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Benjamin Neimark

Senior Lecturer, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University
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 and bio-economy. My particular geographical foci include the African countries of Madagascar, Mozambique, and Mali, although I am a lead-initiator of a global political ecology network (POLLEN). These specific countries make up a unique spectrum of biodiversity and constitute a social mosaic of urban/rural livelihoods where I study international development, labour and commodity chain analysis. I am involved in two new research projects exploring the uneven development of land-grabbing for biofuels in Madagascar and Brazilian agribusiness in Mozambique.

My previous research focuses on bioprospecting on Madagascar. Bioprospecting involves search for, and commercialization of, useful natural compounds for new pharmaceutical and industrial products. Also in Madagascar, 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.

Climate Change Series

How to assess the carbon footprint of a war

Dec 13, 2023 08:16 am UTC| Economy

We know that war is bad for the environment, with toxic chemicals left polluting the soil and water for decades after fighting ceases. Much less obvious are the carbon emissions from armed conflicts and their long-term...

Greenwashing: corporate tree planting generates goodwill but may sometimes harm the planet

Sep 27, 2018 16:03 pm UTC| Insights & Views Economy

Trees do a lot more for us than you probably think. Their roots prevent soil from eroding, their canopies provide shade and their leaves decompose into nutrients for crops, which feed livestock. Trees provide homes for a...

Economy

US Launches New Trade Investigation Into Vietnam Over Intellectual Property Concerns

The United States has initiated a new trade investigation into Vietnams handling of intellectual property (IP) rights, a move that could eventually lead to additional tariffs on Vietnamese imports. The investigation,...

US Dollar Slips as Markets Weigh Potential US-Iran Peace Deal and Oil Price Outlook

The U.S. dollar weakened slightly on Friday as investor confidence improved following comments from President Donald Trump regarding a possible peace agreement between the United States and Iran. The prospect of easing...

Asian Currencies Steady as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Extension Hopes Weigh on Dollar

Asian currencies traded in a narrow range on Friday while the U.S. dollar remained largely unchanged, as investors assessed reports suggesting the United States and Iran are close to extending their ceasefire agreement....

Asian Stocks Rally as AI Boom and Iran Ceasefire Progress Lift Market Sentiment

Asian stock markets posted strong gains on Friday, supported by a global technology rally and growing optimism surrounding a potential extension of the ceasefire between the United States and Iran. Investor confidence...

Tokyo Inflation Cools in May, Supporting BOJ’s Cautious Rate Hike Path

Tokyo consumer inflation slowed in May, reinforcing expectations that the Bank of Japan (BOJ) will continue taking a measured approach to monetary policy tightening as inflationary pressures remain moderate. According to...

Politics

US Southern Command Chief Holds Rare Military Meeting With Cuban Officials at Guantanamo Bay

A rare high-level military meeting between the United States and Cuba took place at the perimeter of the U.S. Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay, marking a significant development in U.S.-Cuba relations amid growing...

Trump Nears Decision on Iran Ceasefire Extension as Key Disputes Remain

U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that he is close to making a final decision on a proposed agreement to extend the current ceasefire with Iran, although major disagreements between Washington and Tehran continue to...

Trump Signs Executive Order to Expand Access to Federal Lands in the U.S.

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday aimed at removing restrictions that limit access to federal lands across the United States, according to a statement from the White House. The move is part of...

Netanyahu Gaza Expansion Plan Sparks Hamas Condemnation and International Concern

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus announcement that Israel plans to expand its area of control in Gaza has drawn strong criticism from Hamas, European governments, and residents of the Palestinian territory. The...

Russia Prepares New Large-Scale Attack on Ukraine, Zelenskiy Warns

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has warned that Russia is preparing a major new attack on Ukraine, citing intelligence reports that indicate plans for a large-scale military strike. The announcement comes as...

Science

Blue Origin New Glenn Rocket Explodes During Launch Pad Test, Delaying Space Ambitions

Blue Origin suffered a major setback after its uncrewed New Glenn rocket exploded during a launch pad test in Florida on Thursday, raising new challenges for Jeff Bezos space company as it competes with Elon Musks SpaceX...

SpaceX Delays Starship V3 Launch Ahead of Potential Record IPO

SpaceX on Thursday postponed the highly anticipated launch of its 12th Starship rocket test from Texas after technical issues interrupted the final countdown. The company now plans to attempt the Starship V3 launch again...

Trump Administration Releases New UFO Files and Apollo Mission Records

The U.S. Defense Department has released dozens of previously classified UFO-related files following an order from President Donald Trump, sparking renewed debate over unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) and government...

China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030

The space race is back and this time, its a direct competition between the United States and China for dominance on the lunar surface. NASAs Artemis II mission recently made history when four astronauts flew farther into...

NASA Artemis II: First Crewed Moon Mission Since Apollo Takes Four Astronauts on 10-Day Lunar Journey

NASAs Artemis II mission launched Wednesday, marking humanitys return to crewed lunar exploration for the first time since the Apollo era. Carrying four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft, this historic 10-day mission...

Technology

Kentucky School District Secures $27 Million in Social Media Addiction Lawsuit Settlements

A Kentucky school district has secured nearly $27 million in settlements from major social media companies over allegations that their platforms contributed to a growing student mental health crisis. The financial details,...

MongoDB Q1 FY2027 Earnings Beat Expectations, Raises Full-Year Outlook

MongoDB (NASDAQ: MDB) delivered stronger-than-expected first-quarter fiscal 2027 results, fueled by growing demand for its database platform among enterprises and organizations developing artificial intelligence...

SpaceX IPO Could Become Largest in History with $1.8 Trillion Valuation Target

Elon Musks SpaceX is reportedly moving forward with plans for a historic initial public offering (IPO), targeting a valuation of at least $1.8 trillion. According to a Bloomberg News report citing sources familiar with the...

Autodesk Beats Q1 Estimates, Acquires MaintainX for $3.6 Billion

Autodesk (NASDAQ: ADSK) reported stronger-than-expected financial results for its fiscal first quarter and announced a major $3.6 billion acquisition of MaintainX, a move that strengthens its position in AI-powered...

US Quantum Stocks Surge After $2 Billion Government Investment

The U.S. Department of Commerce has sparked major excitement across the technology and financial sectors after announcing plans to invest $2 billion into quantum computing and advanced hardware companies through the CHIPS...