CAWR Newsletter

September 2021

Our monthly newsletters are an easy way to keep up-to-date with new developments at our research centre. From successful project bids to upcoming events, our newsletter informs you on how we are 'driving innovative transdisciplinary research on resilient food and water systems.'

The views and opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the contributors at the Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience (CAWR) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Coventry University.

To transform food systems money needs to move towards agroecology

Together with Brussels-based social justice organisation CIDSE, CAWR and the AgroecologyNow! group have produced a short and punchy animation to make the case for defunding harmful industrial agriculture and funneling that money into agroecology instead.

This video is part of an ongoing CIDSE-CAWR collaboration investigating agricultural funding flows, and adds another voice to the growing chorus calling for the transformation of agriculture finance, in support of agroecology.

French and Spanish versions of the animation are here

Check out our research and policy briefs on this topic here and www.cidse.org

Bean Taste Test

As part of the TRUE project (Transition paths to sustainable legume-based systems in Europe, a European Union funded Horizon 2020 research programme) CAWR staff organised an outdoor bean taste test, of 10 French Bean varieties and 10 broad bean varieties, for people to record what they thought about the heritage v commercially available varieties in the taste test, how dried beans and how fresh beans are used at home, and if anything is stopping us from eating beans more often.

First trial of vegan organic Bokashi

For her PhD in “Novel fertility management in vegan organic cropping systems“, Anya Gonçalves Geiger has begun a trial of vegan organic Bokashi composting. 'Bokashi' means fermented organic matter and is a Japanese method known to improve soil health. Traditionally, inputs contain a mixture of bran, effective microorganisms, molasses and water. However, they can contain animal inputs so for this trial, potential vegan organic Bokashi fertilisers have been produced using inputs easily grown on-farm or local food processing waste products. Selected inputs are comfrey, grass clippings, phacelia hay, nettles, coffee grounds and biochar.  

Click here to read more.

‘Subtle Agroecologies’ Book Launch and Research Presentations at International Conferences

September saw the launch of the book and research programme on Subtle Agroecologies at two major international conferences. First was the 2nd International Biodynamic Research Conference, “Growing Beyond Resilience”, organised by the Agriculture Section of the Goetheanum, Switzerland, and held online. Julia Wright was on the conference coordination committee and presented the paper:  Biodynamic farming: an exception to the whitewashing of indigenous agriculture? Also presenting was CAWR PhD student Rovier Verdi, on Influence of homeopathic preparations substances and phase of the moon on the growth pattern of rice seedlings. Abstracts can be found here.

The following week saw the 20th Organic World Congress of IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements), a hybrid event with a physical presence in Rennes, France. One of the few representatives from the UK, Julia Wright launched the new academic book Subtle Agroecologies: Farming With the Hidden Half of Nature, which is now  available through open access here along with a presentation on the same topic, this was very well received, feeding into the new cultural and spiritual strand of the conference. 

The conference programme can be viewed here (See other news in this issue for more CAWR presentations at this conference.)

The next International Biodynamic Research Conference will take place in the UK in 2023, and the 21st Organic World Congress of IFOAM in Tunisia in 2024.

CAWR spider plants in Gold medal winning display at Chelsea Flower Show

Two varieties of spider plants sat on the surface of the aggregate in a stillage in the greenhouse at Ryton poised to be used in one of Peter Hollings' experiments.

Selected Spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum cvs) from the National Collection of Spider Plants growing at CAWR were on display on the Plant Heritage Stand which won a gold medal at RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The display from Plant Heritage which manages National Plant Collections, showed the range of National Collections in three settings. The houseplant setting showcased amongst others, plants from the National Collection of spider plants growing at CAWR and Mercy Morris's National Collection in Kent. The Chlorophytum comosum National Collection at CAWR is available for use for research, conservation or enjoyment by staff, students and interested growers. Currently PhD student Peter Hollings is using two C. comosum cultivars in research into water bioremediation. If you would like plants or further information please contact Samantha Green ad2237@coventry.ac.uk

Organic-PLUS at the Organic World Congress

The CAWR-led Horizon 2020 project, Organic-PLUS participated in a wide range of activities at the recent Organic World Congress in Rennes. Attending online, Ulrich Schmutz was keynote speaker in a Leadership Forum and joined other Organic-PLUS partners along with our sister project RELACS in a session ‘Debating the future of nutrient management in organic farming’. Margi Lennartsson and Judith Conroy gave the pitch ‘It is time to phase out the use of peat in organic horticulture’ and Francis Rayns participated in a poster session highlighting our work  on alternatives to plastic mulch.

The conference programme is available here to view.

