Jules is an agricultural and environmental economist who works as a researcher and consultant, and publishes academic and policy papers based on his  investigations and practical experience. He began his career as a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal, spending two years in a remote village while working as an agricultural extension agent. He has also lived in Ethiopia, Malta and Tanzania.  

His PhD examined the local knowledge informing natural resource management by small-scale farmers in Tanzania, including how their thinking is affected by shifting resource constraints and exposure to external knowledge, and how different farmers negotiate such dynamics.

His consulting clients have included charities like CARE and Oxfam, international organisations like UNDP and UNEP, and donors like DFID and the EU.  His expertise covers small-scale agriculture, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and rural livelihood innovations, among other themes

Jules’ research examines possible options to foster sustainable and resilient agricultural livelihoods and outcomes that work for people and planet. It includes gathering empirical evidence, combining quantitative and qualitative data, and incorporating the voices of farmers and other local actors.   

He is currently investigating the use of microalgae as innovative inputs to both crop and livestock production. This includes reviewing the literature, integrating disparate findings, and conducting farm trials to assess efficacy under real world conditions and address key knowledge gaps.