shenson
Spencer Henson
Spencer Henson is a Full Professor in the Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics (FARE).
He is also an Adjunct Faculty members in the Guelph Institute of Development Studies (GIDS).
Spencer Henson serves as Editor-in-Chief of the European Journal of Development Research (EJDR) and is an editor of the journal Global Food Security.
Currently, he is serving as a member of the expert Advisory Committee for Social Science of the UK Food Standards Agency.
Academic History
BSc (University of Reading), Food Science, Economics and Marketing.
MSc (University of Reading), Food Economics.
PhD (University of Reading), Food Economics.
Research Impact
Research interests focus on the economics of food safety and quality and Nutrition, with a focus on both developing and industrialized countries. Spencer Henson has undertaken research in over 70 countries, although the major geographical focus of his research work currently is sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Canada. He also has an interested in public understandings of international development and support for aid in industrialized countries.
Through his research work, Spencer Henson, has collaborated with a number of international agencies including the World Bank, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), World Trade Organization (WTO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Health Organization and numerous international non-governmental organizations (INGOs). He is consulted by these organizations frequently on issues relating to the economics of food safety and quality, and nutrition.
Current research projects focus on:
1) Impact of food safety regulations on the trade performance of developing countries.
2) Economics of quality infrastructure in developing countries.
3) Prioritization of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS capacity-building in developing countries.
4) Public support for international development in industrialized countries.
5) Market-based solutions to micronutrient deficiency in developing countries.
Featured Publications
Recent publications include:
David, J-M., Henson, S.J. and Swiss, L. (2020). In INGOs We Trust? How Individual Determinants and the Framing of INGOs Influences Public Trust. Development in Practice, 30 (6), 809-824.
Jaffee, S., Henson, S.J., Grace, D., Ambrosio, M. and Berthe, F. (2020). Why Food Safety Matters to Africa: Making the Case for Policy Action. In: Resnick, D., Diao, X. and Tadesse, G. (eds). Sustaining Africa’s Agrifood System Transformation: The Role of Public Policies. International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington DC.
Agnew, J., Henson, S.J. and Cao, Y. (2020). Are Low-Income Consumers Willing to Pay for Fortification of a Commercially Produced Yogurt in Bangladesh. Food and Nutrition Bulletin, 41 (1), 102-120.
Henson, S.J. and Agnew, J. (2020). Are market‐based solutions a viable strategy for addressing micronutrient deficiency? Lessons from case studies in sub‐Saharan Africa and South Asia. Development Policy Review, 38 (6), 683-695.
Gelli, A., Donovan, J., Margolies, A., Aberman, N., Santacroce, M., Chiraw, E., Henson, S.J. and Hawkes, C. (2020). Value Chains to Improve Diets: Diagnostics to Support Intervention Design in Malawi. Global Food Security, 25, 20-32.
Jaffee, S., Henson, S.J., Unnevehr, L., Grace, D. and Cassou, E. (2019). The Safe Food Imperative: Accelerating Progress in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. World Bank, Washington DC.
Henson, S.J. and Agnew, J. (2017). Business-Based Strategies for Improved Nutrition: The Case of Grameen Danone Foods, IDS Bulletin, 48 (5), 20-32.
Maestra, M., Poole, N. and Henson, S.J. (2017). Assessing Food Value Chain Pathways, Linkages and Impacts for Better Nutrition of Vulnerable Groups, Food Policy, 68, 31-39.