- Founding director of the
- Principal lecturer in Agroecology.
Research Interests
My main interests are relate to two key areas :
- the fields of agricultural ecology and sustainable food production,
- the use of scientific evidence/evidence synthesis in order to support and underpin policy and management decision making.
I am director of the Centre for Evidence Based Agriculture, a reviewing, training and co-ordinating hub for the collation and synthesis of agri-food evidence, and part of the . I also founded, and acted as interim lead for the the Sustainable Agri-food Systems research group (SAFS), a cross cutting research group that brings together representatives from research fields across the University and beyond.
External roles and links can be found in the additional informaton section at the bottom of the page.
Author of: Randall NP and Smith (2019) The Biology of Agroecosystems. Oxford University Press
Research fields
Agricultural Ecology and Biodiversity
Evidence synthesis for environmental and agricultural decision making, Systematic Review, Systematic Mapping, Ecological Policy, Dissemination and use of research information.
Board and Advisory Roles
- Working Group member Food Standards Agency Science Council Wider Impacts project 2024
- Advisory Board member for 2018-2021
- Methods Expert Group 2016-2020
- Editorial Board member (Systematic Review Journal of CEE)
- Section Editor CABI Agriculture and Bioscience
- Chair - Systematic Mapping Methods Group - Collaboration for Environmental Evidence (CEE)
- Committee Member British Ecological Society - Agroecology Methods Group
- Chair - Research Degrees Awarding Board - 海角社区 Adams University 2016-2021
Funding last 5 years
Over £1 million (>£800,000 as project lead). Funders include :
Research councils: Biotechnology and Biosciences Research Council (BBSRC), Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
European and UK policy organisations: European Food Safety Authoriity (EFSA), Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), Scottish Government, Environment Agency, Natural England
Industry, advisory and other organisations: Syngenta, Bayer, Morrisons, British Ecological Society, John Oldacre Foundation, Mistra Council for Evidence Based Environmental Management, Sweden (Mistra Eviem), Science Advice for Policy by European Academies (SAPEA) Humane Slaughter Association, EU H2020.
Current PhD students and projects
- Todd Jenkins - The Potential of Small Landscape Features to Increase Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Arable Farmland. EU Horizon 2020 - Cropdiva. Director of Studies
- Abigail Cooke - Productivity, Natural Pest Control, and Arable Plants in Population Wheat. What are the Trade-offs Compared to Single Varieties . BBSRC. Director of Studies
- Claire Griffiths - Cultivating Interest: The Ability of Community-based Urban Agricuture to Provide Key Ecosystem Services. Director of Studies
- Edwin Tapiwa Toreveyi - Potential of Pre-harvest Prediction of Potato Storage Disorders. Second Supervisor
- Ashley Roberts -Ancient Grains for Modern Times: Diversity of naked barley for human health and agroecology. EU Horizon 2020 - Cropdiva. 2nd Supervisor
- Busiswa Madikazi - The role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in agricultural development of smallholder farmers in Eastern Cape, South Africa
Recent PhD student projects
- Christelle leDroite - Ecological Implications and sustainability of organic and biodynamic farming in comparison to conventional and BT-conventional farming. (at Coventry University). 2nd supervisor
- Conservation at the crop edge: The botanical composition of wild headlands and their impact on provision of invertebrates for grey partridge chick diet (Perdix Perdix) (With James Hutton) Director of studies
- How are national government, local planning authorities and local communities defining sustainable development in the context of rural housing in England? 2nd supervisor
- Multifunctional field margins for delivery of ecosystem services (water quality protection, pollinator support and bio-control) Director of studies
- The effect of maize cultivation on invertebrate biodiversity Director of Studies
- The use of information and research synthesis methods with reference to invasive species. BBSRC/Syngenta Director of Studies
Teaching
Course leader
Module leader
- Fundamentals of Agroecology (PG level 7)
- International Agroecology (PG level 7)
- Applied Ecology for Management (UG level 6)
Other taught modules
- Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (PG level 7)
- Plant health principles (PG level 7)
- Sustainable crop production systems (UG level 6)
- Contemporary countryside and environmental issues (UG level 4)
Field courses
- International perspectives on the Management of Wildlife Populations (UG level 6) KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Geography and Environmental field course (UG level 6), Anglesey, UK
Professional Memberships
- British Ecological Society (Committee member Agro-ecology special interest group)
- Society for Conservation Biology
- Senior Fellow of Higher Education Academy