Background

Graduated in 1992 from the innovative BSc Countryside Management degree at Newcastle so setting the scene for a trans-disciplinary approach to research, connecting the socio-economic, policy and natural science spheres. An applied social scientist who has worked on a wide variety of projects, employing a wide variety of methods, but with particular interests in agriculture, rural business, delivery of public goods, and food and society (innovation; food risk).

Expertise developed in a range of both quantitative and qualitative methods, including:

▪  Evidence-gathering (prior to quantitative or qualitative analysis), principally by semi-structured interviews, surveys, Delphi technique and participative methods (workshops; citizens’ jury). Stakeholder analysis. Has undertaken high quality, independent field research engaging with a broad range of stakeholders from the general public and practitioners to policymakers.

▪  Analysis of rural economies using official statistics including inter alia Farm Business Survey, Agricultural census/Survey and Population Census.

▪  Developing indicators for sustainable development.

I have contributed to EU FP6, FP7 and H2020 projects (e.g. SEAMLESS; PRIMA; Pegasus; Connect4Action; Feed-a-Gene; SuperG), and prepared numerous reports for both local and national bodies.

Research

Recent policy-relevant work includes EU InterReg project RuralGrowth (business responses to covid-19 pandemic) and Defra Environmental Land Management Scheme Test and Trial: Curlew Contracts, 2019-2020 with Northumberland National Park and Natural England. Currently working with National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE) to investigate rural firms and internationalisation.

Publications

• van der Fels-Klerx HJ, van Asselt ED, Raley M, Poulsen M, Korsgaard H, Bredsdorff L, Nauta M, D'Agostino M, Coles D, Frewer LJ, Marvin HJP. Critical review of methods for risk ranking of food related hazards, based on risks for human health. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 2018, 58(2), 178-193.
• Kendall H, Kaptan G, Stewart G, Grainger M, Kuznesof S, Naughton P, Clark B, Hubbard C, Raley M, Marvin HJP, Frewer LJ. Drivers of existing and emerging food safety risks: Expert opinion regarding multiple impacts. Food Control 2018, 90, 440-458.
• Kendall H, Naughton P, Kuznesof S, Raley M, Dean M, Clark B, Stolz H, Home R, Chan MY, Zhong Q, Brereton P, Frewer LJ. Food Fraud and the Perceived Integrity of European Food Imports into China. PLoS One 2018, 13(5), e0195817.
• Raley ME, Ragona M, Sijtsema SJ, Fischer ARH, Frewer LJ. Barriers to using consumer science information in food technology innovations: An exploratory study using Delphi methodology. International Journal of Food Studies 2016, 5, 39-53.
• van der Fels-Klerx HJ, van Asselt ED, Raley M, Poulsen M, Korsgaard L, Bredsdorff NM, Flari V, dAugostino M, Coles D, Frewer L. Critical Review of Methodology and Application of Risk Ranking for Prioritisation of Food and Feed Related Issues, on the Basis of the Size of Anticipated Health Impact. Parma, Italy: European Food Safety Authority, 2015.
• Thompson N, Garrod GD, Raley ME. Planning and Sustainable Land Management in England's National Parks. eco.mont 2014, 6(1), 67-70.
• Garrod GD, Raley ME, Aznar O, Bacqueiro-Espinosa O, Barreteau O, Gomez M, Schaft F, Turpin N. Engaging Stakeholders in Planning and Decision making through Participatory Modelling: Lessons from Three European Case Studies. Engineering Sustainability 2013, 166(2), 75-84.
• Ragona M, Raley M, Sijtsema SJ, Frewer L. Better communication for successful food technology development: A Delphi study. In: 2nd AIEAA Conference 'Between Crisis and Development: which Role for the Bio-Economy". 2013, Parma, Italy.
• Mora C, Menozzi D, Sogari G, Brennan M, Raley M, Frewer LJ. Biotechnology and Public opinion: The results of a citizens' jury case study. In: 2nd AIEAA Conference 'Between Crisis and Development: which Role for the Bio-Economy". 2013, Parma, Italy.
• Phillipson J, Bennett K, Lowe P, Raley M. Adaptive responses and asset strategies: the experience of rural micro-firms and Foot and Mouth Disease. Journal of Rural Studies 2004, 20(2), 227-243.
• Phillipson J, Gorton M, Raley M, Moxey A. Treating farms as firms? The evolution of farm business support from productionist to entrepreneurial models. Environment and Planning C: Government & Policy 2004, 22(1), 31-54.
• Phillipson J, Lowe P, Raley M, Moxey A. The Nature of Needs of Rural Microbusinesses in the North East of England. Newcastle upon Tyne: Newcastle University, 2002. CRE Research Report.
• Phillipson J, Gorton M, Raley M, Moxey A. Agricultural and non-agricultural micro-businesses in the rural economy: A comparison from the North East of England. In: Arzeni, A., Esposti, R., Sotte, F, ed. European Policy Experiences with Rural Development. Kiel: Wissenschaftsverlag Vauk Kiel WG, 2002, pp.141-160.