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CAWR Newsletter
May 2019
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.'
News
Organic-PLUS progress
The CAWR-led EU Horizon 2020 project, Organic-PLUS has begun a number of field trials on 5 Acre Farm at Ryton. Several CAWR colleagues assisted in planting 3,000 onions as part of an experiment to identify alternatives to the fossil fuel derived mulch films used by many growers - these include some novel vegetable-based materials created by our Polish partner, Czestochowa University of Technology. The same trial is being performed with a crop of cabbages and there is also work underway to develop fertilisers suitable for stockless 'vegan-organic' growing.
Environment Agency PhD Knowledge Exchange Day
PhD student Morwenna Mckenzie attended the inaugural Environment Agency PhD knowledge Exchange day at Horizon House, Bristol. The aim of the day was to bring together PhD students, and their EA supervisors, to share and communicate ideas on their research. Roundtable discussions focused on interdisciplinarity between specialist research groups, career options and networks, and PhD challenges. Each PhD student attending presented their research in the form of a poster and Morwenna presented the results of a systematic review she conducted for her PhD.
Tour of Coventry for Fiocruz visitors
Professors Debora Cynamon Kligerman and Simone Cynamon Cohen from the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil visited Coventry University and CAWR on the Newton Funded Brazil Zika project.
They visited all the sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) on Coventry University campus: the green roofs on ECB and the Hub, the permeable block pavers and porous resin area between John Laing and Richard Crossman, the permeable block and swales by the Simulation Centre, and discussed the rainwater harvesting which flushes toilets in the Hub and ECB. They were shown part of Birmingham’s canal system and the green roof on the Library of Birmingham. They both gave interesting presentations at the South America Forum on April 30th, further details of which can be found in this newsletter. A visit to the Cotswolds focussed on Natural Flood Risk Management, and the interventions installed to reduce downstream flooding in the Warwickshire Avon catchment. Finally, a visit to the Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience, included greenhouse experiments and SuDS containers and further collaboration was discussed. The week was rounded off on Saturday at Baddesley Clinton, a moated Tudor manor house.
ARB Show
Katharina Dehnen-Schmutz and Samantha Green, working on the HOMED project (about holistic management of emerging forest pests and diseases,) went to Westonbirt Arboretum for the ARB show, a big arborists' trade fair. We went to meet our RHS partners about HOMED work, and also to meet stallholders, and saw members from the tree health citizen science network, to get a view about tree health in the industry and make links for research. The photo shows a tree diseases walk led by Forest Research pathologists.
Landmark FAO report highlights the dependence of our food systems on threatened biodiversity
This report on the State of the World’s Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture (SoW-BFA) goes well beyond its headlines of the alarming number of crop varieties or animal breeds lost. It is the first global assessment of the status of the biodiversity of all the species, above and below ground and in waters, that underpin the production of food, fibre, fuel and other products.
CAWR is acknowledged in this report through Honorary Research Fellow Patrick Mulvany who was a reviewer of the report and contributed to it. The latter was through supporting the production of a CSO report by the agricultural biodiversity working group of the IPC for food sovereignty. This provided key inputs to the SoW-BFA on, for example, the governance outcomes promoted by small-scale food providers’ organisations. The IPC report was summarised in the IPC brochure Peasants give Life to Biodiversity.
FAO, governed by ministries of agriculture, livestock, forestry and fisheries, must be congratulated for producing this country-driven assessment that tries to break open these heavily defended 'silos' and make links with environment, nutrition etc. and it is partially successful. The common threats to agricultural biodiversity from all sectors of the industrial food system are apparent and there are many references to biodiversity-friendly practices across ecosystems. But, despite the catastrophic emergency, there’s still a way to go before governments will accept the imperative of rapidly downsizing industrial production and embracing biodiverse agroecology, in the framework of food sovereignty, as the solution.
Articles in the media
Sergio Ruiz Cayuela gave a public talk in Barcelona in Can Sant Joan, a community that has been fighting against waste incineration at a cement plant for decades. He approached the conflict from the lens of narrative violence and proposed the creation of "guerrilla narratives" and toxic storytelling to challenge it.in Click here to view the article on this talk.
