D., Levy, S., Carlson, K.M., Gardner, T.A., Godar, J., Clapp, J., Dauvergne, P., Heilmayr, R., de Waroux, Y.L.P., Ayre, B., Barr, R., Døvre, B., Gibbs, H.K., Hall, S., Lake, S., Milder, J.C., Rausch, L.L., Rivero, R., Rueda, X., Sarsfield, R., Soares-Filho, B. and Villoria, N., 2019. Criteria for effective zero-deforestation commitments. Global Environmental Change, v. 54, p.135-147. doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2018.11.003.

2018

  • Carlson, A.K., Zaehringer, J.G., Garrett, R.D., Silva, R.F.B., Furumo, P.R., Rey, A.N.R., Torres, A., Chung, M.G., Li, Y. and Liu, J., 2018. Toward Rigorous Telecoupling Causal Attribution: A Systematic Review and Typology. Sustainability, v. 10, p.4426-. doi:10.3390/su10124426.
  • Garrett, R.D., Koh, I., Lambin, E.F., de Waroux, Y.L.P., Kastens, J.H. and Brown, J.C., 2018. Intensification in agriculture-forest frontiers: Land use responses to development and conservation policies in Brazil. Global Environmental Change, v. 53, p.233-243. doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2018.09.011.
  • Gil, J.D.B., Garrett, R.D., Rotz, A., Daioglou, V., Valentim, J., Pires, G.F., Costa, M.H., Lopes, L. and Reis, J.C., 2018. Tradeoffs in the quest for climate smart agricultural intensification in Mato Grosso, Brazil. Environmental Research Letters, v. 13, p.064025-. doi:10.1088/1748-9326/aac4d1.
  • Hayek, M.N. and Garrett, R.D., 2018. Nationwide shift to grass-fed beef requires larger cattle population. Environmental Research Letters, v. 13, p.084005-. doi:10.1088/1748-9326/aad401.
  • Lambin, E.F., Gibbs, H.K., Heilmayr, R., Carlson, K.M., Fleck, L.C., Garrett, R.D., le Polain de Waroux, Y., McDermott, C.L., McLaughlin, D., Newton, P., Nolte, C., Pacheco, P., Rausch, L.L., Streck, C., Thorlakson, T. and Walker, N.F., 2018. The role of supply-chain initiatives in reducing deforestation. Nature Climate Change, v. 8, p.109-116. doi:10.1038/s41558-017-0061-1.
  • Meyfroidt, P., Chowdhury, R.R., de Bremond, A., Ellis, E.C., Erb, K.-.H., Filatova, T., Garrett, R.D., Grove, J.M., Heinimann, A., Kuemmerle, T., Kull, C.A., Lambin, E.F., Landon, Y., de Waroux, Y.L.P., Messerli, P., Müller, D., Nielsen, J.Ø., Peterson, G.D., García, V.R., Schlüter, M., Turner, B.L. and Verburg, P.H., 2018. Middle-range theories of land system change. Global Environmental Change, v. 53, p.52-67. doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2018.08.006.
  • Niles, M.T., Garrett, R.D. and Walsh, D., 2018. Ecological and economic benefits of integrating sheep into viticulture production. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, v. 38, p.1-. doi:10.1007/s13593-017-0478-y.

Book chapters

  • Costa, F.D.A., Schmink, M., Hecht, S., Assad, E.D., Humphreys Bebbington, D., Brondizio, E.S., Fearnside, P., Garrett, R., Heilpern, S., McGrath, D., Oliveira, G. and Pereira, H., 2022. Capítulo 15: Sistemas de subsistencia y agronegocios complejos, diversos y cambiantes en la Amazonía, in Informe de evaluación de Amazonía 2021, SDSN Association. doi:10.55161/rqvu5898.
  • Hecht, S., Schmink, M., Abers, R., Assad, E.D., Humphreys Bebbington, D., Brondizio, E.S., Costa, F.D.A., Durán Calisto, A.M., Fearnside, P., Garrett, R., Heilpern, S., McGrath, D., Oliveira, G., Pereira, H. and Pinedo-Vazquez, M., 2022. Capítulo 14: La Amazonía en movimiento: Políticas cambiantes, estrategias de desarrollo, pueblos, paisajes y medios de subsistencia, in Informe de evaluación de Amazonía 2021, SDSN Association. doi:10.55161/tocr6947.
  • de Assis Costa, F., Schmink, M., Hecht, S., Assad, E.D., Humphreys Bebbington, D., Brondizio, E.S., Fearnside, P., Garrett, R., Heilpern, S., McGrath, D., Oliveira, G. and Pereira, H., 2021. Chapter 15: Complex, diverse, and changing agribusiness and livelihood systems in the Amazon, in Amazon Assessment Report 2021, SDSN Association. doi:10.55161/cgap7652.
Other publications: 
  • Gollnow, F., Cammelli, F., Carlson, K.M. and Garrett, R.D., 2022. Gaps in adoption and implementation limit the current and potential effectiveness of zero-deforestation supply chain policies for soy. Environmental Research Letters, v. 17, p.114003-. doi:10.1088/1748-9326/ac97f6.
Moran Professor of Conservation and Development, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge
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