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CAWR Newsletter
June 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.
Organic-PLUS and European policy
On 15th June, researchers working on EU Horizon 2020 project Organic-PLUS met with the European Commission's Project Officer and independent reviewers to review their past 3 years research on phasing out contentious inputs from organic agriculture. This was followed by a meeting with EC Policy Officers on 17th June to explore the impacts of this work on policy and future research needs. In particular, the use of peat in both organic and conventional systems is currently under the spotlight and we are working to facilitate change in organic horticulture.
Bioindicators - What can our weeds tell us about our soils?
June saw the launch of the ‘Bioindicators pilot study’, a project designed to strengthen and disseminate knowledge and practice relating to the use of ‘weeds’ as bioindicators. Bioindicators are any living organisms which can be used as a proxy for soil health and other environmental conditions. They can offer a quick and easy way to diagnose problems in the field without the time and financial costs of lab-based tests. As part of the project we ran field walks at three farms - Torth y Tir (Pembrokeshire), Gothelney (Somerset), and Green Acres (Shropshire) - to pilot the methodology. The project aims not only to increase skills and knowledge around use of bioindicators among participants, but also to design a farmer-friendly field guide to identifying and interpreting bioindicators. For more info on the project please see this blog or contact Chris at chris.maughan@coventry.ac.uk.
Democratising the governance of agri-food systems: let the people decide.
A bottom-up participatory policy process led to a government decision not to introduce genetically modified (GM) cotton in farmers’ fields in Mali (West Africa). In January 2006, 45 Malian farmers gathered in Sikasso to deliberate on GM cotton and the future of farming in Mali. As an invited policy space convened by the government of Sikasso region, this first-time farmers' jury was unique in West Africa. It was known as l’ECID—Espace Citoyen d’Interpellation Démocratique (Citizen’s Space for Democratic Deliberation)—and it had an unprecedented impact on the region.
The ECID combined the citizens’ jury method with indigenous methods for debate and dialogue, including the traditional African palaver. The ECID brought together male and female producers representing every district in the Sikasso region of southern Mali, specialist witnesses from various continents and a panel of independent observers, as well as resource persons and members of the national and international press and media. Designed as a bottom-up and participatory process, the ECID’s outcomes significantly changed national policy on the release of GM technology and have had an enduring influence in Mali.
The ECID and its key outcomes are discussed in the context of the political economy of GM cotton in West Africa here. The process described is part of ongoing participatory action research on democratising the governance of agri-food systems. As such, the authors’ critical reflections on the politics of knowledge and exclusion of black African farmer voices from policy and technological choices are particularly relevant for the upcoming UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) .
CAWR Supporting Democratic Innovation in Global Food Governance
In May 2021 the CSM (Civil Society and Indigenous Peoples’ Mechanism for Relations with the United Nations Committee on World Food Security) launched its new Guide to Facilitation. The CSM was established in 2010 as part of an ongoing effort by civil society to support, or facilitate, the participation of smallholder food producers and other ‘affected constituencies’ in UN food governance. This is the first time however since the CSM’s establishment that a dedicated Guide to Facilitation has been produced to support this work. The Guide was produced by the CSM’s Facilitation Working Group, its production coordinated by CAWR’s Josh Brem-Wilson as the working group’s Technical Support.
The Guide is available in English, French and Spanish. English version available here
Bean Taste Testing Opportunity at Ryton, Tuesday 6th July 2-4pm
An invitation to a taste test opportunity to try heritage and commercial bean varieties on Tuesday 6th July 2-4pm at Ryton Organic Gardens CV8 3LG. Follow the service road around the left of the offices and look out for the table with the beans and taste test sheets.
CAWR staff have been growing broad, french and runner beans for European Union funded project TRUE: 'Transition paths to sustainable legume based systems in Europe.' The project's aim is to increase sustainable legume cultivation across Europe. CAWR’s TRUE project staff have been growing commercial and heritage varieties, with 5 Acre Farm, the Community Supported Agriculture Farm on site at Ryton Organic Gardens, looking at their bee visitations, yield, nectar samples, nutrition and....taste! Which do you like best? Which bean varieties appeal to you most from the ones we grew?
Further research on biodegradable mulch
Following their work on alternatives to plastic mulch, CAWR’s Judith Conroy and Francis Rayns have been invited to join an advisory panel assembled by Brunel University’s Agriflex project. The panel is providing technical feedback on the design, ease of handling and efficacy of biodegradable mulches derived from agri-food by-products (AFPBs) that otherwise go to waste. It is anticipated that consulting stakeholders in this way will increase acceptability, uptake and use of the mulches developed.
