Laura Haynes joined the Natural Resources Institute at the University of Greenwich in October 2019 as a PhD research student.

Laura’s research interests lie in ecotoxicology and specifically the impact of pesticides on the behavioural ecology of non-target agroecological beneficial insects such as pollinators and the natural enemies of crop pests. The utilisation of biopesticides such as botanical insecticides and entomopathogenic fungi to replace synthetic pesticide use in crop protection is a particular interest of research to provide a more sustainable methodology in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) systems.

Certain botanical extracts from plants can be utilised as insecticides and combinational usage with other biopesticides, such as entomopathogenic fungi, can increase pest control outcomes through synergistic action and therefore reduced concentrations required to maintain effectivity.  This not only aims to reduce pest numbers with reduced environmental impact, but also enables a potential solution to insecticide resistance through differing modes of action utilised.

Effective use of these biopesticides in pest control may be restricted by negative impacts on agriculturally beneficial insects such as pollinators and natural enemies. The determination of any lethal and sub-lethal effects of these biopesticides, both alone and in combinational usage, on agroecological beneficial insects is a particular research focus for the project.  Disentangling the physiological mechanisms behind any toxicity effects is also a keen area of interest for development, and will help to determine any potential mitigation of negative effects.

Research will unearth how Usipa and other small pelagic fish, which contain high levels of protein and key micronutrients important for growth, bone and brain development, contribute to the diets and nutritional status of Malawians using a food systems framework.

Aspects of this research will consider the food supply chain, food environments and consumer behaviour. This project will provide novel insights into how participation in small pelagic fish value chains has affected diets and nutrition of Malawian people, with a particular focus on young children and women of reproductive age. By looking at the diets and nutritional status both of the people involved in small pelagic fish value chains and of vulnerable groups in rural and urban communities, we will be able to produce data to inform effective policies and investment in infrastructure to improve safety of pelagic fish and improve diets and nutrition. This research will contribute to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 on ending hunger and malnutrition, SDG 5 on gender and SDG 14 on fisheries.

Sustainable food systems and, in turn food environments, for healthy diets are crucial for both human and planetary health. This is especially important for women and children in developing countries that are at high risk of malnutrition due to food insecurity.

This doctoral project will analyse factors underlying the nutritional impact of food environments in Peru and Uganda. The project will assess how local diets (measured as maternal and child dietary intake and anthropometry) are currently influenced by a variety of factors including food environments, agricultural practices, livelihood capitals, cultural norms and gender roles. It will also identify ‘double duty’ entry points (i.e. with potential to address both undernutrition and overnutrition) within food environments, that may be leveraged by communities, government and development partners to enable healthy, sustainable diets.

Specifically, this project will:

1. Develop a conceptual model of drivers of food choice for women and young children in selected communities in Peru and Uganda.
2. Evaluate the relative importance of these drivers in influencing dietary nutritional adequacy and food consumption patterns.
3. Identify 'double-duty' entry points within food environments that may be leveraged to enable more nutritious and sustainable diets.

Findings will inform development of equitable food systems and food environments that are sustainable and nutritious for women and children in Peru and Uganda.

The study will critically examine the impact of climate change on agricultural productivity and food value chains in rural communities, and the role of farmers and other value-chain actors in building a resilient society by addressing issues of food security. “Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life” (FAO, 2016). The main aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between agricultural production, processing and marketing and impact of climate change on food security in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria. The objectives include investigating the impact of climate change on the four dimensions of food security (food availability, accessibility, utilisation, and food system stability) in Akwa-Ibom State, using cassava as a case-study crop; identifying strategies adopted by farmers and other value chain actors to adapt to climate change and food insecurity; and also identifying policies and institutions which facilitate or constrain adaptation by farmers and other value-chain actors

Molly’s research aims to better understand the livestock sector as a subsection of the climate change discourse, considering the complexity of overlapping environmental and ethical factors.

The rearing of livestock animals globally is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, alongside numerous other environmental challenges. The discussion around the solutions to this problem is, however, highly polarised and involves a great degree of nuance. Drawing on concepts from Science and Technology Studies, Molly’s research looks into knowledge construction processes in activist and advocacy groups working in this space. Her research takes a mixed-method approach, focussed on ethnography and social network analysis, to understand the social and discursive processes at work here.

Rachel’s project focuses on the ecological characterisation of cultivated Ensete ventricosum, an indigenous multipurpose food crop in Ethiopia, with particular focus on its tolerance to drought, in order to better understand its productivity and resilience in the context of climate change.

Characterisation field work will be conducted in Ethiopia, on farm and in existing ex situ collections. Evaluation of enset growth and other related parameters during drought stress will be carried out in growth chamber and greenhouse experiments at Bioversity International’s banana genebank in Belgium and in field experiments in Ethiopia. Genetic data from other ongoing projects will feed into the interpretation of the impact of domestication on ecological traits and drought tolerance.

Rachel’s 7 years’ experience in Musa (banana) research with Bioversity International adds value to project, allowing insightful comparisons of the sister genera (Musa and Ensete).

The poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae, is a free living ectoparasitic mite that primarily feeds on the blood of chickens. Poultry mite infestations adversely affect poultry production and pose a significant threat to hen welfare. Recent epidemiological reports suggest that ~83% of European poultry farms are currently infested. As poultry mite infestations in layer hen facilities result in eggs of reduced quality, egg blood spotting and decreased production overall, economic losses attributed to poultry mite infestation range from £150-300 million per annum in Europe. Current control methods based on acaricides and barn spraying remain ineffective as mites build resistance and persist in concealed crevices. As such, this project aims to develop novel methods for monitoring and control of the poultry red mite, focusing on disruption of the host seeking process.

Richard particularly enjoys the opportunity to collaborate with leading researchers and was awarded an additional £11,000 to further explore the molecular basis of chemoreception and host location behaviour in poultry red mites with Dr Stewart Burgess at the Moredun Research Institute.

Yam is an important crop for food security in Africa, whose production is threatened by pest and diseases among other factors. Viruses can cause up to 50% yield loss in the crop, as well as, impede germplasm exchange for its improvement.

This project aims to develop, optimize and validate a range of diagnostic tests for economically important yam viruses in West and East Africa. In addition to that, characterize novel yam viruses.

These research findings will aid in establishing routine diagnostics for different laboratory settings and quarantine services which will invariably reduce the risk of virus spread as well as, increase the efficiency of breeding programs for yam virus resistance.