Knowledge exchange with farmers
Working with Agricology, Defra funded a Test and Trial looking into the value of videos and podcasts in knowledge exchange around the new Environmental Land Management scheme. The University of Reading has conducted focus groups, a survey, and a literature review. Auvikki de Boon, Juliette Schillings, and Rachel Smith contributed. A paper was published here. The final report can be found here: Final_report.
Farmer mental health during COVID
A £240k project funded by ESRC. Reading led the project, in collaboration with the Universities of Exeter and Sheffield, on the impacts of COVID-19 on the mental health of farmers. We were interested in the role of civil society organisations, such as charities and the Church, in helping farmers through the pandemic. Project outputs here.
Farmer behaviour change
Defra requested a literature review on behavioural interventions to encourage farmers to eradicate or control animal disease. Funded by the University of Reading (QR Policy Fund). Report and slidepack delivered – internal to Defra. Rachel Smith contributed.
Future skills needs in farming
The group has done some work on future skills needs in farming for the OECD. This led to an internal report for the OECD which is informing their work.
Defining agri-tech and the UK agri-tech landscape
Reporting to BEIS, the University of Reading funded a small piece of policy work to determine the strengths and weaknesses of UK agri-tech. Catherine Smith contributed. Report and slidepack delivered – internal to Defra. Academic paper in review with input from Anna Barkemeyer, Auvikki de Boon, and Danni Roche.