For over 30 years Robin Pistorius has assisted taught students and assisted policymakers and researchers in solving sustainability questions regarding agriculture, biotechnology, biodiversity, water and climate change. This work stems from his conviction that the world is on the brink of a new, and necessarily sustainable era. 

Robin Pistorius studied economic and social history at the University of Amsterdam, followed up by a doctorate programme at the department of Political Science (International Relations). In 1989 he was one of the initiators and editors of the Biotechnology and Development Monitor (published in more than 100 countries) and in 1999 defended his PhD-thesis on The Exploitation of Plant Genetic Resources: Political Strategies in Crop Development (CAB International, London and New York 1999). 

Throughout his career Pistorius concentrated on the socio-economic implications of high-tech developments and associated regulatory issues in particular in the field of agriculture and sustainable development - notably the use and conservation of biological diversity and intellectual property rights. For his research he was awarded the Vavilov-Frankel Fellowship by the International Plant Genetic Research Institute (IPGRI, Rome 1994), on the occasion of which he wrote Scientists, Plants and Politics: A history of the plant genetic resources movement (IPGRI, Rome 1997). 

In 2003, Pistorius established his own consultancy bureau: Facts of Life. Many Dutch and European agricultural and environmental organizations (profit and non-profit, universities and EU Commission) have made use of his expertise.

Since 2011 Pistorius has taught courses on BA and MA level at the Department of Political Science and Future Planet Studies of the University of Amsterdam on a regular basis. Subject matter covered is sustainability, transition thinking, agriculture and environmental issues. In 2016 he was appointed senior lecturer.

Research expertise

• Stainability
• Transition thinking
• Agriculture and environmental issues

•    Green Governance (12 EC)
•    Political Economy of Transnational Food Chains (6 EC)
•    Governing transitions for global sustainable development (9 EC)
•    Power and ideology in global environmental decision making (30 EC)