Webpage of the CAWR high-performance analytical hub
A unique high-performance analytical hub has been developed at CAWR enabling the Centre to widen research areas and take a quantum leap in many scientific studies. The CAWR high-performance analytical hub includes five laboratories (Pollution Dynamics Lab, Environmental Monitoring and Field Simulation Lab, Microbiology Lab, Soil Lab, Sample Preparation Lab) which support environmental sample preparation, analysis of both inorganic and organic compounds, microbiology and telemetry for field experiments. The CAWR analytical hub has been equipped with instrumentation capable of analysing virtually any matrix combined with advanced data analysis software.
You can find more information about available Research equipment on the webpage of the CAWR high-performance analytical hub here
Primary contacts:
- Academic Lead - Dr Anna Bogush (Associate Professor, contact for potential research collaboration)
- Laboratory Technician - Sam Towers (contact for technical aspects of CAWR analytical equipment)
Making hay at Ryton
At Ryton Organic Gardens CAWR researchers have been making hay from a crop of Phacelia tanacetifolia (normally used as a fertility building green manure) grown in our large polytunnel to precede this year's tomato crop. We harvested and dried the plants which will be composted along with other materials such as chipped wood as part of research into peat alternatives for Organic-PLUS. The aim is to provide system solution recommendations to growers and avoid the need to import growing media.
Journal special edition with articles focusing on sense of place and minority experiences
Iain MacKinnon has co-edited the latest edition of the ‘Scottish Affairs’ journal, with a special focus on Scotland’s Gàidhealtachd Futures. It features work from emerging scholars-activists. Two excellent articles escape the pay-wall until August. One (here) examines how a sense of place can contribute to cultural recovery and ecological justice; the other (here) gives a critical perspective on the Gàidhealtachd from a mixed-race Gaelic speaker.
Farming for Climate Justice Webinar Recordings
CAWR’s British Council funded Researcher Links Climate Challenge collaboration with the University of Cape Town has now completed its first phase, with a well-attended open webinar series. Recordings of these can now be found on the project website. The final session in the series involved a discussion between Vanessa Farr (UCT) and Nina Moeller (CAWR) on how the concept of ‘slow violence’ can be applied and adapted to inform our understanding of the present industrial food system, moving us to consider how alternative economic systems represent important transitions towards economies of care, and social and environmental justice.
CAWR research into slavery and land ownership
Cleared houses on a Hebridean estate owned by Caribbean governor and slave-owner Lord Seaforth. Credit: Sarah Egan/Creative Commons
The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) and the Scottish Government appointed Scottish Land Commission have invited CAWR researcher Iain MacKinnon to brief them on the influence that slavery-derived wealth has had on landownership patterns in Scotland.
The invites follow a report, published last year by Iain and co-author Andrew Mackillop, on ways in which landed estates in Scotland were bought or maintained with slavery-derived wealth.
Based on his west Highland research, Iain is to be a co-author of ‘Facing our Past’, a major forthcoming report by NTS into the historical slavery links of many properties that they own and manage.
A special debate on Iain and Andrew’s report was held in the Scottish Parliament earlier this year (here) and the co-authors have also given presentations related to the work to civil society organizations (here and here).
The report was also subject to controversy when the chief executive of Scottish Land and Estates, the representative organization for large private landowners in Scotland, told the BBC that the work described ‘ancient connections to slavery’ and that there are ‘few if any families in the area who are major landowners today and who have any past connection to slavery’.
Iain and Andrew responded with an article (here) which detailed some of the more than 450,000 acres of land in the west Highlands and Islands still owned by the descendants of slavery beneficiaries
On farm solutions to control weeds
Following previous trials of biodegradable mulch films, CAWR’s Organic-PLUS project is now investigating weed-suppressing mulches that can be sourced on-farm. Work with the Innovative Farmers scheme has highlighted a desire from growers to use waste materials or plant matter grown specifically for this purpose, removing the need to manufacture and transport mulches. Working with 5 Acre Farm at Ryton, a range of loose mulches is being trialled, including hay, grass clippings and chipped wood (pictured). Catch up on previous work here.
The 2nd UK SIMBIO Social Innovation lab – Designing Solutions
The second of three UK Social Innovation labs focusing on the sustainability of bioplastic packaging was held on the 10th of June 2021. Participants representing a wide range of stakeholders, including producers, retail, consumers, NGOs, and important organisations that are part of the bioplastic packaging supply chain, joined to hear from expert speakers and participate in a workshop exercise.
