Bruna Trevisan Negri is a PhD student in the Department of Geography, Environment & Geomatics and is co-advised by Dr. Philip Loring and Dr. Karina Benessaiah.
Growing up in Brazil, Negri witnessed both the resilience of smallholder farmers and the challenges faced by food-insecure communities. These experiences fueled her desire to improve access to sustainable and dignified food systems. Negri hopes to understand how food systems are shaped by the interplay of political, social, economic, and environmental factors.
Her PhD research focuses on Alternative Food Networks (AFNs), such as community-supported agriculture, farmers’ markets, and urban agriculture initiatives. Negri’s goal is to uncover how AFNs can foster resilience, inclusivity, and sustainability in food systems and identify the conditions under which they reduce inequity and strengthen the broader agri-food sector.
Bridging Academic Insights with Practical Impact
Negri’s academic journey began with undergraduate studies in Geography, where she explored the interconnectedness of environmental and social systems. Her early research focused on public policies supporting family farming in São Paulo and the role of urban agriculture in addressing food insecurity. These experiences laid the groundwork for her current focus on AFNs.
Negri’s work was enriched by the Food from Thought “Skills for Communicating Change” scholarship. Through this scholarship, she had the chance to participate in UNIV*6050: Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Agri-Food Systems. Participation in the UNIV*6050 course further honed Negri’s ability to communicate complex ideas effectively. Workshops and feedback sessions strengthened her presentation and teamwork skills, enabling her to articulate findings to diverse audiences. Through UNIV*6050, Negri also had the chance to collaborate with graduate students and Farm to Cafeteria Canada to tackle barriers in local food procurement and distribution for Ontario school food programs.
“These experiences were invaluable in strengthening my ability to bridge research and practical action while contributing to solutions for sustainable and equitable food systems”, says Negri.
