CAWR Newsletter

April 2023

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 equitable, sustainable and 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.

CAWR Student Wins UK Systems Dynamics Conference Prize

Ali Parsa presented the findings of his food waste dynamics model in the UK chapter of the System Dynamics Society annual conference and received the annual student prize for 2023. The prize is awarded for the best piece of student work in system dynamics. Ali’s PhD research explores the dynamics of food waste and its impacts on food, energy, water, and climate nexus in urban circular economies.

Jon and Bastien are Outstanding Supervisors

Outstanding supervisors, Dr. Jon Eden and Dr. Bastien Dieppois, with PhD candidate Zhongwei Liu and the award judges (not pictured: Dr. Matt Blackett)

Jon Eden (CAWR), Bastien Dieppois (CAWR) and Matt Blackett (ECE) have won the 2023 Coventry University Outstanding Supervisory Team of the Year Award.

The award recognises innovative and exceptional practice by doctoral supervisory teams. In all, CAWR provided two of the three finalist supervisory teams for this year’s award, with Marco Van De Wiel and  Ulrich Schmutz taking a shared second place.

First UNDERTREES Conference in Pisa

CAWR researcher Liliane Binego presents her work at the conference

Francis Rayns, Liliane Binego and Ulrich Schmutz travelled to Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna in Pisa, Italy for the first public conference of the UNDERTREES project (‘Creating knowledge for understanding ecosystem services of agroforestry systems through a holistic methodological framework’).

This conference was an opportunity for members of the project consortium who had made international secondments to share their experiences and research findings. UNDERTREES is funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE) programme.  Francis Rayns and Liliane Binego are each leading work packages in the 1.2m Euro project.

CAWR Contributes to Parliamentary Inquiry into Persistent Absence and Disadvantaged Pupils

CAWR researcher Geraldine Brown, working alongside colleagues Rona Epstein and Sarah O’Flynn, has submitted written evidence to the  Parliamentary Education Committee's inquiry into 'Persistent Absence and Support for Disadvantaged Pupils'. The submission, which draws on key findings from research exploring the prosecution of parents for truancy, was accepted and is published on the parliamentary committee’s website (link here).

Conscious Food Systems Alliance holds its first Strategic Retreat in the UK

Members of the Conscious Food Systems Alliance (Co-FSA) convened for two days of strategic planning and connecting in mid-April at the Dartington Estate in Devon. Julia Wright from CAWR participated, with her research on Subtle Agroecologies.

Co-FSA is a movement of food, agriculture, and consciousness practitioners convened by UNDP and united around a common goal: to support people from across food and agriculture systems to cultivate the inner capacities that activate systemic change and regeneration, by exploring ways to integrate evidence-based consciousness approaches and practices such as nature-connection, compassion, mindfulness, non-violent communication, and self-reflection, into food systems initiatives.

Diana’s Journey across Southern Africa: highlights from South Africa and Zimbabwe

Diana presenting at the symposium in South Africa

CAWR PhD student Diana Rodríguez Cala is researching the role of the ornamental sector in biological invasions in southern Africa where she is also affiliated with two universities in Botswana and South Africa.

She organised a workshop with specialists from Stellenbosch University and shared her work at the South African national symposium on biological invasions. In Zimbabwe, she engaged with the ornamental industry in the Harare garden show and published an article in The Zimbabwean Gardener Magazine.

CAWR team to use Europe's leading atmospheric research facilities

A team from CAWR has received funding from the EU's Transnational Access scheme to use the most advanced atmospheric research facilities in Europe in support of the objectives of the European Green Deal.

The team of Ivan Kourtchev, Steve Coupe and Jishnu Kizhakkethil will travel to Genoa University in Italy to study transfer mechanisms (thus a potential emission source) of semi-volatile 'forever chemicals' and bioaerosol into the atmosphere during waste-water aeration processes. Understanding emission sources (i.e., waste-water treatment aeration facilities) is required for creating proper emission control and mitigation activities.

CAWR student contributes to UCL's Environmental Engineering Seminar Series

CAWR PhD student Jhonny Ismael Bautista Quispe and Associate Professor Anna Bogush visited the University College London (UCL) on April 4th 2023.