Read more here
Seeing the system Report: Findings from the first UK SIMBIO Social Innovation Lab: https://www.simbioresearch.com/seeing-the-system-report-uk-report/
The Coventry University team
The SIMBIO research team consists of Prof Benny Tjahjono, Dr Macarena Beltran, Dr Jordon Lazell, Dr David Bek from the Sustainable Production and Consumption cluster of the Centre for Business in Society and Dr Anna Bogush from the Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience at Coventry University. The event will be assisted by PGRs.
Subtle Agroecologies: Farming with the Hidden Half of Nature
This new academic publication in the Advances in Agroecology series of CRC Press – Routledge, suggests that a different worldview is required to transition to agroecology. A curated compilation by 43 authors (including 9 from CAWR) from 12 countries, it explores the electromagnetic and super sensible dimensions of farming from multidisciplinary perspectives, farming that is rooted in the practice of indigenous peoples over millennia.
Table of contents:
- Section 1: Transformative Epistemological, Philosophical and Theoretical Frameworks
- Section 2: The Intersection of Wave-Based Science and Agriculture
- Section 3: The Search for More Embodied Methodologies
- Section 4: Voices From the Field
Click here to find out more.
FemaleINSPIRES Workshop on 15th July 2021
FemaleINSPIRES stands for International Network and Support Platform for Interdisciplinary Research Engineers and Scientists, and is a project created to serve as an online platform and community of practice. It also aims to support female early career researchers by providing opportunities for personal and professional development. The project brings together female STEM researchers from seven countries: UK, Nigeria, Ghana, Malawi, Indonesia, Egypt and Kazakhstan.
This event is one of the first workshops of this project and is organised by University of the West of Scotland and Coventry University.
Date: Thursday 15th July 2021 Time: 10am - 12pm
Agenda:
- 10:00 - 10:15 - Introductions and General Overview
- 10:15 - 10:25 - About website & survey
- 10:25 - 10:30 - Q & As
- 10.30 - 11.00 - Presentations of female ECRs STEM
- 11:00 - 11:40 - Focus group & discussion
- 11:40 - 12:00 - Overall feedback & Closing remarks
Link for registration here
Connect to FemaleINSPIRES:
Events
Catch up on our seminars from this month by visiting our YouTube channel
Earthwatch Europe: Creating knowledge, inspiring action with Martha Crockatt
Studentships
Chemical analysis and bioaccumulation of ‘forever chemicals’ in aquatic organisms - This opportunity will remain open until a suitable candidate is identified
Publications
New Open Access paper on African farmers rejecting GMOs:
Pimbert, M.P., Barry, B. Let the people decide: citizen deliberation on the role of GMOs in Mali’s agriculture. Agriculture and Human Values (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-021-10221-1
Mehmood A., Viza E., Bogush A., Ahmed S. (2021) Drivers and barriers towards circular economy in agri-food supply chain: A review. Business Strategy & Development. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bsd2.171
Beltran M., Tjahjono B., Bogush A., Julião J., Teixeira E.L.S. (2021) Food Plastic Packaging Transition towards Circular Bioeconomy: A Systematic Review of Literature. Sustainability, 13(7), 3896; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13073896
Dittrich, C., Pecenka, R., Løes, A.K., Cáceres, R., Conroy, J., Rayns, F., Schmutz, U., Kir, A. and Kruggel-Emden, H., 2021. Extrusion of Different Plants into Fibre for Peat Replacement in Growing Media: Adjustment of Parameters to Achieve Satisfactory Physical Fibre-Properties. Agronomy, 11(6), p.1185.
Funded Projects
Project title – „Covid-19 disposable face masks: source of microplastic fibres in the environment and science-based policy recommendation“, QR strategic priorities fund 2020-21: Research Activity in Support of Evidence-Based Policy Making, 2020-2021, PI – Dr Anna Bogush, Co-I – Mr Sam Towers.
Call for papers
Topic Editors: Dr Niall Burnside and Dr Jonathan Dale
Manuscript submission deadline: 30 September 2021
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
Topic Editors: Stefanie Lemke, Priscilla Claeys, Nina Moeller and Georgina McAllister
Manuscript submission: 29th June 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.
Call for papers in the special issue “Society and Education for Circular Economy and Sustainability” in the Section “Circular Economy” within the Journal Frontiers in Sustainability https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/16921/society-and-education-for-circular-economy-and-sustainability
Call for papers in the Section “Circular Economy” within the Journal Frontiers in Sustainability https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sustainability/sections/circular-economy
the special issue "Innovation, Enterprise and Circular Economy" with international Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (MDPI), https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph/special_issues/enterprise_circular_economy
Call for papers in Special Issue "Advanced Materials in Environmental Chemistry" of Molecules journal (ISSN 1420-3049). https://www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules/special_issues/environmental_materials
