Laura Vang Rasmussen

Laura Vang Rasmussen is an Associate Professor at the Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, specializing in sustainable food systems that balance agricultural production with nature conservation. Her research focuses on diversified farming approaches in African contexts, particularly examining how wild foods contribute to dietary quality and how integrated crop-livestock-tree systems enhance environmental and social outcomes.

Education

• PhD in Geography, University of Copenhagen (2013)

Research Focus

Her work centers on biologically diversified agriculture as a pathway to sustainable food production, with emphasis on smallholder farming systems across Africa. She investigates transitions from intensive monocultures to integrated approaches that improve soil fertility, biodiversity, and community resilience while addressing food security challenges. Her research combines field studies with participatory methods, highlighting the socioeconomic dimensions of agricultural diversification and the role of farmer networks in overcoming adoption barriers.

Publication Trends

Her recent publications analyze multi-strategy diversification in African farming systems, demonstrating that combining crop rotation, agroforestry, and livestock integration yields superior environmental and social benefits compared to single-intervention approaches. Key findings emphasize context-specific solutions for Ghana's cocoa agroforestry and Malawi's maize-based systems, with implications for climate resilience and nutritional outcomes.

Scientific Recognition

• ERC Starting Grant (Horizon 2020, grant agreement 853222 FORESTDIET) for 'Wild foods for dietary quality: a novel pathway to sustainable food systems'

Research Leadership

As principal investigator of the €1.5M ERC grant, she leads an international consortium examining wild food contributions to dietary diversity in sub-Saharan Africa. Her collaborative framework connects University of Copenhagen researchers with partners at University of Denver, University of Hohenheim, University of Toronto, and Cornell University, focusing on knowledge co-creation with farming communities and policy engagement for sustainable transitions.