Governing dairy microbes in Palestine

Description

Despite dairy production being central to Palestinian diets and livelihoods, the sector has received limited scholarly attention. Existing research highlights a decline in livestock numbers, the demolition of dairy factories, the killing of cattle, and the confiscation of pastures by Israeli settlers, who increasingly use grazing and shepherding as strategies for seizing land. A report on the dairy sector also points to the absence of a national strategy and to inconsistencies between the standards applied to local products and those governing imports, which account for 40–50% of the market, mostly from Israel. At the same time, debates continue around the quality of Palestinian dairy products compared with imported alternatives. We are seeking one to two research assistants to help us analyse the structure and practices of the Palestinian dairy sector. Place: Birzeit University The selected student(s) will contribute to one or more of the following research tasks: Track 1: Dairy Production - Observe and describe the production process of a specific dairy product (e.g., labneh, jebneh bayda, or another product to be determined with the team) across different settings, including households, small-scale producers, and large companies. - Contribute to the development of an interview guide exploring producers’ choices and practices. - Conduct interviews with producers. - Analyse documents collected by the team on dairy production in Palestine. Track 2: Dairy Consumption - Identify dairy products available in markets and supermarkets across different locations in the West Bank. - Contribute to the development of an interview guide exploring consumers’ choices, preferences, and practices. - Conduct interviews with consumers. - Analyse documents collected by the team, including import and export data. Deliverables: - Detailed descriptions of observations. - Transcripts of the interviews. - Where applicable, the research may be developed into a thesis as part of the student’s curriculum. Required Skills: Background or training in social sciences Knowledge of the agricultural sector Strong writing skills Fluency in Arabic; proficiency in English is an asset