PhD: Strengthening Farmers’ Bargaining Power Through Collective Action

Strengthening the position of farmers in the food value chain is one of the key objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) of the EU. An important reason for the establishment of farmer cooperatives and producer organisations is to improve the bargaining power of individual farmers. Increasing demands for sustainable food production may offer new reasons for strengthening collective action. The legal framework (including but not limited to the CAP) can play an enabling or constraining role. Your work will contribute to the development of an effective mix of organisational and policy solutions that support the position of farmers in the food value chain and their transition towards sustainable and resilient food systems. 

With this in mind, we are hiring a PhD candidate (4 years, full-time employment) to become part of a large international and multi-disciplinary research group that will explore policy and business solutions to strengthen farmers’ bargaining power through collective action in food value chains, and identify good practices for successful implementation and uptake of these solutions.

Your duties and responsibilities include: 

• Perform interdisciplinary research (bridging the fields of law, economics and organisational perspectives) in an international research team
• Apply both qualitative and quantitative research methods
• Conduct in-depth case-study research with project partners in the Netherlands
• Participate in project meetings, prepare minutes and progress reports
• Participate in project management tasks

You will work here

The research is embedded in the Agricultural Economics and Rural Policy (AEP) chair group under the supervision of Dr. Liesbeth Dries (AEP group). You will be co-supervised by Dr. Jos Bijman (BMO group) and Dr. Mirta Alessandrini (LAW group). 

You are a highly motivated individual with strong critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, eager to tackle complex economic, organisational and policy challenges. You can work independently in the context of a long-term research project while thriving in a collaborative and interdisciplinary environment. You can effectively communicate research findings to both academic and policy audiences.

You also possess: 

• A successfully completed MSc degree in a social science field, preferably in (applied) economics;
• Good knowledge of the agri-food sector in the EU, and of the EU institutions and legal frameworks;
• Flexibility to travel and engage with different types of stakeholders (inside and outside the academic sphere);
• Excellent communication skills in English, both written and spoken.

For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level. Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognised Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language. More information can be found here.

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• Partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will receive a fully funded PhD position and you will be offered a course program tailored to your needs and the research team.
The gross salary for the first year is € 3.059,- per month rising to € 3.881,-  in the fourth year in according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well. 

We encourage development and internal mobility within our organisation. Our recruitment and selection policy sets out the conditions that apply specifically to you as a (former) employee. If you have any questions, we are happy to help.

You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. 

Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees. 

Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family. 

Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research's International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, our Welcome Center can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example housing, opening a bank account, dual career programs or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.

For more information about the position, please contact Dr. Liesbeth Dries, Associate Professor in Agricultural Economics, via +31 (0)317 482049 or email: liesbeth.dries@wur.nl .
Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Noorien Abbas, Corporate Recruiter, via recruitment.ssg@wur.nl

Ready to apply?
You can apply directly using the apply button on the vacancy page on our website which will allow us to process your personal information with your approval. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered.

To apply, please send the following documents (max. 3 pages in total for both documents):

• Complete and up-to-date curriculum vitae (max 2 pages);
• Motivation letter (max 1 page).

The maximum length of the documents must not exceed 3 pages. If it exceeds, applications will not be considered. Additional files such as grades and transcripts are not required during this stage and will not be considered.

You can apply until June 1st 2026. Interviews are scheduled for June 24-26, 2026.

Additional information form
For this position, you must fill in a mandatory form which will allow us to have a comprehensive view of your qualifications and better assess your fit for it. You can access the form using the link below:

PhD: Strengthening Farmers’ Bargaining Power Through Collective Action – Fill out form

Your prompt response will ensure that your application continues to move forward in the evaluation process. We assure you that the information provided will be kept confidential and used solely for this application process.

Welcome, safe, and valued
Wageningen University & Research highly values diversity and inclusion because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We create a work environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and appreciated, regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where everyone's unique contribution adds to the success of our organization.

​The mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its roughly 30 branches, 7,600 employees (6,700 fte) and 13,100 students and over 150,000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch the video below to get an idea of our green campus!

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.

​