Natural Resources Institute

Staff

Name Details
Professor Jonne Rodenburg
  • NRI Department: Agriculture, Health and Environment Department
  • Qualifications: BSc, MSc, PhD, FHEA
  • Biography:

    Jonne Rodenburg joined the University of Greenwich in January 2018, after a 13-years tenure at the CGIAR Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice).

    Jonne obtained a BSc and MSc-degree from Wageningen University (WU) in 1999. His MSc research project focused on the effects of slash-and-burn agriculture on spatial variation in soil fertility in rubber-rice agroforests in Indonesia, in collaboration with the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF). In 2005 he obtained a PhD-degree from the same university. His PhD research was on defence mechanisms (resistance and tolerance) in sorghum against the parasitic weed Striga hermonthica. Fieldwork for this study was conducted in Mali, at the experimental farm of ICRISAT. Prior to obtaining his PhD-degree, Jonne started as agronomist at AfricaRice. He was first based in Mali (2004-2005) and then moved to Benin (2005-2007), Senegal (2007-2009) and Tanzania (2009-2016). His last home base was in Côte d’Ivoire (2016-2017). At AfricaRice his work focused mainly on weed problems, with a special interest in parasitic weeds (Striga asiatica, S. hermonthica, Rhamphicarpa fistulosa) in rain-fed rice systems. Together with his co-workers and students he identified suitable rice varieties and agronomic management practices for the control of these pests. He also worked on bird - weed interactions, mechanical weed control, Good Agricultural Practices and the System of Rice Intensification in irrigated rice systems and Conservation Agriculture practices in rain-fed uplands. At the Natural Resources Institute he is leader of the Sustainable Agricultural Intensification development programme and deputy leader of the research group Ecosystem Services . He currently studies how improved soil fertility and plant nutrition can enhance host plant resistance and tolerance against parasitic weeds and he works on agroecological innovations for smallholder cropping systems in Africa.

