Organisation
Newcastle University is a member of the Russell Group, an
association of 20 major research-intensive universities in the UK
which is sometimes referred to as the British equivalent of the US
Ivy League. Newcastle University’s School of Agriculture, Food and
Rural Development contains a unique mix of natural, environmental
and social scientists sharing a set of common research interests in
land use, food production and the rural economy. Two important
research groupings from the School the Centre for Rural Economy
(CRE) and the Integrated Animal Science Group (IASG) are involved in
this project mirroring our participation in the FP6 project Welfare
Quality.
Main task in project
UNEW has a supporting role in WP 0-4.
Experience and network
- CRE specializes in interdisciplinary social science and applied
policy research oriented towards the achievement of a sustainable
rural economy.
- CRE staff have significant research expertise and experience in
international trade analysis, agricultural and resource economics,
indicator analysis, cost-benefit analysis, rural development and
food marketing.
- IASG conducts applied research, primarily involving farm livestock
and collaborates extensively with other research institutions in the
UK (currently joint projects with eight centres) and Europe, and
with industry (currently joint projects involving ten different
industrial partners).
- IASG draws upon fundamental research, applying it to areas of
policy and industrial importance. Its main focus is on pig science,
with a particular emphasis on animal behaviour health and welfare.
- CRE is a partner in FP6 project ‘Integrated tools to design and
implement agri-environment schemes’ (ITAES).
- CRE is a partner in FP6 project ‘ System for agricultural &
environmental modelling: linking science and society’ (SEAMLESS).
- CRE is a partner in FP6 project ‘Structural change in agricultural
and rural livelihoods’ (SCARLED).
- CRE and IASG are partners in Improving quality and safety and
reduction of cost in the European organic and “low input” food
supply chains (QLIF).
- CRE and IASG are partners in “FP6 project ‘Welfare Quality’.
- IASG is a partner in the EU funded project ‘Q-Porkchains’.
Staff members
Dr. Philip Cain (Ph.D) is a Senior Lecturer in Farm Business
Management and has research interests which focus on the effects of
changes in agricultural technology and policies on farm
profitability.
Prof. Sandra Edwards (Ph.D) is head of the Integrated Animal Science
Group and has co-ordinated both UK and EU projects in the area of
animal health and welfare. She has participated in a number of
committees within the EU tasked with reviewing standards of farm
animal welfare (e.g. EFSA working group to report on ‘Space and
flooring requirements for Pigs’; 2004-5) and is currently Secretary
and Management Board member, Commission of Animal Management and
Health, European Association of Animal Production.
Mr. Guy Garrod (M.Sc.) is a Reader in Environmental Economics and
co-Director of the CRE. His research interests include environmental
valuation, farm economics, policy appraisal and indicator analysis.
He is currently involved in two FP6 projects, namely Welfare Quality
and SEAMLESS (working on sustainability indicators) and has
previously worked on the FP6 project ITAES and FP5 project CASCADE.
Dr. Jonathan Guy has a Ph.D in pig behaviour and welfare and is part
of a team investigating aspects of farm animal welfare including
development of new methods to evaluate welfare, the cost
implications of different housing systems for pigs and evaluation of
environmental sustainability of different pork production systems.
Prof. David Harvey (Ph.D) holds the chair in Agricultural Economics
at Newcastle University and is editor of the Journal of Agricultural
Economics. He has many years experience in macro-economic analysis
of international trade and has worked extensively on projects
assessing the implications of CAP reform.
Dr. Carmen Hubbard (Ph.D) is an agricultural economist with specific
expertise in policy analysis and animal welfare and has participated
in a variety of policy-oriented international projects funded by the
EU and World Bank. She is currently working on the FP6 project
SCARLED and previously worked on Welfare Quality.