Joost Dessein

Joost Dessein is a Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Ghent University's Faculty of Economics and Business Administration. His extensive academic career focuses on agricultural sociology, rural development, and food systems governance, with significant contributions to understanding sustainable agricultural practices, agroecology, and policy implementation across diverse contexts including Ethiopia, Flanders, and Latin America.

Professor Dessein's research interests span agricultural sociology, rural development, agroecology, food systems governance, and sustainable agriculture. His work particularly examines knowledge systems, participatory development approaches, and the intersection of traditional and scientific agricultural knowledge. Through extensive fieldwork in Ethiopia and comparative studies across Europe and Latin America, he has developed nuanced understandings of how agricultural policies are implemented and experienced at local levels.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on agroecological transitions, governance of food systems, and the politics of agricultural knowledge. His work increasingly examines digital transformation in agriculture, urban-rural linkages, and the social dimensions of sustainable food systems. The geographical scope spans from local Flemish contexts to global comparative studies, with particular attention to power dynamics in agricultural development.

Professor Dessein has supervised numerous PhD students including Branwen Peddi (2025), Daniel van der Velden (2024), and Yemane Asmelash Gebremariam (2023). His collaborative research network is extensive, with Michiel De Krom being his most frequent co-author (23 publications together). He serves as President of the European Society for Rural Sociology, reflecting his leadership in the field.

His research has been supported by various grants enabling comparative studies across continents, particularly focusing on sustainable agricultural transitions, food sovereignty movements, and the implementation of agricultural policies in diverse socio-ecological contexts. His work bridges theoretical insights with practical applications for sustainable rural development.