    Jonne is also an Associate Editor of the Elsevier journal Field Crops Research, and a subject editor of the Wiley journal Weed Research and the Vice-President of the International Parasitic Plants Society (IPPS).
  • Selected Publications:
    • Rodenburg J, Mollee E, Coe R, Sinclair F. 2022. Global analysis of yield benefits and risks from integrating trees with rice and implications for agroforestry research in Africa. Field Crops Research 281, 108504; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2022.108504
    • Rodenburg J, Tippe DE, Toure A, Irakiza R, Kayeke J, Bastiaans L. 2021. From rice-like plants to plants liking rice: a review of research on weeds and their management in African rice systems. Field Crops Research 276, 108397; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2021.108397
    • Touré A, Huat J, Rodenburg J., 2021. Identifying farm-type specific entry points for innovations in weed management in smallholder inland-valley rice-based systems in West Africa. International Journal of Pest Management; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09670874.2021.1959083
    • Senthilkumar K, Sillo FS, Rodenburg J, Dimkpa C, Saito K, Dieng I, Bindraban PS, 2021. Rice yield and economic response to micronutrient application in Tanzania. Field Crops Research 270, 108201; DOI:1016/j.fcr.2021.108201 
    • Haggar J & Rodenburg J. 2021. Lessons on enabling African smallholder farmers, especially women and youth, to benefit from sustainable agricultural intensification. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability; DOI: 1080/14735903.2021.1898179
    • Irakiza R, Makokha D, Malombe I, Le Bourgeois T, Chitiki AK, Rodenburg J. 2021. Composition of weed communities in seasonally flooded rice environments in East Africa is determined by altitude. South African Journal of Botany; DOI: 1016/j.sajb.2021.04.001
    • Kabiri S, Rodenburg J, van Ast A, Pflug S, Kool H, Bastiaans L. 2021. Impact of the facultative parasitic weed Rhamphicarpa fistulosa(Hochst.) Benth. on photosynthesis of its host Oryza sativaJournal of Plant Physiology 262, 153438;  DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2021.153438
    • Mwangangi IM, Büchi L, Haefele SM, Bastiaans L, Runo S, Rodenburg J. 2021. Combining host plant defence with targeted nutrition: key to durable control of hemiparasitic Striga in cereals in sub-Saharan Africa? New Phytologist; DOI: 1111/nph.17271
    • Büchi L, Cordeau S, Hull R, Rodenburg J, 2021. Vulpia myuros, an increasing threat for agriculture. Weed Research; DOI: 1111/wre.12456
    • Haggar J, Nelson V, Lamboll R, Rodenburg J. 2020. Understanding and informing decisions on Sustainable Agricultural Intensification in Sub-Saharan Africa. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability; DOI: 1080/14735903.2020.1818483
    • Rodenburg J, Büchi L, Haggar J. 2020. Adoption by adaptation: Moving from conservation agriculture to conservation practices. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability; DOI: 1080/14735903.2020.1785734
    • Tippe DE, Bastiaans L, van Ast A, Dieng I, Cissoko M, Kayeke J, Makokha DW, Rodenburg J. 2020. Fertilisers differentially affect facultative and obligate parasitic weeds of rice and only occasionally improve yields in infested fields. Field Crops Research254, 107845; DOI: 1016/j.fcr.2020.107845
    • Senthilkumar K, Rodenburg J, Dieng I, Vandamme E, Sillo FS, Johnson JM, Rajaona A, Ramarolahy JA, Gasore R, Bayuh BA, Kajiru GJ, Mghase J, Lamo J, Rabeson R, Saito K. 2020. Quantifying rice yield gaps and their causes in Eastern and Southern Africa. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science, DOI: 1111/jac.12417
    • Rodenburg J, Randrianjafizanaka MT, Büchi L, Dieng I, Andrianaivo AP, Ravaomanarivo LHR, Autfray P. 2020. Mixed outcomes from conservation practices on soils and Striga-affected yields of a low input, rice-maize system in Madagascar. Agronomy for Sustainable Development40:8; DOI: 1007/s13593-020-0612-0
    • Bindraban PS, Dimkpa CO, White JC, Franklin FA, Melse-Boonstra A, Koele N, Pandey R, Rodenburg J, Senthilkumar K, Demokritou P, Schmidt S., 2019. Safeguarding human and planetary health demands a fertilizer sector transformation. Plants, People, Planet (in press)
    • N’cho S, Mourits, M, Rodenburg J, Oude Lansink A. 2019. Inefficiency of manual weeding in rainfed rice systems affected by parasitic weeds. Agricultural Economics, DOI:1111/agec.12473
    • Rodenburg J, Johnson JM, Dieng I, Senthilkumar K, Vandamme E, Akakpo C, Allarangaye MD, Baggie I, Bakare SO, Bam RK, Bassoro I, Abera BB, Cisse M, Dogbe W, Gbakatchetche H, Jaiteh F, Kajiru GJ, Kalisa A, Kamissoko N, Keita S, Kokou A, Mapiemfu-Lamare D, Lunze FM, Mghase J, Maïga IM, Nanfumba D, Niang A, Rabeson R, Segda Z, Sillo FS, Tanaka A, Saito K, 2019. Status quo of chemical weed control in rice in sub-Saharan Africa. Food Security, DOI: 1007/s12571-018-0878-0
    • Senthilkumar K, Tesha BJ, Mghase, J, Rodenburg J, 2018. Increasing paddy yields and improving farm management: results from participatory experiments with good agricultural practices (GAP) in Tanzania. Paddy Water and Environment, DOI:1007/s10333-018-0666-7
    • Achandi EL, Mujawamariya G, Agboh-Noameshie AR, Gebremariam S, Rahalivavololona N, Rodenburg J. 2018. Women's Access to Agricultural Technologies in Rice Production and Processing Hubs: A Comparative Analysis of Ethiopia, Madagascar and Tanzania. Journal of Rural Studies 60, 188-198. DOI:1016/j.jrurstud.2018.03.011
    • Johnson JM, Rodenburg J, Tanaka A, Senthilkumar K, Kokou A, Dieng I, Klotoe A, Akakpo C, Segda Z, Yameogo LP, Gbakatchetche H, Acheampong GK, Bam RK, Bakare OS, Kalisa A, Gasore ER, Sékou A, Ablede K, Saito K. Farmers' perceptions on mechanical weeders for rice production in sub-Saharan Africa. Experimental Agriculture, 1-15; DOI: 10.1017/S001447971700059X
    • Randrianjafizanaka MT, Autfray P, Andrianaivo AP, Ramonta IR, Rodenburg J. 2018. Combined effects of cover crops, mulch, zero-tillage and resistant varieties on Striga asiatica (L.) Kuntze in rice-maize rotation systems. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 256, 23-33. DOI:1016/j.agee.2017.12.005
    • Kabiri S, Rodenburg J, van Ast A, Bastiaans L. 2017. Slavery in Plants: how the facultative hemi-parasitic plant Rhamphicarpa fistulosa can completely dominate its host. Annals of Applied Biology 171 (3), 353-363. DOI: 1111/aab.12378
    • Tippe D, Rodenburg J, van Ast A, Anten NPR, Dieng I, Kayeke JM, Cissoko M, Bastiaans L. 2017. Delayed or early sowing: timing as parasitic weed control strategy in rice is species and ecosystem dependent. Field Crops Research 214, 14-24. DOI: 1016/j.fcr.2017.08.013
    • Tippe D, Rodenburg J, Schut M, van Ast A, Kayeke J, Bastiaans L. 2017. Farmers’ knowledge use and preferences of parasitic weed management strategies in rain-fed rice production systems. Crop Protection 99, 93-107. DOI:1016/j.cropro.2017.05.007
    • Niang A, Becker M, Ewert F, Dieng I, Gaiser T, Tanaka A, Senthilkumar K, Rodenburg J, Johnson JM, Akakpo C, Segda Z, Gbakatchetche H, Jaiteh F, Bam RK, Dogbe W, Keita S, Kamissoko N, Mossi IM, Bakare OS, Cissé M, Baggie I, Ablede KA, Saito K. 2017. Variability and determinants of yields in rice production systems of West Africa. Field Crops Research 207, 1-12. DOI: 1016/j.fcr.2017.02.014
    • Rodenburg J, Cissoko M, Kayongo N, Dieng I, Bisikwa J, Irakiza R, Masoka I, Midega CAO, Scholes JD. 2017. Genetic variation and host-parasite specificity of Striga resistance and tolerance in rice: the need for predictive breeding. New Phytologist 214, 1267–1280. DOI: 1111/nph.14451
    • Makokha DW, Irakiza R, Malombe I, Le Bourgeois T, Rodenburg J. 2017. Dualistic roles and management of non-cultivated plants in lowland rice systems of East Africa. South African Journal of Botany 108, 321-330. DOI: 1016/j.sajb.2016.08.011
    • Rodenburg J, Demont M, Zwart SJ, Bastiaans L. 2016. Parasitic weed incidence and related economic losses in rice in Africa. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 235, 306-317. DOI: 1016/j.agee.2016.10.020
    • Rodenburg J, Cissoko M, Dieng I, Kayeke J, Bastiaans L. 2016. Rice yields under Rhamphicarpa fistulosa-infested field conditions, and variety selection criteria for resistance and tolerance. Field Crops Research 194, 21-30. DOI: 1016/j.fcr.2016.04.030
    • Rodenburg J, Le Bourgeois T, Grard P, Carara A, Irakiza R, Makokha DW, Kabanyoro R, Dzomeku I, Chiconela T, Malombe I, Sarra S, Ekeleme F, Mariko M, Andrianaivo AP, Marnotte P, 2016. Electronic support tools for identification and management of rice weeds in Africa for better-informed agricultural change agents. Cahiers Agricultures 25, 15006; DOI:1051/cagri/2016004
    • Kabiri S, van Ast A, Rodenburg J, Bastiaans L. 2016. Host influence on germination and reproduction of the facultative hemi-parasitic weed Rhamphicarpa fistulosa. Annals of Applied Biology, 169 (1), 144-154. DOI: 1111/aab.12288
    • Demont M and Rodenburg J. 2016. On the interaction between weed and bird damage in rice. Weed Research 56 (3), 193-197. DOI: 1111/wre.12206
    • Rodenburg J, Saito K, Irakiza R, Makokha DW, Onyuka EA and Senthilkumar K. 2015. Labor-saving weed technologies for lowland rice farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. Weed Technology, 29 (4), 751-757. DOI: 1614/wt-d-15-00016.1 
    • Rodenburg J, Schut M, Demont M, Klerkx L, Gbehounou G, Oude Lansink A, Mourits M, Rotteveel T, Kayeke J, Ast A, Akanvou L, Cissoko M, Kamanda J, Bastiaans L, 2015. Systems approaches to innovation in pest management; reflections and lessons learned from an integrated research program on parasitic weeds in rice. International Journal of Pest Management, 61 (4), 329-339. DOI: 1080/09670874.2015.1066042 
    • Schut, M., Rodenburg, J., Klerkx, L., Hinnou, L.C., Kayeke, J., Bastiaans, L., 2015. Participatory appraisal of institutional and political constraints and opportunities for innovation to address parasitic weeds in rice. Crop Protection 74, 158-170. DOI: 1016/j.cropro.2015.04.011 
    • Rodenburg J, Cissoko M, Kayeke J, Dieng I, Khan ZR, Midega CAO, Onyuka EA, Scholes JD. 2015. Do NERICA rice cultivars express resistance to Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. and Striga asiatica (L.) Kuntze under field conditions? Field Crops Research 170, 83-94. DOI: 1016/j.fcr.2014.10.010
    • Rodenburg J, Morawetz JJ, Bastiaans L. 2015. Rhamphicarpa fistulosa (Hochst.) Benth. – A widespread facultative hemi-parasitic weed, threatening rice production in Africa. Weed Research 55, 118-131. DOI: 1111/wre.12129 
    • Kabiri S, Rodenburg J, Kayeke J, Ast A van, Makokha DW, Msangi SH, Irakiza R, Bastiaans L. 2015. Can the parasitic weeds Striga asiatica and Rhamphicarpa fistulosa co-occur in rain-fed rice? Weed Research 55, 145-154. DOI: 1111/wre.12124
    • Schut, M, Klerkx L, Rodenburg J, Kayeke J, Hinnou LC, Raboanarielina C, Adegbola, PY, van Ast, A, Bastiaans, L. 2015. RAAIS: Rapid Appraisal of Agricultural Innovation Systems (Part I). A diagnostic tool for integrated analysis of complex problems and innovation capacity. Agricultural Systems 132, 1-11. DOI: 1016/j.agsy.2014.08.009
    • Schut, M, Rodenburg J, Klerkx L, Kayeke J, van Ast A, Bastiaans L. 2015. RAAIS: Rapid Appraisal of Agricultural Innovation Systems (Part II). Integrated analysis of parasitic weed problems in rice in Tanzania. Agricultural Systems 132, 12-24. DOI: 1016/j.agsy.2014.09.004 
    • Rodenburg J, Demont M, Sow A, Dieng I. 2014. Bird weed and interaction effects on yield of irrigated lowland rice. Crop Protection 66, 46-52. DOI: 1016/j.cropro.2014.08.015
    • Nhamo N, Rodenburg J, Zenna N, Makombe G, Luzi-Kihupi A. 2014. Narrowing the rice yield gap in East and Southern Africa: using and adapting existing technologies. Agricultural Systems 131, 45-55. DOI: 1016/j.agsy.2014.08.003 
    • N’cho S, Mourits, M, Rodenburg J, Demont M, Oude Lansink A. 2014. Determinants of parasitic weed infestation in rainfed lowland rice in Benin. Agricultural Systems 130, 105-115. DOI: 1016/j.agsy.2014.07.003
    • Ogwuike P, Rodenburg J, Diagne A, Agboh-Noameshie R, Amovin-Assagba E. 2014. Weed management in upland rice in sub-Saharan Africa: impact on labor and crop productivity. Food Security 6, 327-337. DOI: 1007/s12571-014-0351-7
    • Touré A, Rodenburg J, Marnotte P, Dieng I, Huat J. 2014. Identifying the problem weeds of rice-based systems along the inland-valley catena in the southern Guinea Savanna, Africa. Weed Biology and Management 14, 121-132. DOI: 1111/wbm.12040
    • Schut M, Rodenburg J, Klerkx L, van Ast A, Bastiaans L. 2014. Systems approaches to innovation in crop protection. A systematic literature review. Crop Protection 56, 98-108. DOI: 1016/j.cropro.2013.11.017
    • Rodenburg J, Zwart SJ, Kiepe P, Narteh LT, Dogbe W, Wopereis MCS. 2014. Sustainable rice production in African inland valleys: seizing regional potentials through local approaches. Agricultural Systems 123, 1-11. DOI: 1016/j.agsy.2013.09.004 
    • Djagba JF, Rodenburg J, Zwart SJ, Houndagba CJ, Kiepe P. 2014. Failure and success factors of irrigation system developments – a case study from the Ouémé and Zou valleys in Benin. Irrigation and Drainage 63, 328-339. DOI: 1002/ird.1794 
    • Krupnik, TJ, Rodenburg, J, Haden, VR, Mbaye, D, Shennan, C, 2012. Genotypic trade-offs between water productivity and weed competition under the System of Rice Intensification in the Sahel. Agricultural Water Management 115, 156-166. DOI: 1016/j.agwat.2012.08.016
    • Krupnik TJ, Shennan C, Settle WH, Demont M, Ndiaye AB, Rodenburg J, 2012. Improving irrigated rice production in the Senegal River Valley through on-farm experiential learning and innovation. Agricultural Systems 109, 101-112. DOI: 1016/j.agsy.2012.01.008
    • Rodenburg J, Both J, Heitkönig IMA, van Koppen CSA, Sinsin B, Van Mele P, Kiepe P, 2012. Land-use and biodiversity in unprotected landscapes: The case of noncultivated plant use and management by rural communities in Benin and Togo. Society and Natural Resources 25 (12), 1221-1240. DOI: 1080/08941920.2012.674628
    • Krupnik TJ, Shennan C, Rodenburg J, 2012. Yield, water productivity and nutrient balances under the System of Rice Intensification and Recommended Management Practices in the Sahel. Field Crops Research 130, 155-167. DOI: 1016/j.fcr.2012.02.003
    • Cissoko M, Boisnard A, Rodenburg J, Press MC, Scholes JD. 2011. New Rice for Africa (NERICA) cultivars exhibit different levels of post-attachment resistance against the parasitic weeds Striga hermonthica and Striga asiatica. New Phytologist 192, 952-963. DOI: 1111/j.1469-8137.2011.03846.x
    • Jamil M, Rodenburg J, Charnikhova T, Bouwmeester HJ. 2011. Pre-attachment Striga hermonthica resistance of NERICA cultivars based on low strigolactone production. New Phytologist 192, 964-975. DOI: 1111/j.1469-8137.2011.03850.x 
    • Rodenburg J, Bastiaans L, 2011. Host-plant defence against Striga spp.: reconsidering the role of tolerance. Weed Research, 51 (5), 438-441. DOI: 1111/j.1365-3180.2011.00871.x 
    • Rodenburg J, Zossou N, Gbehounou G, Ahanchede A, Touré A., Kyalo G, Kiepe P, 2011. Rhamphicarpa fistulosa, a parasitic weed threatening rain-fed lowland rice production in sub-Saharan Africa - A case study from Benin. Crop Protection 30, 1306-1314. DOI: 1016/j.cropro.2011.06.007 
    • Toure A, Rodenburg J, Saito K, Oikeh S, Futakuchi K, Gumedzoe D, Huat J. 2011. Cultivar and weeding effects on weeds and rice yields in a degraded upland environment of the coastal savanna. Weed Technology 25, 322-329. DOI: 1614/wt-d-10-00172.1
    • Rodenburg J, Meinke H, Johnson, DE, 2011. Challenges for weed management in African rice systems in a changing climate. The Journal of Agricultural Science 149, 427–435. DOI: 1017/s0021859611000207 
    • Saito K, Azoma K, Rodenburg J, 2010. Plant characteristics associated with weed competitiveness of rice under upland and lowland conditions in West Africa. Field Crops Research 116, 308-317. DOI: 1016/j.cropro.2009.10.015
    • Rodenburg J, Riches CR, Kayeke JM, 2010. Addressing current and future problems of parasitic weeds in rice. Crop Protection 29, 210-221
    • de Vries ME, Rodenburg J, Bado BV, Sow A, Leffelaar PA, Giller KE, 2010. Rice production with less irrigation water is possible in a Sahelian environment. Field Crops Research 116 (1-2), 154-164. DOI: 1016/j.fcr.2009.12.006
    • Rodenburg J, Saito K, Glele Kakaï R, Touré A, Mariko M, Kiepe P, 2009. Weed competitiveness of the lowland rice varieties of NERICA in the southern Guinea Savanna. Field Crops Research 114, 411-418. DOI: 1016/j.fcr.2009.09.014
    • Rodenburg J, Johnson DE, 2009. Weed management in rice-based cropping systems in Africa. Advances in Agronomy 103, 149-218. DOI: 1016/s0065-2113(09)03004-1
    • Demont M, Rodenburg J, Diagne M, Diallo, S, 2009. Ex-ante impact assessment of herbicide resistant rice in the Sahel. Crop Protection 28, 728-73. DOI: 1016/j.cropro.2009.05.012
    • Wopereis MCS, Diagne A, Rodenburg J, Sié M, Somado EA, 2008. Why NERICA is a successful innovation for African farmers: a response to Orr et al. from the Africa Rice Center. Outlook on Agriculture, 37, 169-176. DOI:5367/000000008785915502.
    • Rodenburg J, Bastiaans L, Schapendonk AHCM, Putten PEL van der, Ast A van, Dingemanse NJ, Haussmann BIG, 2008. CO2-assimilation and chlorophyll fluorescence as indirect selection criteria for host tolerance against Striga. Euphytica 160, 75-87. DOI: 1007/s10681-007-9555-7 
    • Rodenburg J, Bastiaans L, Kropff MJ, 2006. Characterization of host tolerance to Striga hermonthica. Euphytica 147, 353-365. DOI: 1007/s10681-005-9030-2
    • Rodenburg J, Bastiaans L, Kropff MJ, Ast A van, 2006. Effects of host plant genotype and seed bank density on Striga reproduction. Weed Research 46, 251-263. DOI: 1111/j.1365-3180.2006.00506.x
    • Rodenburg J, Bastiaans L, Weltzien E, Hess DE, 2005. How can field selection for Striga resistance and tolerance in sorghum be improved? Field Crops Research 93, 34-50. DOI: 1016/j.fcr.2004.09.004
    • Rodenburg J, Stein A, Van Noordwijk M, Ketterings QM, 2003. Spatial variability of soil pH and phosphorus in relation to soil run-off following slash-and-burn land clearing in Sumatra, Indonesia. Soil & Tillage Research 71, 1-14. DOI: Pii s0167-1987(02)00141-1 10.1016/s0167-1987(02)00141-1 
  • Research / Scholarly Interests:

    Jonne Rodenburg’s main focus is on understanding the ecology and biology of the parasitic weeds Striga (S. asiatica and S. hermonthica) and Rhamphicarpa fistulosa in rain-fed cropping systems and to use these insights to develop sustainable management practices that are feasible for smallholder farmers.

