RTG 2654: Sustainable Food Systems

Name

Sophie-Dorothe Lieke

Dr. Sophie-Dorothe Lieke was a doctoral researcher in the RTG from 2021 to 2024. After completing her Ph.D., she stayed on as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Göttingen in the ZERN Project. Since 2025, she continues to contribute to the RTG as associated postdoc.
The information on this site reflects the status at the point of leaving the RTG.

Sophie-Dorothe Lieke completed her Master’s Degree in Environmental Management at Lancaster University, UK, before joining the Research Training Group Sustainable Food Systems at the University of Göttingen. There, she completed her Ph.D. with a thesis titled "(Mis)Guiding Consumers to Sustainable Consumption: The Role of Information, Labels, and Claims." Following her doctoral studies, she began working as a postdoctoral researcher at ZERN (Zukunft Ernährungs Niedersachsen). Her research focuses on understanding consumer behaviour in the context of sustainable consumption, with a particular interest in consumer communication, product labelling, and the role of various food groups—especially plant-based, alternative and novel proteins—in fostering more sustainable diets.


Research Interests
Consumer behaviour
Consumer communication through information, labels and claims
Protein transition and alternative products


Education


  • As from 2021: PhD in Sustainable Food Systems, University of Göttingen, Germany
  • 2020-2021: MSc Environmental Management, Lancaster University, England
  • 2015-2019: BSc (Hons) Biology & Geography, University of St Andrews, Scotland
  • 2018: Study Abroad at Macquarie University, Australia



Professional Experience


  • Co-founder & director of PLASTIC:Unwrapped



Conferences & Webinars


  • Webinar guest speaker for ‘Galapagos: The Last Evolution’ speaking on ‘How does plastic pollution affect Galapagos?’, October 2020
  • Webinar guest speaker for ‘Salty Warriors’ speaking on ‘Plastic-free July’, July 2020
  • Webinar guest speaker for the University of the Sunshine Coast speaking on ‘PLASTIC:Unwrapped in practice’, Australia, March 2020
  • Participating mediator at the National Plastics Colloquium, November 2019, South Africa



Languages


  • English
  • German
  • Swahili



Publications


  • Lieke, S.-D., Adhi, A.K. (2024) Much more than just an ingredient: Palm oil and its consumer perspectives in Indonesia. SustainableFood Discussion Paper 10. University of Goettingen.
  • Lieke, S.-D., Erhard, A. and Stetkiewicz, S. (2024) ‘Do ingredients matter? Exploring consumer preference for abstract vs. concrete descriptors of plant-based meat and dairy alternatives’ Future Foods, pp. 100522. doi:10.1016/j.fufo.2024.100522
  • Lieke, S.-D., Spiller, A. and Busch, G. (2024) ‘Are consumers still barking up the wrong (palm) tree? Insights into perceptions towards palm oil-related labels and claims’, Food Quality and Preference, 120, pp. 105258. doi:10.1016/j.foodqual.2024.105258
  • Lieke, S.-D., Spiller, A. and Busch, G. (2023) ‘Can consumers understand that there is more to palm oil than deforestation?’ Sustainable Production and Consumption, 39, pp. 495–505. doi: 10.1016/j.spc.2023.05.037