GEOFF TANSEY

WRITER AND CONSULTANT

Photo: Jim Moran, Yorkshire Post

 

E-mail: geoff.tansey@jrct.org.uk
Welcome! From 2006-2010, I am working for a fair and sustainable food system as a Joseph Rowntree Visionary for a Just and Peaceful World.

Rewriting the Rules…to secure our future food
I gave this keynote address at the UK Food Group conference on 28th Sept 2009.

I also spoke at the WTO Forum in Geneva on 30th Sept 2009 in the session on Intellectual Property, Sustainability and the Food System: Trends and New Directions. Audio available

An unwelcome journey with prostate cancer
My activities have been disrupted by an early prostate cancer diagnosis in April 2008 and subsequent treatment (removal of prostate), period off work and then re-engagement over the first part of 2009. It lead me to a more personal investigation into the links between diet and cancer, some of which was broadcast on the BBC Food Programme in June 09. For more details click here

BBC FOOD AWARD
On Wednesday, 26th November 2008 I was delighted to receive the Derek Cooper Award for best food campaigner/educator at the ninth BBC Radio 4 Food and Farming Awards at the NEC, Birmingham (see special edition of the Radio 4's Food programme (28th November) and report on the Hebden Bridge Web.

Latest book wins Derek Cooper Award in Guild of Food Writers Awards 2009

The Future Control of Food: A Guide to International Negotiations and Rules on Intellectual Property, Biodiversity and Food Security

'A comprehensive and outstanding analysis.' Keith E. Maskus, Professor of Economics, University of Colorado at Boulder

'There is not a policymaker on this planet who should not read this book. This is the best single summary of the political choices facing food and agriculture policymakers that has been written in this decade.' Pat Mooney, Executive Director of the ETC Group

Book launch events

For more endorsements and to order click here

See press release (pdf)

I have worked on food, agriculture and development issues since the mid-1970s, after graduating with a BSc in Soil Science (1972) and MSc in History and Social Studies of Science (1975). In 1975, I helped found and edit the journal Food Policy, later worked on various agricultural development projects in Turkey, Mongolia, Albania and Kazakstan and was lead author of The Food System - a guide.

I have been a freelance writer, consultant, and occasional broadcaster, since the early 1980s. I have contributed features to many newspapers and magazines, various journals and books as well as written and edited a range of books.

Intellectual property
Graphic: Mike Barrett, Frogs Graphic Design

Since the late 1990s, I have worked on the impact of changing global rules on patents and other forms of intellectual property, on food, biodiversity, health and development. This has included consultancy with the UK Department for International Development, the Directorate-General for Trade of the European Commission and the Quaker International Affairs Programme (QIAP), Ottawa and Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) in Geneva.

My voluntary work includes membership of the Food Ethics Council since 2000, chairing the Food Policy Committee of the Guild of Food Writers, April 2000-April 2002, and The Food Network (formerly the Northern Food Network) from 1995 - 2000. I was co-convenor of the Conflict and Security Study Group of the Development Studies Association, 1990 - 98 and Honorary Campaigns Consultant, World Development Movement, 1989 - 94.