    Jonne is also keen on elucidating the principles and mechanisms behind effective control strategies. His work focusses on the relation between soil fertility and parasitic weeds. Striga and low soil fertility are frequently mentioned as associated crop production constraints in Africa. Despite numerous studies, the universality and causality of this association lacks conclusive evidence and the translation into reliably effective and feasible control practices for smallholder farmers has so far attained little tangible success. Jonne is keen on deepening the understanding and practical implications of this relation. Currently he studies the role of nutrients in Striga resistance and tolerance in sorghum and whether smart plant nutrition solutions (e.g., improved compositions, better targeted delivery) can enhance these defence mechanisms. In addition, he investigates the effects of fertilisers, including their composition and application methods, on Rhamphicarpa-rice interactions. 

    A second key interest of Jonne concerns the sustainable intensification and diversification strategies for smallholder farmers in Africa. He is keen on understanding how crop production in these farming systems can be optimized by improved planning in space and time as well as in terms of the choices in crop species, crop management technologies and combinations thereof. Indicators for such optimization would not be restricted to crop performance in terms of productivity alone, but also include resource-use efficiency, pest (including weeds) and disease management, and natural resources/ecosystem services provided by the agroecosystem.  
  • Research Projects:

    Royal Society: International Collaboration Award “Striga Smart Sorghum Solutions for Smallholders in East Africa”. Collaborator: Dr Steven Runo, Kenyatta University. Budget: £222K (Dec. 2019-Dec. 2022). PI.

    IFAD: Research-grant project “Capitalizing the inland valley potential for food and nutrition security for smallholder farmers in West Africa”. Collaborators: Africa Rice Center, Wageningen University, CNRA (Côte d’Ivoire) and CSIR-SRI (Ghana). Budget: $2M (2017-2021). PI.

    DFID-BBSRC-BMGF: SCPRID-grant project “Genomic approaches to understanding resistance and virulence in the cereal-Striga interaction for targeted breeding of durable defence” (BB/J011703/1). Collaborators: University of Sheffield, Africa Rice Center, CIAT, Makerere University, Kenyatta University. Budget: £1.3 M (2012-2016). Co-PI.

    NWO-WOTRO: Integrated Programme-grant: “Preparing African Rice Farmers Against Parasitic Weeds in a Changing Environment”. Collaborators: Africa Rice Center, Wageningen University, CNRA (Côte d’Ivoire), INRAB (Benin), MARI (Tanzania). Budget: €700,000 (2011-2016). PI.

    Royal Society: Research-grant project “Identifying host resistance and parasite virulence in rice - Striga associations”. Collaborators: University of Sheffield, Africa Rice Center. Budget £12,000 (2011-2012). Co-PI.

    DFID-BBSRC: SARID-grant project “Unraveling the molecular genetic basis of Striga resistance in cereals: integrating QTL and genomic approaches” (BB/F004303/1). Collaborators: University of Sheffield, Africa Rice Center, NIAB, ICRISAT. Budget: £546,741 2008-2012. Co-PI.
  • Research Students:
    • Susan Ojochide Simon (Nigeria). Centre for Dryland Agriculture, Bayero University, Nigeria/NRI, University of Greenwich, UK.
    • Olankunle Opeyemi Sansa (Nigeria). Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Nigeria/NRI University of Greenwich, UK.
    • Cyprian Mwale (Malawi). Centre for Crop Systems Analysis, Plant Sciences Department, Wageningen University, The Netherlands.
    • Rachel Chase (USA). Agriculture Health and Environment Dept., Faculty of Engineering and Science, University of Greenwich, United Kingdom.
    • Immaculate Mueni Mwangangi (Kenya). Agriculture Health and Environment Dept., Faculty of Engineering and Science, University of Greenwich, UK. Time Frame: 2020-2024.
    • Guy Marius Assogba (Benin). Integrated rice and natural resources management in African wetlands. Plant Production Systems, Plant Sciences Department, Wageningen University, The Netherlands. Time Frame: 2017-2021.
  • Greenwich Academic Literature Archive (GALA) link: http://gala.gre.ac.uk/view/authors/6417.html
  • Responsibilities:
    • Professor of Agronomy
    • Module Leader Agronomy & Crop Physiology
    • Deputy Research Group Leader Ecosystem Services
    • Development-Programme Leader - Sustainable Agricultural Intensification
  • Awards:
    • Committee member of five PhD defences:
      • Odinkemneme Ukwoma-Eke, University of Reading, UK (14 Jan. 2022)
      • Ahmad Hamza, University of Greenwich, UK (3 Feb. 2021)
      • Olivia Pointurier, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté/INRA, France (13 Dec. 2019)
      • Mahdere Z. Shimels, Wageningen University, the Netherlands (14 Oct. 2019)
      • Tossimidé Houngbédji, Université Paris-Sud, France (18 Nov. 2016)
    • Member of European Weed Research Society (EWRS)
    • Member of International Parasitic Plants Society (IPPS
    • Member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation project “Promoting Root Microbes for Integrated Striga Eradication” (PROMISE), coordinated by NIOO-KNAW, Wageningen (Start date: October 2017).
    • Member of the User Committee of the NWO-STW project “Towards sustainable weed management solutions for the aggressive rice weed Cyperus rotundus: a crop-weed perspective” coordinated by the University of Utrecht (Start date: June 2017).
    • Keynote speaker at the 14th World Congress on Parasitic Plants, Pacific Grove, California, USA (25-30 June, 2017)
    • Session organizer & chair (‘Control and Management’) at the 14th World Congress on Parasitic Plants, Pacific Grove, California, USA (25-30 June, 2017)
    • Session organizer & chair (‘Crop – Weed Interactions’) at the 7th International Weed Science Congress, Prague, Czech Republic, 19-25 June, 2016
    • Invited speaker in the “Tropenzentrum Invites” seminar series. Title: Multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder approaches in crop protection – the case of parasitic weeds in rainfed rice systems in Africa. Tropenzentrum, University of Hohenheim. Stuttgart, Germany, 7 July 2014
    • Session organizer & chair (‘Ecology and Population Biology’ and ‘Control and Management’) at the 12th World Congress on Parasitic Plants, Sheffield, UK, 15-20 July, 2013
    • Organizer of the workshop ‘Advancing Research on Weed Science in Africa’ as part of the 10th African Crop Science Society Conference in Maputo, Mozambique, 1-13 October 2011
    • Panel member of the CGIAR Ad Hoc Funder Forum, ‘Celebrating Forty Years of CGIAR and Positioning the Next Forty’
    • Keynote Speaker at the 10th World Congress on Parasitic Plants, Kusadasi, Turkey, 12 June, 2009
    • Reviewer for 32 SCI-journals
    • Book reviews for Experimental Agriculture (6): (2012) 48 (3), 467; (2011) 47 (4): 736-737; (2010) 46 (1):113-114; (2009) 45 (1), 129-130; (2008) 44 (4), 573; (2008) 44 (2), 276.
    • Reviewer of a chapter of ‘Root parasitic Orobanche – parasitic mechanisms and control strategies’, edited by Joel DM, Gressel J, Musselman LJ
    • Reviewer of an FAO report ‘Shedding Light on The Invisible Links within ‘Eco-Agri-Food-Systems’ (June 2015)
    • International research proposal reviewer for the following:
      • Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique (UM6P)
      • Graduate School PE&RC of Wageningen University
      • Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO)
      • Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council (BBSRC), UK

    Awards

    • 2017 2016 PE&RC Visiting Scientist research grant (Wageningen University)
    • 2017 Dr Robert J. Carsky Memorial Award for outstanding service (AfricaRice)
    • 2011 Japan International Award for Young Agricultural Researchers
    • 2010 CGIAR Promising Young Scientist Award
  • External Profiles:

    ORCID

    https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9059-9253

    LinkedIn

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonne-rodenburg-30470523/

    Google Scholar

    https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=KUM_ZgEAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

    ResearcherID (WoS)

    E-705-2011

    Research Gate

    https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jonne_Rodenburg

    Academia

    https://gre.academia.edu/JonneRodenburg
Phone: +44 (0)1634 88 3533
Visiting Academic
Dr Noushin Emami
  • Qualifications: BSc, MSc, PhD
  • Biography:

    Dr. S. Noushin Emami is a molecular infection biologist expert in the field of host-pathogen interactions, with particular interest in understanding the dynamics of malaria transmission. At the beginning of her scientific career she garnered significant knowledge in the fields of mathematics, physics, medicine, medical entomology, tropical medicine and public health. She also assimilated significant expertise in statistical modelling, programming and bioinformatics analyses. During her PhD residency at Glasgow University (UK) ,she received training in malaria vector ecology, behaviour, and host-parasite interaction. As a post-doctoral fellow, first at Imperial college London and then at Stockholm University, she had the opportunity to design projects independently to investigate malaria parasite-derived molecules that activate the immune response of the Anopheles vector.  She have uncovered the molecular basis by which Plasmodium parasite improves its chance of transmission from its intermediate vertebrate host to its definitive invertebrate host (mosquito). Her work identified volatile molecules that are released from human erythrocytes via the parasite metabolic precursor HMBPP (Emami et al Science , 2017). This renders malaria-infected people more attractive to mosquitoes than uninfected people. Importantly, HMBPP exposes a profound weakness in the plasmodia that may be exploited, by the identification of key attractants that can be used to enhance trapping efficacy and interrupt malaria transmission. The blend (molecular mixture) of these volatiles have been patented under her name as main applicant. Her results have been published in peer-reviewed journals including Science.

    ​​Besides research, she likes to teach, so she volunteered to teach statistics to PhD students during her postdoc period. In 2018, she became the group leader and Principal Investigator (PI) of her projects in the Department of Molecular Biosciences, Stockholm University.

    At present, her main academic ambition is to understand the chemical language that exists between pathogens and their hosts with the ultimate goal to design the next generation of diagnostic methods and vector control tools. Knowledge and Invention of such methods/tools will allow us to eavesdrop and manipulate insects/hosts in ways that would defeat pathogen transmission.

    Keywords: Vector-parasite-host interactions, Infectious disease, Anopheles spp., Apicomplexan parasites, Transmission, Behaviour, Chemical ecology, Evolutionary analysis, Bioinformatics and Statistical models.
  • Selected Publications:

    The publication marked with an asterisk are completely independent of my PhD supervisor, including my latest publication in Science and PLOS pathogens.