Professor Michel Pimbert wrote an article for Pesticide Action Network UK 'Agroecology threatens the existence of a toxic pesticide industry.' Click here to view the article.
The South America Forum “Research in South America: Challenges and Opportunities
Some of the presenters: L to R Prof Susanne Charlesworth; Dr Sara Burbi; Dr Martin Wilkes; Dr Rodrigo Olave; Rebecca Lewis; Dr Nina Moeller; Mr Leopoldo Rovayo; Prof Simone Cohen; Prof Debora Kligerman, Prof Jose Esteban Castro.
Organised by Professor Susanne Charlesworth and Assistant Professor Sara Burbi, the South America Forum “Research in South America: Challenges and Opportunities” took place on 30 April 2019 at the Simulation Centre, on Coventry University’s Technopark, Puma Way, Coventry, UK.
Welcoming delegates to the event, CAWR’s Director, Professor Michel Pimbert emphasised Coventry University’s breadth of research in South America; the University has a South America Group with over 50 members and CAWR itself has a number of projects particularly in Brazil and Columbia.
Minister Leopoldo Rovayo, Deputy Head of the Ecuadorian Mission to the UK opened the event by discussing the role of politics in the research process. It is, he said, all-pervasive; funding is often linked to politics, and governmental decisions need to consider other sectors of society in research (e.g. health, welfare, industry). Mr Rovayo’s speech highlighted the intrinsic link between politics and the continuous challenge to carry out research in South America.
The keynote speaker, Professor Juan Esteban Castro from Newcastle University gave a fascinating talk on “Water, inequality, and elusive democracy in South America” which provided a setting to the presentations to follow, allowing speakers to relate their work to a continent-wide context including violent and non-violent environmental protest, “water wars” and the potential to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
There followed 3 dedicated sessions: Water Management, Water and Health and lastly Agroecological Perspectives; the 12 presentations illustrating the breadth of research. This ranged from drainage and flooding related to SDG 6 (the Water SDG); the water and energy nexus in Brazil and the potential to produce energy from algae and wastewater; reducing disease vectors in favelas in Brazil by introducing Sustainable Drainage (SuDS) techniques and mapping the incidences of Zika and microcephaly to investigate the potential of a relationship between their distribution and “subnormal agglomerates”. Many of presentations given in this part of the forum represented support from a Newton Fund Collaborative Research Grant held at CAWR (PI: Charlesworth).
Other talks included the provision of fish passageways in Chile associated with large infrastructure such as dams as well as designing healthy cities and healthy buildings, with a particular focus on favelas, or subnormal agglomerations, in Brazil.
In terms of the agroecological session, delegates were treated to a Skype from researchers in Chile engaging with Mapuche and Diaguita indigenous communities to preserve native plants via a seed bank to ensure food sovereignty in the region. Related to indigenous knowledge, but in the Amazonian Forest, it was suggested that small-scale “cultural forests” may provide alternative spaces for development that is not solely based on a productivist approach, but rather attempts to encompass aspects of society often considered contentious.
In Patagonia, it was proposed that forestry could be the answer to climate change whereas livestock farming along agroecological lines may preserve fragile ecosystems in South America which are currently under threat of decline.
The day ended with a presentation and discussion on the synergies and complexities of agroecology and its multifaceted applications. Examples of ecosystem regeneration through agroecological livestock farming included experiences in Mexico and in Colombia. The discussion then concluded the event, wrapping up key topics touched during the day, illustrating how difficult it is to work in highly politicised environments and to foster harmonisation of current and future policies.
Sue and Sara would like to acknowledge Coventry University who funded the room, and CAWR who paid for the refreshments.
Click here to view a blog article on the event and where the presentations can be downloaded.
Outstanding Research Supervisor Team Award
James Bennett, Sara Burbi and Cletos Mapiye won the Outstanding Research Supervisor Team Award at the DCAD Conference hosted by the Doctoral College at Coventry University.
