Sarah Joseph is a post-doctoral researcher at the Center for Humanitarian Logistics and Regional Development (CHORD). Sarah was previously a PhD candidate in the field of Sustainable Food Systems at Kühne Logistics University under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Hanno Friedrich. She successfully completed her doctoral studies in June 2022, with "summa cum laude". Sarah received her Master of Science in Resource Efficiency in Architecture and Urban Planning from the HafenCity University in Hamburg, Germany in May 2016 and her Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Administration from Mount Saint Mary College in Newburg, New York, USA in May 2012.
Sarah’s research focuses on using interdisciplinary data-driven approaches (such as case study, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and spatial statistics) to measure and improve the environmental sustainability of supply chains, predominantly in the food sector. Her main research interests include sustainable production methods and resource use, regional food supply, and further examining the life cycle and distribution of products within local and global food systems. As a post-doctoral researcher, Sarah is also working in the context of humanitarian logistics and sustainable supply chain operations to increase transparency and facilitate evidence-based decision making based on real-world challenges. This includes local procurement and development, medical and food supply chains, energy and input use, and the trade-offs of supply chain inputs and operations. She is also involved in the Food Research Group, aimed at investigating interventions and improving efficiency and sustainability of food supply chains with a long-term perspective.
Professional Experience
Since 2022 | Scientific / Post-doctoral Researcher, Center for Humanitarian Logistics & Regional Development (CHORD), Kühne Logistics University, Hamburg, Germany |
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2021 - 2022 | Scientific Researcher, Center for Sustainable Logistics and Supply Chains (CSLS), Kühne Logistics University, Hamburg, Germany |
2018 - 2021 | Scientific Researcher, NutriSafe, Hamburg, Germany |
Education
2017 - 2022 | PhD candidate in the field of Sustainable Food Systems, Kühne Logistics University, Hamburg, Germany |
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2013 - 2016 | Master of Science, Resource Efficiency in Architecture and Urban Planning, HafenCity University, Hamburg, Germany |
2008 - 2012 | Bachelor of Science, Business Management and Administration, Mount Saint Mary College, Newburgh, New York, USA |
- FoodOPS 2017: The International Food Operations and Processing Simulation Workshop
- Hamburg.bio 2017
TV
09/17 | SWR, Agrarwende: Bauer sucht Zukunft |
01/17 | NDR, Fallstudie: Hamburg könnte sich zu 100 Prozent bio-regional ernähren |
Publications
(2023): Analyzing drivers of organic food sales - a pooled spatial data analysis for Hamburg (Germany), Plos one, 18 (10): 1-29.
Abstract: Shifting the food system to a more sustainable one requires changes on both sides of the supply chain, with the consumer playing a key role. Therefore, understanding the factors that positively correlate with increased organic food sales over time for an entire population can help guide policymakers, industry, and research to increase this transition further. Using a statistical approach, we developed a spatial pooled cross-sectional model to analyze factors that positively correlate with an increased demand for organic food sales over 20 years (1999–2019) for an entire region (the city-state of Hamburg, Germany), accounting for spatial effects through the spatial error model, spatially lagged X model, and spatial Durbin error model. The results indicated that voting behavior strongly correlated with increased organic food sales over time. Specifically, areas with a higher number of residents that voted for a political party with a core focus on environmental issues, the Greens and the Left Party in Germany. However, there is a stronger connection with the more “radical” Left Party than with the “mainstream” Green Party, which may provide evidence for the attitude-behavior gap, as Left Party supporters are very convinced of their attitudes (pro-environment) and behavior thus follows. By including time and space, this analysis is the first to summarize developments over time for a metropolitan population while accounting for spatial effects and identifying areas for targeted marketing that need further motivation to increase organic food sales.
(2023): Local Procurement in Humanitarian Logistics: Is It Good for the Environment or Only for Socioeconomic and Operational Reasons?, Reference no. 623-0009-1, Kühne Logistics University: Hamburg, Germany.
Abstract: The logistician at a major humanitarian food aid organization (HFAO) is facing the decision whether to source globally or locally. The logistician is overseeing the distribution of a common fortified food product, a maize-soy blend (MSB), to a refugee camp in Africa. The main task of this case study is to evaluate the two potential sourcing options (globally versus locally), potentially by conducting a life cycle assessment of the two potential food supply chains. One possibility is to get the product locally, from the same country or region in Africa. The alternative would be to go global and receive the product from a supplier in Europe. The HFAO is concerned about their environmental impact. Advantages and disadvantages of local vs global procurement must be considered and carefully weighted, to identify which one is more sustainable. After all, the HFAO wants to champion sustainability, and add socioeconomic and environmental value to its aid operations.
(2019): Can Regional Organic Agriculture Feed the Regional Community? A Case Study for Hamburg and North Germany, Ecological Economics, 164 (106342): .
Abstract: We compute degrees of food self-sufficiency for regions in North Germany with the city state of Hamburg at the centre, given different diets (the German average diet versus increasing substitution of legumes for meat) and production methods (conventional versus organic). Triangulating data of statistical databases, literature, and our own collection, we compute land footprints per capita and multiply by regional populations. Our findings indicate that there is great potential to feed the regional community surrounding Hamburg solely with regionally, organically grown foods, but this result depends on (1) composition of diets — specifically, the per capita meat consumption – and (2) agricultural area available in the defined region. On the basis of simplifying assumptions, the computation indicates an approximation of what is possible.