     

    • Emami S.N., Hajkazemian M., Mozūraitis R., (2020). Can Plasmodium’s tricks for enhancing its transmission be turned against the parasite? New hopes for vector control, Pathogens and global health, DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2019.1703398(*). Introducing the new niche in Infection biology, and make a connection between basic and  applied science.
    • Mozūraitis R., Aleknavičius D., Vepštaitė-Monstavičė I., Stanevičienė R., Emami S. N., Apšegaitė V., Radžiutė S., Blažytė-Čereškienė L., Servienė E. and Būda V.,(2020). Hippophae rhamnoides berry related Pichia kudriavzevii yeast volatiles modify behaviour of Rhagoletis batava Journal of Advanced Research, , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jare.2019.08.001 (*). Identifying behaviour of the insect encounter with  pathogen.
    • Azeem M., Iqbal Z., Emami S.N., Nordlander G., Nordenham H., Nazir A., Mozūraitis R. El-Seedi H. R., Borg-Karlson A. K., (2020). Chemical composition and evaluation of native plant-based essential oils against Aedes aegypti. Industrial Crops and Products,. DOI: 10.1111/aab.12586 (*). Identifying behaviour, and chemical ecology in an insect- plant interactions.
    • Liu N., Uppuluri P., Broggi A., Besold A., Ryman K., Kambara H., Solis N., Lorenz V., Qi W., Zaldivar MA., Emami S.N., Boa B., An D., Bonilla F., Sola-Visner M., Filler S., Luo HR., Engstrom Y., Ljungdahl PO., Culotta VC., Zanoni I., Lopez-Ribot JL., Koehler JR., (2018). Intersection of phosphate transport, oxidative stress and TOR signalling in Candida albicans virulence, PLOS Pathogens, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/317933 (*). Investigating, and showing the virulence signalling cascade in insect as result of interaction with a pathogen ,identifying novel intersection signalling pathways between pathogen and host.
    • Vafa Homann M., Emami S.N., Yaman V., Stenström C., Sonden K., Ramström H., Karlsson M., Asghar M., Färnert A., (2017), Detection of malaria parasites after treatment in travelers: A 12-months longitudinal study and statistical modelling analysis. EBioMedicine, DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2017.10.003: PMID: 29050948(*). Investigating, and mathematical modelling of in vivo infection in collected human patient samples from Africa for understanding the infection disease patterns and clinical consequences.
    • Emami S.N., Lindberg B.G., Hua S., Mozuraitis R., Lehmann P., Birgersson G., Hill S., Borg- Karlson A.K., Ignell R., Faye F., (2017), A key malaria metabolite modulates vector blood seeking, feeding, and susceptibility to infection. Science, 335: 1076-1080: PMID:28183997(*). Discovery of malaria parasite HMBPP, that induces changes in the human host that act as a rescue beacon by signalling to the mosquito vector to improve the odds of successful transmission.
    • Emami, N., Ranford-Cartwright, L. C. & Ferguson, H. M., (2017), The transmission potential of malaria-infected mosquitoes (An.gambiae-Keele, An.arabiensis-Ifakara) is altered by the vertebrate blood type they consume during parasite development. Nature Scientific reports,7, 40520: PMID:28094293. We demonstrated that the proportion of vectors developing transmission-stage sporozoites is significantly influenced by the type of host blood on which they feed during sporogony.
    • Shakeri Manesh S., Sangsuwan T., Pour Khavari, A., Fotouhi A., Emami S.N. & Haghdoost S., (2017), MTH1, an 8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine triphosphatase, and MYH, a DNA glycosylase, cooperate to inhibit mutations induced by chronic exposure to oxidative stress of ionizing Mutagenesis, 1-8. DOI:10.1093/mutage/gex003: PMID: 28340109(*). Investigating, and showing the influence of radiation on host cell, and identifying the stress signalling pathways
    • Mohamed Adia M., Emami S.N., Byamukama R., Faye I., Borg-Karlson A.K., (2016), Antiplasmodial activity and phytochemical analysis of extracts from selected Ugandan medicinal plants., Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 20;186:14-9: PMID:27019273(*). Chemical ecology and its usage in new drug discovery for combating pathogens, such as malaria parasite.
    • Emami N., Ranford-Cartwright L., Ferguson H.M., (2013), The impact of low erythrocyte density in human blood on the fitness and energetic reserves of the African malaria vector An. gambiae s.s. Malaria Journal, 12: 1-11: PMID: 23374331. Anaemia does not significantly reduce the fitness or transmission potential of malaria vectors, and mosquitoes may be able exploit resources for reproduction more efficiently.
    • Vatandoost H., Emami S.N., Oshaghi M.A., Abai M.R., Akbarzadeh K., Piazzak N., & Townson H. (2011), Bionomics of Anopheles culicifacies in a malarious area, Sistan and Bluchestan province, southeast Iran. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, 17 (5): 439-445: PMID: 21796958(*)
    • Oshaghi MA, Ravasan NM, Javadian E, Rassi Y, Sadraei J, Enayati AA, Vatandoost H, Zare Z, Emami S.N., (2009), Application of predictive degree day model for field development of sandfly vectors of visceral leishmaniasis in northwest of , J Vector Borne Diseases, 01;46(4):247-55: PMID: 19959849(*)
  • Research / Scholarly Interests:

    Insect vectors are frequently viewed as not more than “flying syringes” that transmit pathogens between hosts. However, host physiological status and behaviour as a result of pathogen manipulation has direct impact on transmission dynamics of the disease and has not yet been fully acknowledged. The main hypothesis of our newly established research group is to focus on avenues for basic and applied scientific exploration concerning which represents an ancient chemical language between pathogens and their insect hosts. Understanding of such languages will allow us to eavesdrop and manipulate insects/hosts in ways that defeat the pathogens.

    Dr. Emami’s research interest encompasses a spectrum of areas from infection biology of vector-parasite-host interactions through to fundamental research in chemical ecology & evolution. Her strengths are in using integrated approaches that range from molecular and cellular scales through to individuals, populations, species, and ecosystems. Her current research is organised into five broad themes.

    • Infection biology of vector-parasite-host interactions
    • Infectious disease & host behavioural flexibility
    • Chemical Ecology & Environmental Change
    • Invention of strategies for blocking successful transmission
    • Omics/Statistics/Evolutionary Analysis & models
  • Teaching Programmes:
    • Since 2017 15h/week course: Infection Biology course for undergraduates, Stockholm University, Sweden
    • Since 2014 20 h/week PhD course: Statistics, modelling and programming in R for biology PhD students, Stockholm University, Sweden
    • 2013-2014 Consulting PhD students in Oman who have statistical modelling problems by email and Skype.
  • Research Projects:

    Mechanisms by which malaria parasites manipulate mosquito behaviour to enhance transmission

    Swedish council research (start-up) grants (2018-2021):

    Malaria infection renders humans more attractive to Anopheles gambiae malaria mosquitoes, increasing the risk of Plasmodium falciparum transmission. I have shown that this is linked to a parasite-produced isoprenoid precursor, (E)-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-but-2-enyl pyrophosphate (HMBPP), which indirectly affects mosquito attraction by causing erythrocytes to release more salient volatile molecules. Moreover, HMBPP directly affects the persistence of mosquito feeding, by acting as a phagostimulant. The overall purpose and aim of this research proposal is to further analyse the effect of MEP pathway metabolites on manipulating the human and vector hosts. The findings of this project may lead to novel ways to decrease mosquito biting, particularly on infective humans, and hence reduce malaria transmission. Overall, the benefit would be a reduced malaria morbidity and mortality in affected communities

    Targeting host seeking malaria mosquitoes, using a trick evolved by their parasites

    Swedish council net-working grant (2018-2020)

    The overall purpose and aim of this research proposal is the development of a novel “lure” to be used for mass trapping of mosquitoes in regions affected by malaria. The findings of the proposed research will increase our understanding of malaria parasite transmission and the development of a novel control tool to reduce parasite transmission success in affected communities.

    The role of microvesicles in mediating P. falciparum transmission to mosquitoes

    Jeanssons Stiftelser 2019- grant

    HMBPP is released into blood by P. falciparum and has a potential to regulate parasite sporogonic success in a mosquito. However, it remains unexplored how HMBPP is exported from P. falciparum-infected red blood cells into the bloodstream. We hypothesize that HMBPP is released via microvesicles, nanosized extracellular vesicles which are actively secreted out of parasite-infected red blood cells and denoted P. falciparum-infected red blood cell-derived microvesicles (PfRMVs)

    At present, the high-lighted acquired results are under revision in high impact peer-reviewed journals

  • Research Students:
    • Melika Hajkazemian (PhD student), Stockholm University, Sweden. Thesis title: Mechanisms by which malaria parasites manipulate mosquito behaviour to enhance transmission
    • Joanna Szymczak (Postdoc), Stockholm University, Sweden.
    • Madina Mohamed (PhD student), Stockholm University, Sweden. Thesis title: Extracts from the selected plants (herbal remedies in Prometra-Uganda and Rukararwe- Bumetha) are active against the malaria parasites, Plasmodium falciparum.
    • Susanna Hua (Master student), Stockholm University, Sweden.
  • Awards:

    Commissions Of Trust

    • 2016 - Present - Board member at Centre of Malaria Research (CMR), KI, Stockholm, SWEDEN
    • 2017-  Present - Member of Mentor4Research program, Swedish national program for academic researchers and business mentors, Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, (IVA), Stockholm, Sweden

     

    PhD Examination Board Member

    • 2019 - Naomi L.P. Keehnen, Immunity and butterfly; a functional genomic study of natural variation in immunity, Dissertation Committee at Zoology department of Stockholm Univesity, Stockholm, Sweden. 
    • 2016 - Karolin Axelsson, Chemical signals in interactions between Hylobius abietis and associated bacteria, Dissertation Committee at KTH Royal Institute of Technology School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Stockholm, Sweden. 
    • 2016 - Lynda Kirie Eneh, Oviposition cues as a tool for developing new malaria control strategy, Dissertation Committee at KTH Royal Institute of Technology School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Stockholm, Sweden. 
    • 2014 - Marycelina Mubi, Impact of laboratory diagnosis for improving the management of uncomplicated malaria at peripheral health care setting in coast region, Tanzania, Dissertation Committee at Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

     

    Memberships of Scientific Societies

    • 2009 - Present British Society of parasitology
    • 2013 - Present Swedish Malaria Network
    • 2016 - Present Board member at Centre of Malaria Research (CMR), KI, Stockholm, SWEDEN
    • 2017- Present Award for participating in Mentor4Research program, Swedish national program for academic researchers and business mentors, Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, (IVA), Stockholm, SWEDEN

    Entrepreneurial Achievements

    • Intellectual property: The discovery of the HMBPP, as a potent phago-stimulant and inducer of the attractive blend is awarded a patent: GB patent application no. 1701743.5): submitted by the main applicant, S. Noushin Emami, (Potter Clarkson LLP- Stockholm University), registration date: 2 Feb 2017
    • Intellectual property: Method for Automatic Irrigation of Domestic Plants: Swedish patent application no. 17514126): submitted by the main applicant, S. Noushin Emami, (Zacco ABs- Stockholm University), registration date: 15 Nov 2017
    • The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application: The discovery of the HMBPP, as a potent phago-stimulant and inducer of the attractive blend is awarded a PCT: GB patent application no. 1701743.5): submitted by the main applicant, S. Noushin Emami, (Potter Clarkson LLP- Stockholm University), registration date: 2 Feb 2018
    • Intellectual property: The discovery of the swarming pheremone, as a potent inducer of the attractive blend is awarded a patent: Swedish patent application no. EP2019/059642): submitted by the main applicant, S. Noushin Emami, (Zacco ABs- Stockholm University), registration date: 12 Feb 2018
  • External Profiles:

    ORCID

    https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7239-4457

    LinkedIn

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/s-noushin-emami-6256b936/
Phone: +44 (0)1634 88 3199
Visiting Fellow
Dr Peter J A Burt
  • Qualifications: BSc (Hons), PhD, MRSB, MInstLM, FHEA, FRMetS, GCAPL
  • Biography:

    Dr Burt is a Biometeorologist, with 40 years’ experience in areas of windborne dispersal of organisms and particulate material through the atmosphere, the influence of topography on airflow, organism responses to climate change, and palaeoclimates and palaeoenvironments. He joined the Natural Resources Institute as a Special Research Fellow in January 1989 and was appointed Principal Scientist in 1991. He was previously Deputy Head of the Environmental Sustainability Group (August 2001 to December 2002) and Acting Head of the Group (January – March 2003).

