Tareq Mzek

Agricultural & Food Economist
Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences
I am an applied economist who has evaluated visitor preferences for endangered species conservation, assessed the cost-benefit of flood mitigation programmes, and explored the ecosystem service values of Scottish peatlands. Currently, I am expanding my research interests to encompass agricultural and food economics. My research now concentrates on understanding farmers' willingness to accept and consumers' willingness to pay for various agricultural practices and food products, including but not limited to underutilised crops. This research aims to promote sustainable agricultural practices and enhance food security.

The current focus is on understanding farmers’ preferences and their willingness to accept crop diversification, as well as consumers’ preferences and willingness to pay for underutilised crops and their derived products. In addition, my research investigates the environmental impact of implementing best-fit farming practices. Moreover, I am working on building a sustainable seafood sector in Scotland. Key projects in this area include:

RADIANT (Realising Dynamic Value Chains for Underutilised Crops) – Horizon 2020:
Enhances underutilised crops, tests sustainable agricultural practices, and integrates these crops into profitable value chains while empowering society to incorporate them into diets.

LOWINFOOD (Low-waste Innovative Food Systems) – Horizon 2020:
It is Multi-actor design of low-waste food value chains through the demonstration of innovative solutions to reduce food loss and waste. Targets the prevention and reuse of food waste through innovative technological and organisational solutions.  In addition, building a sustainable seafood sector through collaboration by gathering insights from dialogues between stakeholders of the Scottish value chain.

B3-1  (Co-designing and Implementing Best-Fit Farming Practices) – RESAS:
Seeks to positively influence farmer behaviour by promoting peer learning and fostering innovation in response to significant events. The project will assess how these ‘trigger events’ affect changes in basic and best-fit practices.

B1-3 (The Impact of Novel Crops and Farming Practices on the Scottish Agricultural Landscape) – RESAS :
Examines the impact of novel crops and farming practices on the Scottish agricultural landscape, providing data on the social and economic consequences of these innovations.