I'm an agro-ecologist based at the University of Leeds, with interests in sustainable agriculture, land management and food production. My research has addressed competition between arable weeds and crops; the impacts of farming systems on biodiversity (including organic and GM); national surveys of biodiversity and land use; the assessment of ecosystem services from agricultural land; systems for measuring and monitoring ecological processes; defining and measuring the concept of sustainable intensification of farming and ensuring a sustainable and secure system of food supply for cities.
If you want to look at my photos (including of research sites and visits) you have come to the wrong place - you should be here
If you want to look at my photos (including of research sites and visits) you have come to the wrong place - you should be here
Presentation of White Rose Sustainable Agriculture Consortium in Brussels
The Universities of Leeds, Sheffield and York held a seminar in Brussels this week on or work on agriculture and food systems research. The seminar was opened by Phil Hogan, EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Affairs, itself a powerful sign that despite Brexit we from the UK are still very much welcome and wanted. The work of the White Rose Sustainable Agriculture Consortium was featured; I gave a talk on the history of the Consortium, to be found here. Also check out the blog here.
The Universities of Leeds, Sheffield and York held a seminar in Brussels this week on or work on agriculture and food systems research. The seminar was opened by Phil Hogan, EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Affairs, itself a powerful sign that despite Brexit we from the UK are still very much welcome and wanted. The work of the White Rose Sustainable Agriculture Consortium was featured; I gave a talk on the history of the Consortium, to be found here. Also check out the blog here.
New radio feature on White Rose Sustainable Agriculture research
Gareth Barlow at BBC Radio York visited the University of Leeds farm last July, and interviewed quite a few of us about how our research into sustainable soil management will have an impact on farm practices. See here for more details
Gareth Barlow at BBC Radio York visited the University of Leeds farm last July, and interviewed quite a few of us about how our research into sustainable soil management will have an impact on farm practices. See here for more details
New publication on research priorities for the Nexus
Last year I was involved in a seminar to define the top research questions to support businesses to better manage the nexus that interlinks energy, water and food. The findings of this work are now published here.
Last year I was involved in a seminar to define the top research questions to support businesses to better manage the nexus that interlinks energy, water and food. The findings of this work are now published here.
|
Ecosummit presentations now here
After a delay thanks to a trip to Brazil - more on that soon - here are the two presentations on Sustainable Intensification at the global EcoSummit 2016 in Montpelier at the end of August. |
|
Leeds Food Audit now published
Feed Leeds conducted a review of who is doing what about supporting sustainable, healthy food production, distribution and consumption. This report, commissioned by Leeds City Council, has now been published, and is available here. Such a snapshot report cannot capture all the many activities going on in the city, but sets the scene for a more strategic approach to enhancing food security in the City. Reviewing progress for the White Rose projects MycoRhizaSoil and SoilBioHedge
The annual meeting to discuss progress on the two big White Rose soil projects at Leeds University Farm took place on 16 May in beautiful weather. We are now starting to get lots of data through on how changes to crop and land management are changing the soils, but it's too soon to get a clear picture of what is going on |
