Mer om MFF: s doktorander

Moa Gunnarsson

Doktorand | PhD student
Institutionen för energi och teknik | Department of energy and technology

My research focuses on sustainable food and energy production, operating at the intersection of agriculture and forestry. I aim to address the challenge of efficient land distribution: how to balance the simultaneous needs for bioenergy, carbon sequestration, and food production within the land system.

I hold a degree in Industrial Engineering and Management from Chalmers University of Technology. During my master’s studies in Quality and Operations Management, I completed my thesis on autonomous vehicle development at Einride. Additionally, I have pursued studies in French in Nice and Sustainability Science at UC Berkeley, California. After graduating, I explored a career as both a management consultant and a sustainability controller, with a focus on implementing Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) standards. However, I felt a growing desire to pursue a more scientific path, one more centered on my growing interest in sustainability.

Starting an academic career as a researcher in sustainable food and energy systems feels both fascinating and deeply rewarding. Since childhood, I have aspired to become an ’expert,’ and I am eager to contribute in my own way to shaping a more sustainable food system while learning as much as I can along the way.

Maja Lindblad

Doktorand | PhD student
Institutionen för energi och teknik | Department of energy and technology

What is your research about?
My research focuses on reducing the environmental impacts from the use of nitrogen fertilizers in food production, as agricultural nitrogen emissions contribute to issues such as eutrophication, climate change, ozone depletion and air pollution. The aim of the research is to analyse the management of nitrogen fertilizers from a systems perspective, thereby identifying most important measures to reduce the impacts and losses of nitrogen in the food system. 

What background do you have?
I have a degree in Environmental Engineering from the Faculty of Engineering (LTH) at Lund University, with a master specialization in Process design. Before starting my doctoral studies, I worked in the waste management industry mainly with composting and water treatment. I have also worked with practical laboratory work, most recently within a research project about biogas production but also in a pilot project about biodiesel production from algae. 

Why do you think this is important?
Nitrogen fertilizers are a crucial part of food production, at the same time as their misuse has negative effects on the environment and human health. All nitrogen emissions coming from agricultural production is a loss of an important resource. Reducing these emissions is, therefore, not only important from an environmental perspective, it is also a way to reduce losses and make better use of nitrogen sources. Making better use of nitrogen sources also means that less external nitrogen fertilizers have to be imported, which is an important aspect for improved preparedness and resilience in the society.

Nora Lehmann

Doktorand | PhD student
Institutionen för energi och teknik | Department of energy and technology

My research focuses on alternative sources of protein and fats and how they can contribute to a sustainable food system in Sweden.  In essence, I am studying the question: How can the Swedish food system supply healthy and nutritious proteins and fats, while also minimzing the impact on the environment and use of finite resources? In this context, I study alternatives to animal-based foods like plant-based meat, fermentation and cultivation of proteins and fats with regards to their environmental impacts, but also nutritional quality and function in diets.

My interest in food systems was first sparked while working at the largest food retail company in Europe. In the division for innovation and business model development, I came in touch with different opportunities and challenges of the food retail business. To deepen my knowledge about sustainability on top of my degree in economics, I decided to come to KTH in Stockholm to study industrial ecology. My master thesis focused on the use of a by-product from oat drink production for food production.

Being a researcher on sustainable protein and fat production combines several interests of mine: innovation, systems thinking and sustainability in food systems. I am intrigued by the opportunity to become an expert on this topic and hope to contribute to a healthy, environmentally-friendly and resilient food system in Sweden.

Md Rezanual Islam

Doktorand | PhD student
Institutionen för ekonomi | Department of economics

Rezanual’s research focuses on identifying the next generation of sustainability and resilience indicators, along with understanding interrelations and actors’ preferences for these indicators, to better monitor and guide the performance of the Swedish food system.

I hold a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics from Bangladesh Agricultural University. After graduation, I began my career as a Leaf Quality Officer at British American Tobacco Bangladesh. However, I soon realized that I was more interested in learning the economic analysis of agricultural and environmental policies, which led me to change my career direction. I pursued a Joint (Double) MSc in Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Policy Analysis at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) and the University of Bonn (UBonn). During my MSc studies, I developed a strong interest in global agro-food sustainability, particularly in how food system sustainability can be measured. This passion inspired me to apply for my current PhD position within the Mistra Food Futures project.

Building a sustainable food system requires innovative and robust indicators for measuring progress, identifying gaps, and guiding decision-making. My PhD project focuses on food system sustainability indicators. I hope to identify suitable sustainability and resilience indicators and explore the interrelations between sustainability indicators, actors’ preferences for these indicators, and citizens’ preferences for trade-offs between sustainability impacts across societal systems. Through my research, I hope to contribute valuable insights that can guide the development of a more sustainable and resilient food system in Sweden.

My LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rezanual-islam-8b3460128/

Richard Dodzi Adabah

Doktorand | PhD student
Institutionen för ekonomi | Department of economics

Richard aims to address critical gaps in understanding how organisational structures influence the sustainability and adaptability of the Swedish food supply chain, with a focus on market power dynamics, price transmission and policy pathways to strengthen resilience of food systems.

My Background
I am an agricultural economist with a Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana. I previously worked as an Assistant Research Scientist at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Crops Research Institute in Ghana. There I focused on socio-economic analysis and strategies to improve dissemination of demand-driven technologies for sustainable food and industrial crop productivity to enhance livelihoods.

My Research Within MISTRA Food Futures
The growing population, increasing frequency of climate shocks and market disruptions underscore the urgent need for resilient food systems capable of meeting future food demands. My work within MISTRA focuses on analysing the organisational structure of the Swedish food supply chain. This involves examining how food value is distributed from farm to fork, assessing market power dynamics among actors and understanding how these factors influence stakeholders’ ability to adopt sustainable practices and withstand significant shocks.

A key aspect of my research is to address critical questions about the market structure of the Swedish food supply chain, including the transmission of prices along the chain and the impact of market power on price inflation and volatility. Furthermore, my work aims to explore policy pathways to enhance the sustainability and resilience of the supply chain. This involves identifying mechanisms to help the supply chain adapt to shocks and disruptions while promoting long-term sustainability, fairness and equitable outcomes for all stakeholders.

By integrating insights into market structures, price dynamics and adaptive mechanisms, my research seeks to contribute to a more robust, fair and sustainable food system in Sweden that can effectively respond to future food challenges.

My Expectation
I aim to provide actionable insights into how the Swedish food supply chain can transition toward more sustainability and resilience.