    Dr Burt is Programme Leader for the BSc Environmental Science and MSc Natural Resources (By Research) programmes. He lectures on aspects of introductory meteorology to first-year undergraduates, as well as aspects of applied meteorology/climatology, ecology and climate change in various undergraduate and postgraduate courses (see below). He is the former Programme Leader of the MScs in Agriculture for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Environmental Management. His research in aspects of meteorology/climatology, airborne dispersal and palaeoenvironments is further supported through the supervision of MSc and PhD students. He has been involved in investigations of the dispersal of airborne material within the Medway, Kent, area and has acted as an Expert Witness on airborne particulate dispersal at local planning enquiries.
  • Selected Publications:

    • Seymour, V., Willis, B., Wilkin, P., Burt, P., Ikin, E. and Stevenson, P.C. (2022). Incorporating citizen science to advance the Natural Capital approach. Ecosystem Service, 54, 101419-101432. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2022.101419

    • Gentilucci, M., Materazzi, M., Pambianchi, G., Burt, P. and Guerriero, G. (2020) Temperature variations in Central Italy (Marche region) and effects on wine grape production. Theoretical and Applied Climatology. Published online 13 January 2020, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-020-03089-4

    • Ezikanyi, D.N., Sakwari, G. and Burt, P. (2019) Weather variability in a decade and its current impact on airborne pollen and spores in Nsukka, Nigeria. Advances in Environmental Biology, 13(1), 29-38 https://doi.org/10.22587/aeb.2019.13.1.5https://doi.org/10.22587/aeb.2019.13.1.5

    • Gentilucci, M., Barbieri, M. and Burt, P. (2019). Climate and Territorial Suitability for the Vineyards Developed Using GIS Techniques. In: Chenchouni, H., Errami, E., Rocha, F., Sabato, L. (eds) Exploring the Nexus of Geoecology, Geography, Geoarcheology and Geotourism: Advances and Applications for Sustainable Development in Environmental Sciences and Agroforestry Research. CAJG 2018. Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-01683-8_3
  • Research / Scholarly Interests:

    Dr Burt's research activities can be divided into four main categories: biometeorology and bioclimatology, with emphasis on insect aerobiology and palaeoenvironments; pollen and spore aerobiology; investigations of the atmospheric dispersal of pollutants, and general meteorology/climatology.

    Biometeorology, with emphasis on insect aerobiology

    Initial, novel, investigations demonstrated that small temporal (few minutes) and spatial (metres to tens of metres) thermal convective structures in the atmosphere are important in the concentration and dispersal of small insects, especially those such as aphids and thrips which feed on cereal crops. Conventional monitoring equipment does not normally operate at these resolutions, hence the impact of such structures in creating non-randomness in the arrival of airborne insects, and in epidemiological studies, may have been underestimated. This was verified for other species in field investigations overseas.

    Many insect pests fly at night. Studies of the role played by nocturnal wind systems in dispersing and concentrating such insects drew together material on this subject for the first time, as an aid to insect forecasters and pest controllers identifying likely areas of pest insect outbreaks.

    On larger spatial and temporal scales, Desert Locusts have the capacity to migrate across the Atlantic Ocean, a feature of their behaviour which takes them outside their normal ecological ranges and which is not predicted through laboratory investigations of flight capacity. Historically, however, such migrations are rare, and future movements are unlikely to become of economic importance, even under proposed climate change scenarios. Such migrations suggest that the arrival of Old World species may have affected the speciation of New World grasshopper species. The results of this work also demonstrated the problems of transferring laboratory results directly in to the field (which have informed other aerobiological and ecological studies).

    Development of a predictive model relating cloud-top temperature to rainfall in the Sahelian region of Mali, and the use of satellite remote sensing to monitor it, has enabled local plant protection teams to target their pest control activities more efficiently and economically over the vast areas where the pest grasshopper Oedaleus senegalensis is endemic, thereby reducing the impact of crop losses on the livelihoods of subsistence farmers in the area.

    The discovery of the degradation of the ozone layer over Antarctica, and its subsequent impact on the health and well-being of animals (including man) in the southern areas of South America in the 1980s, led to a major initiative to develop accurate ultra-violet (UV) radiation forecasting tools. Such forecasts have enabled people to be made aware of the times of higher UV radiation levels, thereby reducing human and livestock exposure to physiologically-damaging levels of radiation.

    Pollen and spore aerobiology

    Mycosphaerella fijiensis is the fungal spore causing Black Sigatoka disease in banana and plantain. The disease is of major economic importance to subsistence farmers in developing countries, causing significant reductions in fruit quality and yield. The results of five years of research in Central America and Africa on aspects of the airborne dispersal and epidemiology of this pathogen resolved a number of previously unclear aspects of its behaviour. Although spreading worldwide, the results from this investigation showed that the reasons for the disease not becoming well-established and destroying the subsistence-based banana industries of the Caribbean is that periods of exposure to sunlight (as normally experienced by windborne spread of spores from diseased plantations in the Americas) kills the spores before they reach potential host plants, and also that proportionally low numbers of spores enter the atmosphere from infected plants. Consequently, continued adoption of plant quarantine and disease control methods in the Caribbean should prevent the spread of this disease. Current investigations of long-distance dispersal of pollen and spores, and also the impacts of climate change on dispersal patterns, have evolved from this work, and also link to the airborne pollution studies outlined below.

    General meteorology and climatology

    Investigations of the atmospheric dispersal of pollutants

    In recent years Dr Burt has been involved in a series of investigations which have started to address the complexities of topographic airflow and the potential for pollution transport in the southeast of England, at regional and transboundary levels. No previous investigations of the relationship between airflow and topography, and the influence of these on the dispersal of pollution, have been undertaken in this region. Preliminary results have shown the complexity of the airflows in the region, the relationship between local and synoptic scale flows and why existing physical models of pollution dispersal (relating to dispersal within the lowest 1500 m of the troposphere) were not reflecting reality. A greater emphasis should be placed on integrating measured data from monitoring stations, in association with field observations.

    Climate and climate change impacts on organisms

    Understanding and predicting future climate change impacts is enhanced through identifying such changes in the past and considering their likely occurrence in the future.  The sunken forests of the Thames Estuary and south Cornish coast provide a wealth of data on palaeoenvironments, and preliminary studies are investigating how these evolved and the impact of environmental change (including climate change) upon them.
  • Teaching Programmes:
    • Programme Leader BSc Environmental Science and BSc Physical Geography (July 2015 – present) and BSc Geography (July 2015 – August 2024)

      Module leader (and teaching into):

      • L4 Earth’s Dynamic Systems
      • L4 Science and the Environment
      • L5 Biogeography and Ecosystems
      • L5 Research and Professional Skills in Geography and Environmental Science
      • L5 Urban and Topographic Meteorology
      • L6 Climate Change
      • L6 Project supervision
      • L6 Soils and Environmental Interactions

      Inputs to:

      • L4: Environmental Field Skills
      • L5: Sustainable Futures
      • L5: Environmental Management
      • L6 Conservation and the Environment
      • L6 Environmental Impact Assessment
      • L6 Readings in Geography and Environmental Science
    • MSc Agriculture for Sustainable Development and MSc Global Environmental Change 

      Module leader (and teaching into):

      • Conservation Ecology Fundamentals of Meteorology and Climate Change
      • Research Methods for Postgraduates Soils and Environments MSc Natural Resources (by Research): Programme Leader
    • MSc Natural Resources (by Research): Programme Leader
  • Research Projects:

    Dr Burt has completed major (as Project Leader/Manager and researcher) to assess the role of the wind in the movement of the plant pathogens causing Sigatoka diseases of banana and plantain and the use of satellite imagery to identify likely areas of the eclosion of pest grasshoppers in relation to rainfall in the Sahel (particularly Mali), as well as studies of insect movement and dispersal in association with wind systems in the lower atmosphere. Other investigations have involved the use of satellite remote sensing as an aid to agro-ecological monitoring and in the collection and analysis of atmospheric profile (temperature, water vapour and ozone) data.
  • Research Students:

    • Doherty, Amy (2004).  Satellite estimation of precipitation using a combined IR and microwave technique for agricultural applications.

    • Odle, Bob, (2004).  The automatic characterisation and source apportionment of airborne particulate matter using microanalysis

    • Sharma, Poonam (2004).  Monitoring the dispersal of pollen and spores in relation to agriculture.

    • Mugisha, Samuel (2007). Satellite remotely sensed data: the potential for Uganda’s savannas.

    • Nicolas-Perea, Virginia (2011). The role of topography in the dispersal of airborne particulates in the southeast of England

    • Amoah, Barbara (2018). Climate change in Ghana and its impacts on and from agriculture, at a smallholder level (PJAB as initial supervisor)

    • Shiferaw Dawit Abebe (ongoing). Climate Change: Vulnerability and Resilience of Borena Pastoral Socio-Ecological System in Ethiopia
  • Greenwich Academic Literature Archive (GALA) link: http://gala.gre.ac.uk/view/authors/2008.html
  • Responsibilities:

    • Member of University of Greenwich Academic Council: September 2003 – August 2012.

    • Chair and Panel Member of academic approval events: as required.
  • Awards:

    • Editor of the Royal Meteorological Society’s journal Meteorological Applications (2005-2019).

    • Member of the Editorial Board of the Society’s journal Weather (2000-2005).

    • Associate Editor of the European Journal of Plant Pathology.

    • Expert Reviewer for Working Groups I and II for the IPCC 5th and 6th Assessment Reports.

    • Expert reviewer for DFID’s Climate Impact Research Capacity and Leadership Enhancement (CIRCLE) programme Visiting Fellowship Scheme (2015 – 2017).

    • Expert reviewer for 3ie consultancy on impacts of El Nño and the Indian Ocean Dipole on countries in the West Pacific/Asia regions.

    • Member of the organising and scientific committees of the 24th Annual Conference and Exhibition of the Remote Sensing Society, held at the University of Greenwich in September 1998, and co-editor of the conference proceedings.

    • Involved in the organisation on the Third European Symposium on Aerobiology, held at University College Worcester in August 2003, as a member of the organising and scientific committees, co-editor of the symposium abstracts and invited Chair of the Climate Change session.

    • External Examiner, University of Newcastle: (2018-2022)
  • External Profiles:

    ORCID

    https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8071-5959

    ResearchGate

    https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Peter_Burt4/

     
Phone: +44 (0)1634 88 3231
Principal Scientist, Biometeorology
Dr Truly Santika Rintanen
  • Qualifications: BSc, MSc, PhD, FHEA
  • Biography:

    Truly joined the NRI in June 2020. Before joining NRI, she worked as an adjunct researcher at the University of Queensland and the University of Kent. Her research focuses on the application of geospatial analysis, statistical modelling, and geospatial impact evaluation (quasi-experimental) approach to analyse the sustainability of food, agriculture, and land use, considering social, economic, and environmental dimensions.

    More specifically, her research centres on the transdisciplinary links between environmental change (land use and climate), ecosystem function, livelihoods and agriculture, and human well-being and health. Her research seeks to examine the human-environmental systems by considering multiple scales (spatial, temporal, and institutional) and the interconnection between distant places through trade (telecoupling) to inform national and international decision-making processes towards just sustainability. She uses a wide range of datasets in her research, including large-scale data derived from remote sensing and government censuses, as well as field survey data.

    Truly has led numerous interdisciplinary initiatives and publications, including the evaluation of the impact of oil palm agriculture and sustainability certification on livelihoods and poverty, community forestry and land use planning, climate change and health, species and biodiversity conservation, theoretical spatial analysis and macroecology, and most recently, global trade and telecoupling.

