Image credit: V. Atakos (©CCAFS)
Research in the School of Agriculture, Policy and Development is driven by the key challenges we face in the world today, and aligns closely with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Research with impact
- We are the highest placed UK University for Agriculture and Forestry at 22nd in the world (QS World Rankings by Subject, Agriculture and Forestry, 2024)
- 100% of our research in international development is of international standing (Research Excellence Framework 2021, combining 4*, 3* and 2* submissions in Anthropology and Development Studies).
- 95% of our research in agriculture and agri-food economics is of international standing (REF 2021, combining 4*, 3* and 2* submissions in Agriculture, Veterinary and Food Sciences).
Our expertise
We live in an ever-changing world where global challenges such as poverty, hunger, climatic and environmental change are closely linked with agricultural and food systems. Our research helps to address these challenges and provides policy makers with relevant scientific evidence to make informed decisions.
The School's research staff span a range of disciplines across the natural and social sciences – from economists and anthropologists to animal, crop and environmental scientists – all located within a single School.
Our academic departments
Research in the School is organised around five academic departments:
- Agri-Food Economics and Marketing: studying sustainable food system transformation – from production to consumer behaviour – to protect the environment and improve human health.
- Animal Sciences: increasing the sustainability of animal production and exploring the links between foods and consumer health.
- Crop Science: tackling issues such as sustainable intensification of crop production, breeding for climate resilience, and horticultural growing technologies and systems.
- International Development: enabling sustainable futures through research, partnership and training on the critical interfaces between agriculture, people and development.
- Sustainable Land Management: co-developing land management practices to simultaneously address agricultural and environmental challenges.
Interdisciplinary research
Our research staff play key roles in a variety of interdisciplinary University-wide centres, including:
- Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health
- Agrimetrics
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research
- Farm Management Unit
- Agriculture and Food Investigation Team
- Walker Institute.
Research alliances
Researchers in the School of Agriculture, Policy and Development are collaborating with organisations such as EIT Food and The Planetary Health Alliance to affect positive change through research.
