Stefanie Lemke

PD Dr. Stefanie Lemke previously worked at the Department Gender and Nutrition, Institute for Social Sciences in Agriculture, University of Hohenheim (Acting Chair 2013-2015), the Centre for Development and Environmental Research, Justus-Liebig University Giessen (2003-2008), and was a Visiting Research Fellow at the Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research, North West University, South Africa (1997-2000, 2004-2007). Stefanie further worked for various German civil service organisations, among others on livelihood strategies of smallholder farmers; healthy nutrition and lifestyle of individuals and communities; nutrition and consumer protection in the new German States after the fall of the Berlin wall.

Stefanie engages with academic and civil society partners in South, West and East Africa, South America, the United States, and Europe. She is a member of the Task Force on Traditional, Indigenous and Cultural Foods, International Union of Nutrition Sciences (IUNS); the Gender Nutrition Rights research group (a collaboration of Syracuse University, University of Hohenheim, FIAN International and Geneva Infant Feeding Association); and the expert group “Introducing the Right to Adequate Food in University Curricula” (hosted by Heinrich Boell Foundation).

Gender, nutrition and right to adequate food; sustainable livelihoods; sustainable diets and local food systems; structural causes of food and nutrition insecurity; qualitative, participatory, transdisciplinary, rights-based and gendered approaches

My research interests stem from academic work in nutrition and social sciences and my experience as nutrition consultant. Under- and malnutrition pose huge challenges, with an increasing global prevalence of overweight. Working towards achieving more equitable and sustainable food systems requires a critical examination of the structural conditions that shape individuals’ and communities’ food and nutrition security, livelihoods, well-being, gender and other intra-household dynamics. By applying inter- and transdisciplinary research and an actor-oriented approach I aim to promote democratic food governance and influence public policy, with emphasis on people’s capacities to overcome barriers in participation and so gaining greater voice.