    She obtained a BSc in Mathematics from Bandung Institute of Technology, an MSc in Statistics and Operations Research from RMIT University, and a PhD in Resource Management and Environmental Science from Australian National University.
  • Selected Publications:

    2024

    • Morgans, C.L., Jago, S., Andayani, N., … Santika, T. & Struebig, M.J. (2024) Improving well-being and reducing deforestation in Indonesia's protected areas. Conservation Letters 17, e13010. https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.13010
    • Lo, M., Morgans, C.L., Mumbunan, S., Supriatna, J., Santika, T., Davies, Z.G. & Struebig, M.J. (2024) Nickel mining reduced forest cover in Indonesia, but had mixed outcomes for well-being. One Earth. https://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/48412
    • Santika, T., Nelson, V., Flint, M., MacEwen, M., Cerretelli, S. & Brack, D. (2024) Leverage points for tackling unsustainable global value chains: market-based measures versus transformative alternatives. Sustainability Science 19, 285–305. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-023-01430-0
    • Seaman, D.J., Voigt, M., Ancrenaz, M., ..., Santika, T. et al. (2024) Capacity for recovery in Bornean orangutan populations when limiting offtake and retaining forest. Diversity and Distributions, e13852. https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13852
    • Kiribou, R., Dimobe, K., Yameogo, L., Yang, H., Santika, T. & Dejene, S.W. (2024) Two decades of land cover change and anthropogenic pressure around Bontioli Nature Reserve in Burkina Faso. Environmental Challenges 17, 101025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envc.2024.101025

    2023

    • Santika, T., Muhidin, S., Budiharta, S., Haryanto, B., Agus, F., Wilson, K.A., Struebig, M.J. & Po, J.Y. (2023) Deterioration of respiratory health following changes to land cover and climate in Indonesia. One Earth 6, 290-302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2023.02.012
    • Katic, P.G., Cerretelli, S., Haggar, J.P., Santika, T. & Walsh, C. (2023) Mainstreaming biodiversity in business decisions: taking stock of tools and gaps. Biological Conservation 277, 109831. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109831
    • Mwangi, J.G., Haggar, J., Mohammed, S., Santika, T. & Umar, K.M. (2023) The ecology, distribution, and anthropogenic threats of multipurpose hemi-parasitic plant Osyris lanceolata. Journal for Nature Conservation 76, 126478. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnc.2023.126478
    • Massingham, E., Ancrenaz, M., Mika, D., Sherman, J., Santika, T., Pradipta, L., Possingham, H.P. & Dean, A.J. (2023) Killing of orangutans in Kalimantan - Community perspectives on incidence and drivers. Conservation Science and Practice 5, e13025. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.13025
    • Fosch, A., Ferraz de Arruda, G., Aleta, A., Descals, A., Gaveau, D., …, Santika, T., Struebig, M.J. & Moreno, Y. (2023) Replanting unproductive palm oil with smallholder plantations can help achieve Sustainable Development Goals in Sumatra, Indonesia. Communications Earth & Environment 4, 378. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-01037-4
    • Massingham, E., Wilson, K.A., Ancrenaz, M., Santika, T., Friedman, R., Possingham, H.P. & Dean, A.J. (2023) Public opinion on protecting iconic species depends on individual wellbeing: Perceptions about orangutan conservation in Indonesia and Malaysia. Environmental Science and Policy 150, 103588. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2023.103588

    2022

    • Santika, T., Sherman, J., Voigt, M., Ancrenaz, M, Wich, S.A., Wilson, K.A. et al. (2022) Effectiveness of 20 years of conservation investments in protecting orangutans. Current Biology 32, 1754-1763. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2022.02.051
    • Voigt, M., Kühl, H.S., Ancrenaz, M., Gaveau, D., Santika, T., Sherman, J., Wich, S.A., Wolf, F., Struebig, M.J. & Pereira, H.M. (2022) Deforestation projections imply range-wide population decline for critically endangered Bornean orangutan. Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation 20, 240-248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecon.2022.06.001

    2021

    • Santika, T., Wilson, K.A., Law, E.A., St John, F.A., Carlson, K.M., Gibbs, H., Morgans, C.L. & Struebig, M.J. (2021) Impact of palm oil sustainability certification on village well-being and poverty in Indonesia. Nature Sustainability 4, 109-119. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-020-00630-1
    • Voigt, M., Supriatna, J., Deere, N.J., Kastanya, A., Mitchell, S.L., Rosa, I.M., Santika, T. et al. (2021) Emerging threats from deforestation and forest fragmentation in the Wallacea centre of endemism. Environmental Research Letters 16, 094048. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac15cd
    • Sherman, J., Unwin, S., ..., Santika, T., Massingham, E. & Seaman, D.J. (2021) Disease risk and conservation implications of orangutan translocations. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 8, 749547. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.749547
    • Meijaard, E., Santika, T., Wilson, K.A., Budiharta, S. et al. (2021) Toward improved impact evaluation of community forest management in Indonesia. Conservation Science and Practice 3, e189. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.189
    • Ancrenaz, M., Oram, F., Nardiyono, N., Silmi, M., Jopony, M.E., Voigt, M., Seaman, D.J., Sherman, J., Santika, T. et al. (2021) Importance of small forest fragments in agricultural landscapes for maintaining orangutan metapopulations. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change 4, 560944. https://doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2021.560944

    2020

    • Santika, T., Budiharta, S., Law, E.A., Dennis, R.A., Dohong, A., Struebig, M.J., Gunawan, H. & Wilson, K.A. (2020) Interannual climate variation, land type and village livelihood effects on fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Global Environmental Change 64, 102129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2020.102129
    • Friedman, R.S., Rhodes, J.R., Dean, A.J., Law, E.A., Santika, T., Budiharta, S., Kusworo, A., St. John, F.A.V., Struebig, M.J. & Wilson, K.A. (2020) Analyzing procedural equity in government-led community-based forest management. Ecology and Society 25,16. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-11710-250316
    • Meijaard, E., Brooks, T.M., Carlson, K.M., Slade, E.M., Garcia-Ulloa, J., Gaveau, D.L., Lee, J.S.H., Santika, T., Juffe-Bignoli, D., Struebig, M.J. & Wich, S.A. (2020) The environmental impacts of palm oil in context. Nature Plants 6, 1418-1426. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-020-00813-w
    • Laurance, W.F., Wich, S.A., ..., Santika, T., Byler, D., Mittermeier, R. & Kormos, R. (2020) Tapanuli orangutan endangered by Sumatran hydropower scheme. Nature Ecology & Evolution 4, 1438-1439. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-020-1263-x
    • Friedman, R.S., Guerrero, A.M., McAllister, R.R., Rhodes, J.R., Santika, T., Budiharta, S., Indrawan, T., Hutabarat, J.A., Kusworo, A. & Yogaswara, H. (2020) Beyond the community in participatory forest management: A governance network perspective. Land Use Policy 97, 104738. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2020.104738
    • Sherman, J., Ancrenaz, M., Voigt, M., Oram, F., Santika, T. & Wich, S.A. (2020) Envisioning a future for Bornean orangutans: Conservation impacts of action plan implementation and recommendations for improved population outcomes. Biodiversitas 21, 465-477. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d210206

    2019

    • Santika, T., Wilson, K.A., Budiharta, S., Law, E.A., Poh, T.M. & Struebig, M.J. (2019) Does oil palm agriculture help alleviate poverty? A multidimensional counterfactual assessment of oil palm development in Indonesia. World Development 120, 105-117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2019.04.012
    • Santika, T., Wilson, K.A., ...., Struebig, M., Ancrenaz, M. & Poh, T.M. (2019) Changing landscapes, livelihoods and village welfare in the context of oil palm development. Land Use Policy 87, 104073. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2019.104073
    • Morgans, C.L., Santika, T., Meijaard, E. et al. (2019) Cost-benefit based prioritisation of orangutan conservation actions in Indonesian Borneo. Biological Conservation 238, 108236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2019.108236
    • Santika, T., Wilson, K.A., Budiharta, S., Kusworo, A., Law, E.A., Friedman, R., ...., St. John, F.A. & Struebig, M.J. (2019) Heterogeneous impacts of community forestry on forest conservation and poverty alleviation: Evidence from Indonesia. People and Nature 1, 204-219. https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.25

    2018

    • Morgans, C.L., Meijaard, E., Santika, T., Law, E., Budiharta, S., Ancrenaz, M. & Wilson, K.A. (2018) Evaluating the effectiveness of palm oil certification in delivering multiple sustainability objectives. Environmental Research Letters 13, 064032. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aac6f4
    • Voigt, M., Wich, S.A., Ancrenaz, M., Abram, N., Banes, G.L., Campbell-Smith, G., d’Arcy, L.J., …, Santika, T. et al. (2018) Global demand for natural resources eliminated more than 100,000 Bornean orangutans. Current Biology 28, 761-769. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2018.01.053

    2017

    • Santika, T., Meijaard, E., Budiharta, S., Law, E.A., Kusworo, A., Hutabarat, J.A., Indrawan, T.P., Struebig, M. et al. (2017) Community forest management in Indonesia: Avoided deforestation in the context of anthropogenic and climate complexities. Global Environmental Change 46, 60-71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2017.08.002
    • Santika, T., Ancrenaz, M., Wilson, K.A., Spehar, S., Abram, N. et al. (2017) First integrative trend analysis for a great ape species in Borneo. Scientific Reports 7, 4839. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-04435-9
    • Wijedasa, L.S., Jauhiainen, J., …, Santika, T. et al. (2017) Denial of long‐term issues with agriculture on tropical peatlands will have devastating consequences. Global Change Biology 23, 977-982. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13516
    • Lunney, D., Stalenberg, E., Santika, T. & Rhodes, J.R. (2017) A rebuttal to ‘Mooted extinction of koalas at Eden: improving the information base’. Wildlife Research 44, 453-457. https://doi.org/10.1071/WR17008

    2016 and Earlier

    • Santika, T., McAlpine, C.A., Lunney, D., Wilson, K.A. & Rhodes, J.R. (2015) Assessing spatiotemporal priorities for species’ recovery in broad‐scale dynamic landscapes. Journal of Applied Ecology 52, 832-840. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12441
    • Santika, T., Meijaard, E. & Wilson, K.A. (2015) Designing multifunctional landscapes for forest conservation. Environmental Research Letters 10, 114012. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/10/11/114012
    • Santika, T., McAlpine, C.A., Lunney, D., Wilson, K.A. & Rhodes, J.R. (2014) Modelling species distributional shifts across broad spatial extents by linking dynamic occupancy models with public‐based surveys. Diversity and Distributions 20, 786-796. https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.12189
    • Lunney, D., Stalenberg, E., Santika, T. & Rhodes, J.R. (2014) Extinction in Eden: identifying the role of climate change in the decline of the koala in south-eastern NSW. Wildlife Research 41, 22-34. https://doi.org/10.1071/WR13054
    • Santika, T. (2011) Assessing the effect of prevalence on the predictive performance of species distribution models using simulated data. Global Ecology and Biogeography 20, 181-192. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1466-8238.2010.00581.x
    • Santika, T. & Hutchinson, M.F. (2009) The effect of species response form on species distribution model prediction and inference. Ecological Modelling 220, 2365-2379. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2009.06.004
    • Hearne, J.W., Santika, T. & Goodman, P. (2008) Portfolio selection theory and wildlife management. ORiON: Journal of the Operations Research Society of South Africa 24, 103-113. https://doi.org/10.5784/24-2-62
  • Research / Scholarly Interests:

    I am interested in a broad range of research themes, including environmental change, sustainability, and socio-environmental equity. I use a variety of analytical approaches (derived from mathematics, statistics, computer science, machine learning), in collaboration with researchers from other disciplines, to analyse a wide range of data, that fit with the purpose, context, and scale of the study.