Jhonny participated as a seminar speaker in the Environmental Engineering Seminar Series: WATER organised by UCL's Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering (CEGE).

Jhonny presented his latest research on the “Optimization of biochar filter for handwashing wastewater treatment and recycling at the point of use”. The seminar was followed by a critical and constructive discussion of Jhonny's research. Jhonny and Anna visited the CEGE laboratory facilities and engaged with staff and PhD community.

Growing Connections Focus Group

Some of the focus group participants

Growing Connections' focus group on tree buying was held at Warwickshire Wildlife Trust’s Brandon Marsh Nature Reserve, Coventry, in late March.

A mix of local buyers attended, including a council tree officer, city council procurer, tree council tree warden, representative from the Animal and Plant Health Agency, a local farmer and gardeners, to share their views and experiences of tree buying and to help Growing Connections research on procurement issues from buyers’ perspectives regarding community tree nurseries in UK.

Some notes from a focus group exercise

Coventry living lab workshop

A range of growers from the Coventry area met at The Pod Café on 5th April to discuss food production in the city.

The meeting, which was part of the Agroecology for Europe project, explored perceptions of agroecology and looked to tackle the theme, ‘diverse crops for a changing climate’, by participation in a living lab. This lively and collaborative meeting will be followed by a further session to establish trials of diverse and under-utilised crops this summer.

British Council workshops in Pakistan

CAWR's Marco Van De Wiel (second on the left in third row from back) among the workshop participants

In February, Dr Marco Van De Wiel (CAWR) and Prof Sarah Whatley (CDaRE) conducted workshops in Karachi and Faisalabad, Pakistan, for the British Council. The workshops focussed on grant reviewing, and attracted about 100 participants.

Abbey Home Farm Visit

On 5th April the students from the Agroecology, Water and Food Sovereignty MSc course visited Abbey Home Farm near Cirencester.

This is a large organic farm that has a wide range of enterprises including cereals, vegetables, dairy, beef, sheep, pigs and chickens. John Newman, the farm manager, gave a tour of the farm to explain how agroecological principles were applied in a practical context; particularly important is integration of grass/clover leys, grazed by livestock, into rotations with crops to maintain fertility, control pests and weeds, and ensure overall financial and ecological viability.

Masters by Research Success

On April 17th Adelina Skirth successfully defended her Masters by Research thesis entitled: 'Design criteria for social spaces and a healthier university campus. A Coventry University case study.'

Adelina is academic development officer in the Faculty of Engineering, Environment and Computing and her supervisory team was Sue Charlesworth (Director of Study, CAWR), Ahmadreza Hakiminijad (Faculty of Engineering, Environment and Computing) and Azadeh Montazami (Department for Education).

CAWR Bring & Take Table to support Fashion Revolution Week 2023

The Fashion Revolution Week 'bring & take' table at Ryton

CAWR was involved in this year's Fashion Revolution Week which took place at the end of April. Fashion Revolution is about encouraging the fashion industry to address issues so they can conserve and restore the environment. The chief aim of the campaign is to end to human and environmental exploitation in the global fashion industry. CAWR supported this with a Bring & Take Table.

Agroforestry Open Weekend 2023

Interested in agroforestry or sustainable farming practices? Then take a look at the Agroforestry Open Weekend! Farmers across the UK, Ireland and beyond who are already working closely with trees will be opening their gates to the public between 19th and 21st May. Find out who’s participating in your area, how to book and more here: https://agroforestryopenweekend.org/

Events

Catch up on our events and seminars by visiting our YouTube channel

PhD Scholarship

CAWR is offering a funded PhD scholarship which will evaluate the contribution of trees and urban forests to ecosystem services and biodiversity in Coventry. For more details of the project click here.

