Patrick Meyfroidt holds a PhD in geography (2009) and a degree in sociology from Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain) in Belgium. Since 2016 he is Research Associate at the F.R.S-FNRS (the Belgian Research Funds) and Professor at UCLouvain.

His research focuses on how land use and more broadly land systems can contribute to sustainability.

His main research interests are land use transitions, i.e. non-linear land use dynamics at broad scale such as forest transitions and emergence of land use frontiers; linkages between globalization and land use including supply chain interventions to halt deforestation; theories of land system change; and social-ecological feedbacks.

Some of his key publications include: a synthesis on middle-range theories of land system change, Meyfroidt et al. 2018 GEC and a synthesis of ten facts about land systems and their implications for sustainability, Meyfroidt et al. 2022 PNAS (see also this website).

His recent projects include the MIDLAND project (ERC Starting Grant) investigating emerging agricultural and forestry frontiers in Mozambique and Southern Africa; the SUSTAIN-COCOA project researching cocoa supply chains, deforestation and sustainability in West Africa; the COUPLED project investigating telecouplings and sustainability issues; and participations to the Trase initiative.