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Elise Wach
Researcher, Facilitator, Food Grower
Elise Wach is a Research Advisor at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) with over 15 years of experience in agriculture, ecology, social movements, and development.1 She is part of the Resource Politics and Environmental Change research cluster at IDS, where she focuses on food systems and their transformation towards more ecological and socially just models.24
Professional Background
Elise Wach's expertise spans several areas:
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Thematic Expertise: Food systems, political ecology, agroecology, food sovereignty, sustainable agriculture, food and agricultural policy, land reform, land rights, and participatory approaches.1
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Geographical Experience: Her work has covered various regions, including the UK (particularly England and Scotland), East Africa (Kenya, South Sudan, Ethiopia), Central America (Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica), and parts of Asia (Bangladesh, Myanmar, Indonesia).1
Education and Research
Wach holds a doctoral degree from the Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience, where her research focused on the political ecology of food systems in the Scottish uplands, examining the transition from pre-capitalist society to the present land reform movement.1
Current Work
As a Research Advisor at IDS, Elise Wach:
- Conducts research on food systems and their transformation
- Teaches and supervises MA students
- Raises funds and manages projects
- Facilitates participatory processes with food producers, civil society organizations, and governmental bodies13
Publications
Wach has contributed to various publications, including:
- Co-authoring a book chapter on the transformative potential of agroecological farmers in Nicaragua and England
- Writing about seed sovereignty and inequality in small-scale farming
- Publishing articles on business, state, and society in development contexts1
Personal Interests
Beyond her professional work, Elise Wach is also a food grower, demonstrating a practical commitment to the field she researches.35 She is active on social media, where she discusses topics such as food systems, agroecology, and transitions from capitalism.5