Lovemore Gwiri who nominated his supervisory team said "My supervisory team has gone beyond the call of duty to support my PhD studies which reflects their strong commitment to research excellence. The have employed innovative means to underpin the research supervision process. My supervisory team has honed my research skills and groomed me to take a leading role in research. They have also imparted on me skills such as critical thinking and reading, team-working ability, leadership, communication and interpersonal skills such as professionalism, confidence and innovation.
Regeneration Awards
Julia awarding the prize to representatives from Sfruttazero, Italy
On 22nd May, 150 people gathered in London for the culmination of a three day event to celebrate the Lush Spring Prize 2019, an award set up to support regenerative projects that go beyond sustainability by taking holistic approaches to restoring degraded land and communities. Julia Wright was part of the Judging panel that selected 11 projects across four award categories: Intentional, Young, Established and Influence. Winning projects came from Southern and Eastern Africa, South America and Europe, working in a diverse range of fields including landscape restoration, food and farming, climate change mitigation and adaptation, protecting indigenous rights, empowering women and other marginalised groups. Now in its third year, the LUSH Spring Prize has awarded more than £600,000 to regenerative works.
Art of Collaboration represented at
the Venice Biennale as part of
Alive in The Universe Artist Collective
Life of Water presented at the Palazzo Pesaro de Papafava, Venice
On Friday 10 May 2019, Artist Researchers in Residence Miche Fabre Lewin and Flora Gathorne-Hardy of Touchstones presented Life of Water at the Venice Biennale as tribute to the artful, spiritual and political dimensions of ecological living. The day formed part of the Alive in the Universe Artist collective curated by Caroline Wiseman and David Baldry. Through contemplative installations and convivial rituals, Life of Water brought together people who are passionate about the city’s diverse cultures of artisan living, and who are campaigning to protect the delicate ecology of Venice, its hinterland of food gardens and the wider salt marshes of the lagoon. These ‘amici d'acqua’, or friends of water, are all caring for the life of water in ways that the water cycle and life cycle are one - Il ciclo di vita e il ciclo dell'acqua sono uno.
Vegetables arriving from I & S Farm and the Crucible holding venetian water offered by Orsoni Venezia 1888.
Bespoke art pieces by Yali glass containing salt, soil and water
Life of Water had two main elements. The first was a performative installation of bespoke glass vessels, organically grown vegetables still in their soil, and a large crucible glazed in the colours of the sacral chakra – all of which were brought to the exhibition space by boat. This installation was accompanied by film, sound, and performance with the opportunity for participation. The evening offered Taste of Water Salt Soil convivial forum with contributions from Venetian mosaic and glass-makers, agroecological food growers, biodynamic wine-makers, artist-activists, water scientists and curators. Warm thanks to our collaborators, including: Orsoni Venezia 1888; I & S Farm Il Biologico di Sant’Erasmo; Yali Glass; Castello di Tassarolo Bio Winery; We Are Here Venice; Centre for Contemporary Art and the Natural World; and Collettivo Barena Bianca.
Savino Cimarosto of I & S farm opening Life of Water by lighting a candle at the soil shrine
Massimiliana Spinola of Castello di Tassarolo Bio Winery presenting as part of Taste of Soil Salt Water
Publications
Acquah-Andoh, E., PUTRA, H., Ifelebuegu, A., & Owusu, A. (2019). Coalbed Methane Development in Indonesia: Design and Economic Analysis of Upstream Petroleum Fiscal Policy. Energy Policy, 131, 155-167.
González-Méndez, R., & Mayhew, C. A. (2019). Applications of Direct Injection Soft Chemical Ionisation-Mass Spectrometry for the Detection of Pre-blast Smokeless Powder Organic Additives. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry, 30(4), 615-624.
Pimbert, M.P., 2019. Nécessité d’une « agronomie renouvelée » pour faire face aux nouveaux enjeux du monde. La Revue POUR, Vol 234-235
Tilzey, M. (2019). Authoritarian populism and neo-extractivism in Bolivia and Ecuador: the unresolved agrarian question and the prospects for food sovereignty as counter-hegemony. The Journal of Peasant Studies, 1-27.
Tilzey, M. 2019 “Food Regimes, State, Capital, and Class: Friedmann and McMichael Revisited.” Sociologia Ruralis , 59(2), 230-254.