Publications

Winter K., Paytan A., Charlesworth S. and Fried, J. (2023). Solutions to waste management in informal settlements in South Africa. Open Access Government, 37, 1, 464-465. [Output from ESRC funded project 'Waste FEW ULL' - managing waste in the food-energy-water nexus using Urban Living Labs]

Black D., Charlesworth, S., Soares Dal Poz, M. E., Francisco, E. C., Paytan, A., Roderick, I., Von Wirth, T. and Winter K. (2023) Comparing societal impact planning and evaluation approaches across four urban living labs (in food-energy-water systems). Sustainability Special Issue "Promoting and Sustaining Urban Health: Challenges and Responses", 15, 5387. [Output from ESRC funded project 'Waste FEW ULL' - managing waste in the food-energy-water nexus using Urban Living Labs]

Black, D., Roderick, I., Paytan, A., Charlesworth, S. and Carey, J. (2023) Zero food waste city 2049: Identifying barriers to transition pathways. Open Access Government, 490-491. [Output from ESRC funded project 'Waste FEW ULL' - managing waste in the food-energy-water nexus using Urban Living Labs]

Burnett, E. (2023). Essential elements of self-organization illustrated through localized agri-food systems. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems.

Pimbert, M.P.( 2022). Transforming food and agriculture: Competing visions and major controversies. Mondes en développement, 199-200. pp361- 384. https://doi.org/10.3917/med.199.0365

Folorunsho, O., Bogush, A., & Kourtchev, I. (2023). A new on-line SPE LC-HRMS method for simultaneous analysis of selected emerging contaminants in surface waters. Analytical Methods, 15, pp284-296, doi.org/10.1039/D2AY01574A

Pimbert, M. (2022), Avant propos, in Barbier, M., Lamine, C., Couix, N. (dir.) Pratiques et savoirs agricoles dans la transition agroécologique. Editions des archives contemporaines, Coll. «Etudes des sciences et Histoire des techniques», France, ISBN: 9782813003560, pp. 1-2.

Wong S., Armenise S., Nyakuma B.B., Ng P., Lee C., Bogush A., Launay F., Rebrov E., Muñoz M. (2022) Catalytic pyrolysis of plastics over maghemite-impregnated mesocellular foam using induction heating. Chemical Engineering Transactions, 97, DOI: 10.3303/CET2297005

Wynberg, R., Pimbert, M., Moeller, N., McAllister, G., Bezner Kerr, R., Singh, J., Belay, M. & Ngcoya, M. (2023) Nature-Based Solutions and Agroecology: Business as Usual or an Opportunity for Transformative Change?, Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development, 65:1, pp15-22

Hamidi M.D., Kissane S., Bogush A.A., Karim A.Q., Sagintayev J., Towers S., Greenwell C.H.C. (2022) Spatial estimation of groundwater quality, hydrogeochemical investigation, and health impacts of shallow groundwater in Kabul city, Afghanistan. Sustainable Water Resources Management, 9, 20. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40899-022-00808-9

Wong S.L., Armenise S., Nyakuma B.B., Bogush A., Towers S., Lee S.H., Wong K.Y., Lee T.H., Rebrov E., Muñoz M. (2022) Plastic Pyrolysis over HZSM-5 Zeolite and Fluid Catalytic Cracking Catalyst under Ultra-Fast Heating. Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis (IF 6.437), 105793. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaap.2022.105793 

Lavers, T., Charlesworth, S. Lashford, C., Warwick F., and Fried, J. (2022) The performance of Natural Flood Management at the large catchment-scale: A case study in the Warwickshire Stour Valley. Water SI Surface Water Management: Recent Advances and Challenges.

Tjahjono B., Beltran M., Lazell J., Bek D., Bogush, A.(2022) Prototyping Solutions – Findings from the third UK SIMBIO social innovation lab – and SIMBIO project implications, 25th of November, 2021. Coventry: Coventry University, Centre for Business in Society (CBiS).

Dehnen-Schmutz, K, Pescott, O, Booy, O, Walker, K (2022): Integrating expert knowledge at regional and national scales improves impact assessments of non-native species. NeoBiota 77: pp79-100. (open access)

Tittonell, P., El Mujtar, V., Félix, G.F., Kebede, Y., Laborda, L., Luján Soto, R. & de Vente, J. (2022) Regenerative agriculture—agroecology without politics? Front. Sustain. Food Syst. 6:844261.