Developing robust farming systems for multiple benefits.

Supervisors: Professor Rob Freckleton (Animal and Plant Sciences) and Professor David Oglethorpe (Management School)

This project will examine the outcomes across a range of alternative cropping land use scenarios (varying in terms of changes in the scarcity and type of input variables) for multifunctional ecological and economic systems. The aim will be to develop a modelling tool that can be used to provide decision support for evaluating the ecological and economic viability of alternate cropping systems that may be adopted to deal with increasing pressure on input use.

The study will take a mathematical modelling approach to examining trade-offs between different ecological and economic goals (e.g. soil quality, water abstraction, economic rents, yield levels, biodiversity) that affect food security and its wider environmental impacts. We will also model farmer decision-making by incorporating the relative 'riskiness' of the alternative cropping options with regard to their yield and price variability. For example, the current high demand and future price of wheat will drive productivity levels to new highs. However, unlike in the 1980s, when similar productivity increases happened as a result of government market intervention, these new market-driven productivity gains will need to be achieved against a backdrop of environmental compliance and environmental policy that rewards low-input, extensive agricultural practice that reduces soil erosion, protects wildlife habitats or improve water quality. There are thus trade-offs between the absolute environmental and economic goals within this system and also between the relative volatility of wheat prices versus the relative stability of policy payments for environmental stewardship. The purpose of the study will be to develop a model that can select between alternative cropping systems, which differ in intensity and type, reward and stability.

To apply, please complete an online application form which can be found at www.shef.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/apply/applying
The closing date is 30th April 2013