Alastair Stewart

I am a food systems sustainability expert with a distinctive blend of experience in sustainability frameworks, smallholder farmer initiatives, global commodity supply chains, and research and evaluation. My career ambition is to enhance food systems resilience by transforming the sourcing and sustainability commitments of food companies.

In my current role at a leading contract catering company, I am responsible for sustainability reporting for scope 3 GHG emissions (SBTi), food waste (Courtauld 2030), and social value (TOMS). My previous 12-year tenure in the International Development sector focused on researching the impacts of private sector initiatives on smallholder farmers' incomes and environmental practices. I have worked on projects on cocoa, tea, rice, and vegetable supply chains across West and Southern Africa, and Central, South, and Southeast Asia, implemented by Fairtrade and Oxfam in collaboration with Mondelez, Unilever, and UK retailers.

I hold an MSc in Supply Chain Management from the University of Hull (2023, distinction), where I researched the benefits of cocoa traceability mechanisms for smallholder farmers. Additionally, I earned an MSc in Agriculture and Development from the University of Reading (2011, distinction).

I am currently in the final stages of achieving Practitioner level certification at the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA).

I have undertaken long-term assignments in Mozambique (3.5 years), India (1 year) and Ghana (6 months), and through my UK based roles have worked closely with partners in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cote d'Ivoire, Tajikistan and Zambia.