2.3
Sustainable agriculture
Keywords
Agriculture, sustainability
Expertise
Sustainable agriculture refers to the development and
implementation of innovative forms of agriculture to
increase yields and intensify processes, yet ensure that
production processes remain sustainable.
Stewardship of land and natural resources is central to
this sustainable approach, along with the promotion of
welfare of animal livestock. The University of Liverpool
plays a key role in conducting research and studies
leading to new production technologies and methods
along with changes in national and global policies
regarding the production and distribution of food.
The reciprocal and complex relationship between
agricultural production and broader societal needs
requires a transdisciplinary systems approach; our
research therefore integrates the analysis of ecosystem
services, environmental health, profitability of farming,
and explorations of social and economic equity.
Our research excellence covers: the application of
genomics to enhance the breeding of stress tolerance
and improved resource-use efficiency in crops, the design
of integrated pest management strategies for both insects
and weeds, carbon footprinting of farms, the adaptation
of cropping systems to climate change, and policy
analysis of land-use systems. In addition, our substantial
knowledge on animal infections and zoonoses supports
sustainable agricultural practices as researchers develop
techniques to reduce the risks of infection in intensive
animal farming systems.
We have made important contributions to ecological and
evolutionary studies of insect pests and weeds and the
development of sustainable management practices in
major crops. We also work closely with colleagues in
systems engineering to develop real-time monitoring of
livestock. The analysis of this data helps to improve
animal welfare practices and reduce communicable
animal diseases.
Our insights on the ecology of invasive plant species
has led to improved management practices in upland
pastures, while our expertise in metagenomic analyses
of soil microbial communities has contributed to the
development of new assays of soil functioning.
Capabilities and facilities
•
Ness Heath Farm and Wood Park Farm – experimen-
tal farms with full facilities for all livestock research
•
Our dedicated Food Security Research Network
facilitates interdisciplinary research into all aspects of
sustainable agriculture within the University
•
Access to world-class facilities in next-generation
sequencing, genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics
•
Expertise in the analysis of consumer purchasing
patterns and supply chain analysis covering risk
and resilience.
Relevant centres and groups
•
Centre for Genome Research
•
National Centre for Zoonosis Research
•
Ness Heath Farm
•
Wood Park Farm.
•
Food Security & Safety
135
Also see:
Environment & Climate Change –
3.3
Climate change and emerging
infections, page 64
Health & Wellbeing –
4.2
Emerging and zoonotic infections,
page 26
Keywords
Zoonosis, climate change, animal infections
Expertise
We model the impact of climate and environmental
change on the future incidence and distribution of
infectious diseases of food animals. Two examples are:
bluetongue, an insect-borne viral disease which has
emerged in Europe over the last decade and which
spread to the UK for the first time ever in 2007; and
fasciolosis or liver fluke, a parasitic disease which has
been endemic in the UK for a long time but which is
increasing in incidence.
2.2
Impacts of climate change
Also see:
Environment & Climate Change –
3.2
Ecosystem effects, page 63
4.3
Spatial planning and policy,
page 66
Energy & Sustainability –
1.2
Photosynthesis and biofuels,
page 70
Health & Wellbeing –
4.2
Emerging and zoonotic infections,
page 26
11.1
Genomics and bioinformatics,
page 50
For further information
on all our specialist
centres, facilities and
laboratories
go to page
179
