Intensive Animal Agriculture is on the rise in the UK with a 20% increase in these facilities between 2016 and 2023. We believe this is a very troubling development and are concerned about the impact that these facilities have on animal wellbeing, the environment and the people who work in these facilities, as well as the local communities. TAAP, in conjunction with Sustain, have spent a significant amount of time reviewing and objecting to planning applications for intensive animal agriculture. The rationale for this approach was that if we could avoid such facilities being built we may avoid these downstream impacts on animals, the environment and workers. This is however a piecemeal approach and the reality is that for widespread, lasting change we need to consider how we can adapt our food systems. We recognise that the food industry is central to many people’s lives and livelihoods - this is why it is essential that we seek a fair way to transition out of intensive animal agriculture and associated industries. For this reason we consider it is important to shift our focus to Just Transition. Before working on a long term plan we want to have an understanding of the literature that is out there and successful initiatives in this area.

 

STUDY OUTLINE

We are looking for someone to undertake a literature review into Just Transition with a specific focus on transition out of intensive animal agriculture. We require the following issues to be canvassed as part of this review:

● How intensive animal agriculture is organised within the UK from farm to product i.e. the organisational models of operation to detail broadly who owns the farms, the animals, the role of agribusiness and supermarkets.

● Some consideration of direct and indirect funding for intensive animal agriculture would also be helpful

● Who is involved in Just Transition - “just” for whom/ what?

● Critiques and arguments in favour of Just Transition - particularly in relation to intensive animal agriculture

● Studies considering how Just Transition can be approached in intensive animal agriculture - or if there is a lack of information in this area approaches in other areas that can be adapted for intensive animal agriculture. These examples can come from both the UK and internationally - although if international we would ask that any data that is country specific is made clear in the report

● Any case studies that demonstrate a successful transition out of the industry - ideally this would include intensive animal agriculture but examples from other food production industries that can be applied to intensive animal agriculture would be suitable as well

 

CONDITIONS OF WORK/PAY/PROJECT LENGTH

 

This work would be undertaken on a fixed contract basis. You would not be an employee of TAAP. You would be responsible for paying your own tax. You would determine your own hours (within the guidelines prescribed below) and place of work. We ask for a fortnightly progress update.

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We have £5,000 of funding available for this project. This has been calculated on the basis of a gross hourly payment of £40p/h for 125 hours. We would require that this work be carried out over an 8 - 12 week period - approximately 10- 15 hours of work per week. We have designed it in this way to enable any current doctoral candidates or post grads to undertake this research alongside their current studies/work. We are open to considering a slightly longer time period if needed - if this is required please detail why and how much longer is needed.

Payment will be made monthly with a final instalment upon provision of a report completed to TAAP’s satisfaction i.e. 2 month contract = £2000 (month 1) £2000 (month 2) and then £1000 on provision of a satisfactorily completed report.

We do not have a specific word count for the finished project. We require that the study outline be covered in sufficient detail that we can undertake the next stages of our project - the length should Reflect this. But this is a matter that can be discussed throughout the project.

We are more than happy for this work to be used as the basis for an article for publication. Our intention is to make this literature review public - but if necessary we are prepared to wait to publicise the research

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APPLICANT ATTRIBUTES

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Ideally we are looking for current doctoral researchers or post doctoral researchers who have research experience in Just Transition. We are however open to considering those who have a masters or relevant experience that would make them suitable to prepare this report. It is essential however that this report is based on peer reviewed research and that the applicant has access to these databases - hence why we are happy for a successful applicant to seek publication of this
research. It is for the applicant to ensure any institution providing access to these databases is aware of, and consents to, this arrangement.

 

HOW TO APPLY

Please send an email to mstrauss@taaproject.org briefly outlining your experience and why you would like to undertake the project, together with a current CV. Depending on the number of applicants we may simply select a candidate on the basis of the written applications, or it may be necessary to have brief interviews. We will let applicants know how we have decided to proceed.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Michelle on mstrauss@taaproject.org