Tim Benton

Tim Benton is Research Director in Energy, Environment and Resources at the Royal Institute of International Affairs at Chatham House and Professor at the University of Leeds, where he was formerly, Dean of Strategic Research Initiatives. From 2011-2016 he was the “Champion” of the UK’s Global Food Security programme which is a multi-agency partnership of the UK’s public bodies (government departments, devolved governments and research councils) with an interest in the challenges inherent in delivering food security around the world. He was an IPCC author on the Special Report on Food, Land and Climate, is a coordinating author of the UK’s Climate Change Risk Assessment, and a former Agenda Steward of the World Economic Forum. He has published over 150 academic papers, many on the topics of agriculture and its sustainability. His research focuses on food security and building food systems that are resilient and sustainable, working within the broader areas of ecology, natural resources, and climate change impacts – but increasingly also addressing public health, trade and geo-politics. His work on sustainability has recently been recognised by the award of an honorary doctorate from Belgium’s oldest university, Université catholique de Louvain.