Institute Seminar Series: Authenticity and regeneration in food systems

Speaker

Dr Yanfei Hu – Construct authenticity under ideological polarization: Venturing in the UK vegan protein market

Abstract 

Dr Yanfei Hu will explore the role of businesses, entrepreneurs and innovation in constructing authenticity in food systems. Authenticity in entrepreneurship research has been differently conceptualized as 1) conforming to a socially-defined category, or 2) maintaining consistency between external expressions and internal values. In this study, we reveal how the UK vegan protein entrepreneurs construct these two forms of authenticity to expose the challenges of venturing in an ideologically contested market. Drawing from 30 in-depth interviews with UK entrepreneurs and extensive archival data, we unpack a set of authenticity strategies adopted by entrepreneurs, and we show these strategies’ implications of visioning different food futures.

Speaker

Molly Biddell – Nature Based Solutions, Hampton Estate – Regenerative Land Management in Surrey

Abstract 

How does a working rural business contribute to a regenerative food system and restore nature at the same time? This talk looks at how regenerative farming and ecosystem restoration can work together, using Hampton Estate in the Surrey Hills as a local case study. Molly Biddell will share how the business combines pasture-fed livestock, forestry and habitat restoration, and how it connects with community through direct sales, eco-tourism, citizen science and volunteering . She will discuss what has worked, what has been challenging, and what this means for the future of local good food systems.

Biographies

Dr Yanfei Hu and Molly Biddell – Nature Based Solutions, Hampton Estate. Molly leads on Nature Based Solutions and community engagement at Hampton Estate, a family-run regenerative farming business in Surrey. Her work brings together regenerative agriculture, biodiversity, natural capital and community engagement.

Contact us

Email ifs@surrey.ac.uk for the Teams link and with any questions.