Refiloe Joala

Refiloe Joala is a researcher and PhD candidate at PLAAS and her primary research focus includes the political economy of agro-food systems reform and agrarian change in Southern Africa. Her recent and ongoing research investigates the nature and scope of changing agro-food systems within the context of large-land based investments, examines the role of agribusiness and considers the implications of these rapid transformations on smallholder farmers. Refiloe is currently leading a joint action-research project in partnership with civil society organisations in Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia looking at agro-food food systems change and the right to food. This project forms part a larger programme of work at PLAAS on land-water-energy and food rights in the context of large-scale land-based investments in Southern Africa. Refiloe is also member of the Young African Researchers in Agriculture (YARA) Network.