Peter J M Oosterveer

Publications (34) View all

• Article: Public Interests and Values in Multi-Level Food Risk Governance: European Responses to Avian Influenza

  Michiel P.M.M. de Krom, Peter Oosterveer, Arthur P.J. Mol
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  ABSTRACT: A recent series of food crises in Europe brought home the idea that food risk governance should be informed by sound science as well as by public interests and values to foster trust in food. Yet, how such public perspectives are to be included at the EU and member state levels, and what impacts such incorporation has on public trust in food, remains unclear. This paper studies European food risk governance of ‘H5N1’ avian influenza—a major risk facing Europe after EU and member state food policy frameworks were substantially reformed. It analyses the inclusion of sound science in combination with public interests and values in governing food risks from avian influenza in three member states (the Netherlands, France, and the UK) and at the EU level. The paper concludes with discussing political and epistemological tensions that emerge from using universalistic scientific knowledge and multivalent public risk experiences as separate bases for policy decisions and reflects on the effects of these tensions on public trust in food.
  Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning 01/2013; 15(2):161-177. · 0.62 Impact Factor
• Source

  Available from: David A. Sonnenfeld

  Book: Food, Globalization and Sustainability

  Peter Oosterveer, David A. Sonnenfeld
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  ABSTRACT: Food is increasingly traded internationally, thereby transforming the organization of food production and consumption globally. Distance between food producers and consumers is increasing and new concerns, such as environmental impact and animal welfare, are arising. This book provides an overview of the principal conceptual frameworks that have been developed for understanding these changes. It shows how conventional regulation of food provision through sovereign national governments is becoming elusive, at the same time as multinational companies put serious limits to governmental interventions. In this context, other social actors including food retailers and NGOs are shown to take up innovative roles in governing food provision, but their contribution to agro-food sustainability is under continuous scrutiny. The authors apply these themes in several detailed case studies, including organic, fair trade, local food and fish. On the basis of these cases, future developments are explored, with a focus on the respective roles of agricultural producers, retailers and consumers.
  01/2012; Earthscan/ Routledge (London and New York)., ISBN: 978-1-84971-261-3
• Source

  Available from: Bas J.M. Van Vliet

  Article: Environmental systems and local actors: decentralizing environmental policy in Uganda.

  Peter Oosterveer, Bas Van Vliet
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  ABSTRACT: In Uganda, environmental and natural resource management is decentralized and has been the responsibility of local districts since 1996. This environmental management arrangement was part of a broader decentralization process and was intended to increase local ownership and improve environmental policy; however, its implementation has encountered several major challenges over the last decade. This article reviews some of the key structural problems facing decentralized environmental policy in this central African country and examines these issues within the wider framework of political decentralization. Tensions have arisen between technical staff and politicians, between various levels of governance, and between environmental and other policy domains. This review offers a critical reflection on the perspectives and limitations of decentralized environmental governance in Uganda. Our conclusions focus on the need to balance administrative staff and local politicians, the mainstreaming of local environmental policy, and the role of international donors.
  Environmental Management 02/2010; 45(2):284-95. · 1.74 Impact Factor
• Source

  Available from: Arthur P.j. Mol

  Article: Pesticide governance in export supply chains: the case of vegetable and fruit production in Vietnam

  Pham Van Hoi, Arthur P J Mol, Peter Oosterveer
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  ABSTRACT: We analyze the role of international agrofood supply chains in greening vegetable and fruit products and production in Vietnam. Mainly through contract-based procurement, the export- oriented vegetable and fruit supply chain is better structured and organized than the domestic supply chain. Exporters intervene to some degree in fruit and vegetable farming, to safeguard supply and to improve product quality. Pesticide use is one of exporters’ concerns, although pesticide application remains largely controlled by farmers. Despite some endogenous innovations to improve vegetable and fruit pesticide practices, farmers and exporters are especially responding to the demands of importers. Relatively lax import regulations from the main export markets (China and Russia) are the main reason for limited achievements in less-pesticide-dependent vegetable and fruit production in Vietnam. By the same token, these limited innovations constrain farmers and exporters from exporting to more challenging markets in the EU, the US, and Japan. Hence, in Vietnam export markets have hardly induced reduction in the use of pesticides in agricultural vegetable and fruit production.
  Environment and Planning C Government and Policy 01/2010; 28(1):97-111. · 1.16 Impact Factor
• Source

  Available from: Arthur P.j. Mol

  Article: Stagnating liquid biofuel developments in Russia: Present status andfuture perspectives

  Alexey O. Pristupa, Arthur P.J. Mol, Peter Oosterveer
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  ABSTRACT: It is widely acknowledged that Russia possesses enormous biomass resources (Hoogwijk et al., 2005). Its vast areas devoted to agricultural production and plentiful timber resources suggest good prospects for the development of liquid biofuel production. However, no significant advances in this direction have been reported till now. None of the numerous investment projects announced at the heydays of biofuel excitement in Russia (2006-2008) are at the moment commercially operating. There are no specialised plants for the production of bioethanol and biodiesel in Russia. Little is known of the reasons for this discrepancy between biofuel potential and actual development. In investigating this discrepancy, this article analyses national developments and investigates local dynamics through a case-study in the Omsk region. It is found that the reasons for this discrepancy are not related to technological incapabilities, but are to be found in the low policy and institutional priority given to non-fossil fuel exploitation and lack of market opportunities. Sprouts of second generation liquid biofuel technologies can be identified within the state system, but it remains to be seen how strong and how long these will be supported by the Russian state.
  Energy Policy. 01/2010; 38(7):3320-3328.