dr. PTM (Paul) Ingenbleek

Paul T.M. Ingenbleek is associate professor of marketing. His research deals with the design of businesses, value chains, and business eco- or marketing systems to achieve the sustainable development goals.

Paul completed a Master in history and obtained a PhD on pricing practices in marketing (Tilburg University 2002). He then started to use the conceptual and methodological ideas from strategic marketing to design new solutions that do good for society and that work in the practice of local and global markets. Next to his work on animal welfare in the food systems of affluent countries, much of his current work addresses issues in developing and emerging markets in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

More than anywhere else, strategic marketing thinking can make a difference in developing and emerging markets. In these markets, businesses should produce food and create jobs for rapidly growing populations, link to the small-scale businesses of micro-entrepreneurs and smallholders, and use natural resources in ways that can be sustained for future generations. The approach reasons from the perspective of the business and its innovative and creational power to satisfy buyers. From there it draws implications for the on-the-ground development problems faced by policy-makers, non-governmental organizations, and local research institutes.

Past and on-going projects focus on, among others, the integration of small-scale farmers, fishermen and producers in proficient value chains, the paradox of market-oriented production of pastoralists whose traditions focus on efficient and sustainable use of scarce natural resources rather than customers, institutional arrangements for sustainable fishing practices, adoption of new farming technologies, adoption of food security-enhancing products at the base of the pyramid, and business development of small and medium-sized food businesses and retailers.

Paul co-authored numerous conference papers and journal articles. His work is published in among others International Journal of Research in Marketing, Journal of Product-Innovation management, Journal of Business Research, Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, Journal of International Marketing, Food Policy, Agribusiness and Journal of African Business. He provides academic services for several journals and communities and particularly supports the Association for African Business and Development and the Subsistence Marketplaces Movement.