The genetically modified organism shall not be refused? Talking back to the technosciences.

Why are farmers' and other peoples' refusal of genetically modified organisms met with outrage? Grounded in empirical work in Belgium and theoretical work on “the gift” and “the politics of refusal”, this new open access paper gives some clues to understand the difficulty as well as importance of GMO-refusal in affirming peasant autonomy, agricultural biodiversity, and peoples’ food sovereignties.

Click here to read more

TUC Fringe Meeting Panelist

Jasber Singh was invited to speak about the right to food in the UK at the recent Trade Union Congress (TUC) fringe meeting. Jasber spoke about the politics of food poverty and the urgent need to incorporate the right to food within domestic legalisation. Jasber also discussed some of the challenges that the right to food movement has to face. For example, to be truly inclusive and importantly a universal human right, the movement will need to recognise and respond to the fact that food poverty is caused by excessive immigration powers that excludes migrants, especially people seeking asylum, from vital social security protections and entitlements.

Click here to read more.

Agroecology for Horticulture

Ulrich Schmutz was invited keynote speaker at the ‘International Scientific Conference on Sustainable Horticulture in Riga, Latvia, 25-26 August 2021. The conference was moved online and the keynote Agroecology Innovations for Sustainable Horticulture in Europe* recorded. Further details on the conference can be found here. The book of abstracts is here

*Abstract: Agroecology and Organic Farming System’ approaches are gaining more and more influence. The International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) has for some years established a commission with this name and mission. In 2020 the EU commission has adopted a 25% certified organic land use target in the EU by 2030 and combined this with a new ‘Biodiversity strategy’. This presentation will describe and critically review the current status of organic farming and agroecology thinking with a specific focus on horticultural science. It will discuss selected agroecological innovations for both organic and non-organic systems. It will draw on current Europe-wide research projects (Organic-PLUS, AGROMIX and Agroecology for Europe) and discuss innovations to phase-out contentious inputs, system re-design and the integration of system thinking. The innovations aim to phase-out remaining pesticides, like the use of copper, phase-out peat and plastic use in horticulture and integrate agroecological service crops, also in intensive horticulture. Alternatives to animal-derived fertilisers for vegan production are also considered. The presentation concludes with projections to re-design horticultural systems to combine them more with agroforestry, mixed farming and community supported sustainable horticultural systems.

Events

Catch up on our events and seminars from this month by visiting our YouTube channel

 Leveraging bio-active plants in smallholder goat production with Lovemore Gwiriri

Studentships

Chemical analysis and bioaccumulation of ‘forever chemicals’ in aquatic organisms - This opportunity will remain open until a suitable candidate is identified

Publications

Pimbert, M.P., Moeller, N.I., Singh, J., and Anderson, C.R.  2021. “Agroecology.” In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Anthropology. Oxford University Press, 2018— Article published August 31, 2021 [Open Access until Sep 30]

Pimbert, M.P. and Boukary Barry, 2021. Let the people decide: citizen deliberation on the role of GMOs in Mali’s agriculture. Agriculture and Human Values. [Open Access] 

Testing peat-free growing media based on olive wood residues for olive saplings

Kir, A., Løes, A. K., Cetinel, B., Turan, H. S., Aydogdu, E., Pecenka, R., Dittrich, C., Cáceres, R., Lennartsson Turner, M., Rayns, F., Conroy, J. & Schmutz, U., Aug 2021, In: Acta Horticulturae. 1317, p. 23-32 10 p.

Extrusion of Different Plants into Fibre for Peat Replacement in Growing Media: Adjustment of Parameters to Achieve Satisfactory Physical Fibre-Properties

Dittrich, C., Pecenka, R., Løes, A-K., Cáceres, R., Conroy, J., Rayns, F., Schmutz, U., Kir, A. & Kruggel-Emden, H., 10 Jun 2021, In: Agronomy. 11, 6, p. 1185 21 p., 1185.

Call for papers

Special Issue "Surface Water Management: Recent Advances and Challenges"

Topic Editors: Prof Susanne Charlesworth, Dr Tom Lavers and Dr Craig Lashford 

Manuscript submission deadline: 30 November 2021

Water Resources Resilience for Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

Special session: Water Security Challenges & Strategies in the 21st Century and Special session: Flooding and resilience against climate change

You are cordially invited to submit abstracts and subsequent full papers to the bi-annual Water Efficiency Conference organised by the Water Efficiency Network, The University of the West Indies and The Association of Professional Engineers of Trinidad and Tobago (APETT).

Abstract submission deadline: 30 November 2021

Contact: info@watefnetwork.co.uk for all conference, exhibition and sponsorship enquiries.