    NRI Research Groups and Centres affiliations: 

    • Ecosystem Service Research Group
    • Political Ecology, Culture, and Arts Research Group
    • Research Centre on Sustainable Agriculture for One Health
    • Research Centre for Society, Environment, and Development
  • Teaching Programmes:

    BSc Environmental Science, Biology, and Geography

    • Environmental Impact Assessment (ENVI-0303)
    • Research and Professional Skills in Geography and Environmental Science (GEOG-1024)
    • Practical and Professional Skills (ENVI-1039) · Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (ENVI-1174)
    • Conservation and the Environment (ENVI-1133)
    • Introduction to Ecological Modelling and Programming (ENVI-1192) 

    MSc Global Environmental Change

    • Conservation Ecology (AGRI-1301)
  • Research Projects:

    Funded Research Projects (Current and recent)

    • Evaluating the interrelated impacts of commodity agriculture, market access, and forest conservation on food security in tropical landscape. Project Lead, UKRI ESRC Secondary Data Analysis Initiative. 2023-2025. £308,729. https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=ES%2FX00631X%2F1
    • Nature based solutions for climate resilience of local and indigenous communities in Guatemala. Project Co-Lead. UK DEFRA–GCBC (Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate). 2024-2027. £852,421.
    • Transformative change in telecoupled agrofood systems for biodiversity and equity (TC4BE). Project Co-Lead, EU Horizon. 2022-2026. €2,162,553. https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101082057
    • Synthesis and critical assessment of management tools to mainstream biodiversity in decision-making in the private sector. Project Co-Lead, UKRI NERC. 2022. £50,000. https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=NE%2FW007436%2F1
    • Building the evidence base on trade agreements and environmental outcomes. Project Co-Lead. UK Defra. 2022. £50,000.
  • Research Students:

    PhD and MSc By Research Students (current and recent)

    • Kainat Bibi (NRI)
    • Georgie Hurst (Food System CDT - NRI)
    • Adrian Kaluka (Food System CDT – University of Sussex)
    • Sarah Whenham (NRI, completed in 2024)
    • Razak Kiribou (NRI and RSIF PASET programme)
    • Jane Gachambi Mwangi (NRI and RSIF PASET programme, completed in 2024)
    • Diana Tixi (NRI, completed in 2024)
    • Emily Massingham (University of Queensland, completed in 2023)
  • Greenwich Academic Literature Archive (GALA) link: https://gala.gre.ac.uk/view/authors/8167.html
  • Awards:

    Associate Editor for the British Ecological Society (BES) journal People and Nature

    https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/25758314

    Committee member of IPBES for Task Force for Scenarios and Models and IUCN Oil Crops Task Force
  • External Profiles:

    ORCID

    https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3125-9467

    Google Scholar

    https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=bR7DXY0AAAAJ

    Research Gate

    https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Truly_Santika

     
Associate Professor in Environmental Geography
Francois Duvenage
  • Qualifications: BSc, BInstAgrar(Hons), MSc
  • Biography:

    Francois has been with the Natural Resources Institute (NRI) since 2021. He began serving as the Laboratories and Technical Services Lead in December 2023. In this role, he oversees the efficient, effective, safe, and compliant operation of all technical facilities and resources within the Institute, uniting and developing NRI’s technical resources across departments and research centres.

    Prior to this, Francois held the position of Laboratory Manager at NRI from September 2022 to December 2023, where he managed departmental laboratories, ensured compliance with ISO 9001:2015, supported research and teaching activities, coordinated equipment servicing, sourced and ordered consumables, maintained stock culture collections, and acted as Health and Safety local officer. Before becoming a Laboratory Manager, he worked as an NRI Research Technician from November 2021 to September 2022, providing technical support for NRI’s laboratory, greenhouse, and controlled temperature environment rooms, facilitating laboratory and field teaching activities, supporting research projects, and overseeing data collection and processing for an agrivoltaic materials project.

    In addition to his roles at NRI, Francois has extensive experience in hydroponic farming. From November 2018 to June 2021, he was the Research and Development Plant Propagationist at CAN-Agri in Pretoria, South Africa, where he set up operational procedures for a vertical hydroponic farm, oversaw on-farm research, implemented nutritional programmes, established pest management, drafted SOP documentation, trained staff on health and safety, secured certifications (Global G.A.P., HACCP), and liaised with retailers.

    Earlier in his career, Francois served as the Assistant Compost Manager at Country Mushrooms PTY Ltd. from July 2015 to October 2018, managing composting processes, supporting mushroom growers, data capturing, and team management. His career in research began as a Research Assistant at the University of Pretoria from January 2012 to June 2015, where he conducted experimental research within the Food Safety Research group, improved experimental accuracy, managed laboratory stock and equipment, conducted field trips, and mentored final-year students.

    Throughout his career, Francois has been involved in various research projects and has achieved several certifications, including ISO 22000 advanced HACCP and Food Safety Assurance certification. His memberships and associations include compliance with ISO 9001:2015 and Global G.A.P. standards. Francois’ work is characterised by a strong focus on laboratory management, technical services, health and safety, hydroponic farming, agrivoltaic materials, plant pathology, food safety, experimental research, operational procedures, pest management, and nutritional programmes.
  • Research / Scholarly Interests:

    Francois’ research interests are primarily focused on the fields of laboratory management, technical services, health and safety compliance, hydroponic farming, and food safety. He is particularly passionate about the innovative potential of hydroponic farming systems. These systems offer sustainable solutions for urban agriculture by maximising space efficiency, reducing water usage, and eliminating the need for soil, thereby allowing crops to be grown in controlled environments year-round.

    As a member of various NRI research centres and research groups, Francois actively contributes to projects that advance our understanding of plant pathology, food safety, and pest management. His role within these centres involves collaborating with leading experts to develop and implement cutting-edge hydroponic farming techniques that enhance crop yield and quality while ensuring food safety.

    The value of his research work lies in its ability to revolutionise urban agriculture and food safety standards. By improving hydroponic farming practices, Francois’ research aims to provide sustainable and resilient food production systems that can be adopted in urban settings worldwide. These advancements could significantly impact global food security and environmental conservation, offering scalable solutions to address some of the most pressing challenges in agriculture today.
  • Teaching Programmes:

    Research Methods – Francois teaches a section covering conducting risk assessments.
  • External Profiles:

    LinkedIn

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/francois-duvenage-4a8b5a27/
Laboratory and Technical Services Lead
Grace Fannon Research Technician
Professor Hans Dobson
  • Biography:

    Professor Hans Dobson is a pest and vector management specialist. He has worked for NRI for 34 years and prior to that worked for 2 years as an Agricultural Science teacher and school farm manager in northern Zambia for Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO). He has extensive experience in project management, research, consultancy and training for poverty reduction, including: IPM in vegetables, tree crops, cotton and cereals; food safety and regulatory compliance; control of locusts, tsetse flies, mosquitoes and blackflies; multi-level participatory training strategies; institutional analysis; project and programme design; and project review. He has been seconded in the past to FCDO (formerly DFID) and FAO, and currently to Imperial College London. He has worked in 35 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Good French and a little Danish.
  • Selected Publications:
    • ROUTLEDGE, I., WALKER, M., CHEKE, R.A., BHATT, S., NKOT, P.B, MATTHEWS, G.A., BALEGUEL, D., DOBSON, H.M., WILES, T.L. and BASAÑEZ, M., 2018. Modelling the impact of larviciding on the population dynamics and biting rates of Simulium damnosum (s.l.): implications for vector control as a complementary strategy for onchocerciasis elimination in Africa. Parasites & Vectors, 201811:316.
    • BENNETT, B., COOPER, J., AND DOBSON, H. (2010). We know where the shoe pinches: a case study-based analysis of the social benefits of pesticides. Outlook on Agriculture, Vol 39, No 2, pp 79–87
    • COOPER, J., AND DOBSON, H. (2007). The benefits of pesticides to mankind and the environment. Crop Protection 26 (2007) 1337–1348
    • NYAMBO, B., SIEF, A., VARELA, M., LOHR, B., COOPER, J., DOBSON, H. Private extension service provision for smallholder horticultural producers in Kenya: an approach. Development in Practice, Volume 19, Number 1, February 2009.
    • DOBSON, H.M., MATTHEWS, G.A., and WILES, T. L., 2003. Pesticide Safety and Application Equipment – an Instructors’ Manual. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy.
    • DOBSON, H. M., MATTHEWS, G. A., OLEMBO, S., BALEGUEL, P., WILES, T. L. 2004. Application challenges for small-scale African farmers: a training initiative in Cameroon. Aspects of Applied Biology 71, 2004.
    • DOBSON, H.M. and LOWE, J.C. Effective Training – a practical guide for agricultural trainers.
    • DOBSON, H.M., MATTHEWS, G.A., and WILES, T. L., 2003. Pesticide Safety and Application Equipment – an Instructors’ Manual. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy.
    • DOBSON, H.M., COOPER, J.F., 2003. Passion Fruit Production Protocol – a document prepared in consultation with passion fruit growers and exporters in Kenya. COLEACP.
    • COOPER, J.F., DOBSON, H.M., 2003. Avocado Production Protocol – a document prepared in consultation with avocado growers and exporters in Kenya. COLEACP.
    • MATTHEWS, G.A., DOBSON, H.M., WILES T.L. and WARBURTON H. 2002. The impact of pesticide application equipment and its use in developing countries, with particular reference to residues in food, environmental effects and human safety. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy.
    • DOBSON, H.M., COOPER, J.F., MANYANGARIRWA, W., KARUMA, J., CHIIMBA, W. (2001). Integrated Vegetable Pest Management; safe and sustainable protection of smallholder brassicas and tomatoes – a handbook for extension staff and trainers in Zimbabwe. ISBN 0 85954 536 9. See http://bit.ly/2AUh3Pa
    • DOBSON, H M, (2002). FAO Desert Locust Control Guidelines -. ISBN: 92-5-104626-3. See https://bit.ly/2JcZqyu
    • DOBSON, H. M., MATTHEWS, G. A., OLEMBO, S., BALEGUEL, P., WILES, T. L. 2004. Application challenges for small-scale African farmers: a training initiative in Cameroon. Aspects of Applied Biology 71, 2004
    • DOBSON, H. M. and COOPER, J. F. 2003. A dissemination strategy for products of CPP-funded vegetable IPM research in east and southern Africa. Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich.
    • DOBSON, H.M., MATTHEWS, G.A., and WILES, T. L., 2003. Pesticide Safety and Application Equipment – an Instructors’ Manual. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy
    • MATTHEWS, G., WILES, T., DOBSON, H., FRIEDRICH, T. (2002) Implementation of FAO Guidelines on Minimum Requirements for Pesticide Application Equipment: a case study in Cameroon.  Proceedings of the BCPC Conference on Pests and Diseases, pp 995 - 1002, ISBN 1901396622.
    • COOPER, J.F. and DOBSON, H.M., (2002). Pesticides in the third world - changing role and a need for new thinking. Proceedings of the BCPC Conference on Pests and Diseases, pp 979-986, ISBN 1901396622.
    • SIMONS, S., ODUOR, G., KIBATA, G., COOPER, J.F. and DOBSON, H.M. 2002. Better practices for smallholder vegetable farmers. A wall calendar of cartoon images for farmers. CABI ARC, Nairobi, Kenya.
    • DOBSON, H.M. (2002). Pesticide application: mastering and monitoring. In: Ecological monitoring methods for the assessment of pesticide impact in the tropics, Editors Grant, I.F. and Tingle, C.C.D. Natural Resources Institute, UK. ISBN: 085954543-1
    • VERKERK, R.H.J., D.J. WRIGHT, S.Z. SITHOLE, T. SIBANDA, T. WESILE, G.N. KIBATA, J. ONG’ARO, P. SAMSON, G. ODUOR, P. KARANJA, S. SIMONS, S. MUSIYANDAKA, R. HODZI, F. NYAKANDA, S.L.J. PAGE, A. LITTLE, S. WILLIAMSON & H. DOBSON  (1999) Important Natural Enemies of Vegetable Pests in Kenya and Zimbabwe: Recognition and Conservation (Final Draft), Imperial College, London, pp. 49.
    • SIBANDA, T., DOBSON, H.M., COOPER, J.F.,  MANYANGARIRWA, W. and CHIIMBA, W. 2000. Pest management challenges for smallholder vegetable farmers in Zimbabwe. Crop Protection Vol 19, nos 8-10, pp 807-816.
    • DOBSON, H.M. and MAGOR J.I. (1999). Ancient plagues and modern solutions: locust management in the new millennium. BCPC pre-conference symposium, Brighton.
    • DOBSON, H M (1999). Advances in locust spraying technology. Insect Science and its Application Vol 19, No 4, pp 335-368.
    • COOPER, J. F., SMITH, D.N. & DOBSON, H.M.  (1996)  An evaluation of two field samplers for monitoring spray drift. Crop Protection, 15 (3), 249-257
    • DOBSON, H.M., COOPER, J. & SCHERER, R. (1995)  Economics and practicalities of migratory locust hopper band control using barriers of insect growth regulator. Proceedings of the International Conference on New Strategies in Locust Control, Bamako, Mali, April 1995.  pp 433-442
    • RITCHIE, J.M. & DOBSON, H.M. (1995). Desert locust control operations and their environmental impact. Natural Resources Institute Bulletin No. 67, 1995, ISBN: 0-85954-417-9, ISSN: 0952 8245
    • SYMMONS, P M; Dobson, H M and Sissoko, M, 1991. Pesticide drop size and efficacy; a series of trials against grasshoppers. Crop Protection, 10, 136-144.
    • SUTHERLAND, J A; KING, W J; DOBSON, H M; INGRAM, W R; ATTIQUE, M R and SANJRANI, W, 1990. Effect of application volume and method on spray operator contamination by insecticide during cotton spraying. Crop Protection, 9, 343-350.
    • JOHNSTONE, D R; ALLSOPP, R; COOPER, J F and DOBSON, H M, 1988. Predicted and observed spray droplet deposition on tsetse flies Glossina morsitans following aerosol application from aircraft. Pesticide Science, 72, 107-121.
    • COOPER, J F; DOBSON, H M and JOHNSTONE, D R, 1987. The availability and fallout of an insecticidal aerosol dispersed from aircraft during operations for control of tsetse fly in Zimbabwe. Atmospheric Environment, 21, (11), 2311-2321.
  • Research / Scholarly Interests:

    Interests include natural pest regulatory mechanisms in IPM, communication of the sometimes complex information required for successful operation of IPM in pest-susceptible crops and the integration where necessary of appropriate pesticides, with delivery mechanisms and dosing to achieve specificity in targetting the pests. With a Applied Zoology first degree and an Agricultural Engineering Masters degree, he is interested in the interface between biology and engineering and how these can complement each other for developing world benefit.
  • Research Projects:

    Capacity Development for Agricultural Innovation Systems (2015 – 2019)

    Professor Dobson was international manager for Rwanda on this EU-funded project which covered 8 countries across Africa, Latin America and Asia. The focus was on systems for agricultural innovation, rather than technologies, and it strengthened the capacity of innovation partnerships involving public, private and civil society stakeholders in ‘functional capacities’. Those included conflict resolution, advocacy, coaching, communication, inclusive management that allowed the partnerships to work more effectively together and collectively solve their problems and improve livelihoods.

    Programme Manager for CropLife International’s obsolete pesticides activities

    For the last 8 years Professor Dobson has been Programme Manager for Croplife International’s obsolete pesticides activities – a USD 30 million industry investment in a USD 250 million collaboration with FAO, the World Bank, NGOs and national governments from 13 countries to rid Africa of stockpiles of old and unusable pesticides. This has involved developing innovative systems and practices as well as modes of partnering with stakeholders who have widely differing agendas. By mid-2017 around 5,000 tonnes of pesticides had been repackaged, exported from Africa and disposed of in an environmentally responsible way – by high temperature incineration in specialist facilities in Europe – and this is expected to rise to 9,000 tonnes by end of 2020, with substantial beneficial environmental, social and economic impacts.

    Adviser to UK’s Health and Safety Executive (2004 – 2016)

    This was an advisory role on application of pesticides and their fate in the environment – reviewing ideas and concepts, making recommendations on research funding and tracking/steering progress on research projects.

    Yaounde Initiative Foundation (2005 – 2019) (yaoundefoundation.org)

    This was an international NGO set up to continue the work started with an FAO project on integrated pest and vector management in Cameroon. It works with national government and the private sector to find innovative solutions to tackle vectors of malaria and sleeping sickness as well as agricultural pests and diseases. It is now a self-sustaining national organisation with occasional international inputs.
  • Greenwich Academic Literature Archive (GALA) link: http://gala.gre.ac.uk/view/authors/1908.html
Phone: +44 (0)7976 57 3496
Professor of Integrated Pest Management, Crop Protection Specialist
Dr Hayley Thompson
  • Qualifications: BSc Hons, PhD
  • Biography:

    Dr Hayley Thompson joined the NRI in 2022 as a Molecular Microbiologist on the RodentGate project. Prior to joining NRI, Hayley has spent much of her career at King’s College London, where she first undertook her PhD in the Microbiology Department, investigating virulence determinants in a putative oral pathogen, graduating in 2011. On completion of her PhD, she remained at King’s, working in Professor William Wade’s group investigating the role of bacteria in human oral diseases and developing novel methods to cultivate not-yet-cultivated oral bacteria, as part of the Human Oral Microbiome Database effort.

    After a career break, Hayley re-joined King’s College London as a part-time Postdoctoral Researcher within the Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions. Here she resumed her work attempting to cultivate not-yet-cultivated species of oral bacteria, with a specific focus on the candidate phyla radiation bacteria and worked with pharmaceutical companies testing novel anti-biofilm compounds on in-vitro biofilms, modelling the oral bacteriome.

    In her PhD and post-doc positions, Hayley has gained extensive knowledge and experience in a variety of microbiological, molecular biology, immunological techniques, and high throughput sequencing techniques. The experience Hayley has acquired over her career at King’s will be utilized in the RodentGate project where she will be using a variety of molecular biology techniques and high throughput sequencing to investigate the presence and prevalence of pathogens in rodents and their potential spread to livestock on farms in the UK and across the EU.

    Hayley’s research interests include the characterisation of microbiomes in disease and health using high throughput sequencing techniques, investigating microbial dark matter and the identification and characterisation of virulence determinants in pathogenic bacteria.
Molecular Microbiologist
Dr Karna Hansson
  • Qualifications: MSc, PhD
  • Biography:

    Dr K. Hansson joined the Natural Resources Institute in 2022 as a postdoctoral Research Fellow. As part of the Ecosystem Services research group at NRI, she studies the contribution of root dynamics to carbon balance of agroforestry coffee plantations in Costa Rica. Her background is in forest ecology, specialising in fine root dynamics and carbon and nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems.

    Dr Hansson obtained her MSc in soil science from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, in 2004. Her PhD in Ecology from the same university, titled ‘Impact of Tree Species on Carbon in Forest Soils’ (2011), focused mainly on differences in carbon storage in pine, spruce and birch stands in southern Sweden.

    As a postdoctoral researcher at the French National Forest Institute (INRA), she studied the relationship between soil chemical properties, biogeochemical cycling and stand productivity, with the purpose to increase understanding of forest soil chemical fertility.

    After a career break, she was awarded a Daphne Jackson Fellowship to join NRI in spring 2022.
  • Selected Publications:
    • Legout A., Hansson K., van der Heijden G., Laclau J-P., Mareschal L., Nys C., Nicolas M., Saint-André L., Ranger J. 2020. Chemical fertility of forest ecosystems. Part 2: Towards redefining the concept by untangling the role of the different components of biogeochemical cycling. Forest Ecology and Management, vol 461. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2019.117844)
    • Hansson K, Laclau J-P., Saint-André L., Mareschal L., van der Heijden G., Nys C., Nicolas M., Ranger J., Legout A. 2020. Chemical fertility of forest ecosystems. Part 1: Common soil chemical analyses were poor predictors of stand productivity across a wide range of acidic forest soils. Forest Ecology and Management, vol 461. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2019.117843)
    • Hansson K., Fröberg M., Helmisaari H-S., Kleja D.B., Olsson B.A., Olsson M., Persson T. 2013. Carbon and nitrogen pools and fluxes above and below ground in spruce, pine and birch stands in southern Sweden. Forest Ecology and Management vol 309 28-35. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2013.05.029)
    • Hansson K., Helmisaari H-S., Sah S., Lange H. 2013. Fine root production and turnover of tree and understorey vegetation in Scots pine, silver birch and Norway spruce stands in SW Sweden. Forest Ecology and Management, vol 309 58-65. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2013.01.022)
    • Hansson K., Olsson B.A, Olsson M., Johansson U., Kleja D.B. 2011. Differences in soil properties in adjacent stands of Scots pine, Norway spruce and silver birch in SW Sweden. Forest Ecology and Management vol 262 522-530. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2011.04.021)
  • Research / Scholarly Interests:
    • Fine root dynamics
    • Carbon budgets
    • Nutrient cycling
    • Soil fertility
  • Research Projects:

    Current research project (Daphne Jackson Fellowship 2022-2024): Contribution of root dynamics to carbon balance of agroforestry coffee plantations - a case study in Costa Rica

    Accurate carbon budgets are important when estimating the potential benefits of reforestation programmes for climate change mitigation. Including crop specific data makes estimates more accurate. Coffee is an important crop, often grown in agroforestry systems considered to sequester carbon. However, little is understood about contributions of plant roots to the system carbon balance.

    Carbon dynamics in agroforestry coffee plantations will be studied, in a long term experiment in Costa Rica. Carbon stocks have been previously estimated at the site, but without including root biomass and turnover. Results showed that large aboveground biomass alone cannot explain increased soil carbon storage in these agroforestry systems. The aim is to i) study belowground biomass and production, and how that correlates with soil carbon stocks and aboveground biomass, and ii) make carbon budget calculations, incorporating fine root dynamics.

    Previous research (postdoc): Chemical fertility of forest soils: concepts, influencing factors and the definition of reliable indicators

    Dr Hansson compiled a data base with data from 49 forest sites in France, Brazil and Congo. This included nutrient pools and fluxes, as well as tree growth data. She studied the relationship between soil chemical properties, as well as biogeochemical cycling at some of the sites, and stand productivity, with the purpose to increase understanding of forest soil chemical fertility. This work resulted in two research articles, published in the Journal Forest Ecology and Management in 2020.

    Previous research (PhD): Impact of Tree Species on Carbon in Forest Soils.

    Karna’s PhD thesis compared soil C fluxes and the accumulation of soil organic carbon under adjacent Norway spruce, Scots pine and silver birch stands growing on similar soils and examined the different processes involved. This was achieved mainly through field measurements of carbon pools and fluxes in southern Sweden, combined with respiration and decomposition studies in the laboratory. Soil carbon fluxes and the accumulation of soil organic carbon were found to differ between the three species, with the strongest differences in humus layers between spruce and birch, with pine intermediate. Species differences can be explained by differences in tree growth rate and decomposition. This PhD resulted in 8 publications.
  • Greenwich Academic Literature Archive (GALA) link: https://gala.gre.ac.uk/view/authors/9921.html
  • Awards:
    • Daphne Jackson Fellowship, sponsored by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). 0.5FTE for 2 years from 1 st May 2022 to 30 th April 2024.
    • Stiftelsen Konung Carl XVI Gustafs 50-årsfond för vetenskap, teknik och miljö 100 000 SEK (£8200), ”for research on forest tree turnover of fine roots and its impact on soil carbon stocks and fertility”, research award by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, 2012.
Research Fellow, Forest Ecology
Dr Katie L James
  • Qualifications: BSc, PhD
  • Biography:

    Dr Katie James is a lecturer in Ecology and Environmental Science at the Natural Resources Institute (NRI), where she also serves as Deputy Programme Leader for both the BSc Environmental Science and the Masters by Research programmes. Her academic and research work is grounded in a strong interdisciplinary background in behavioural entomology, applied ecology, pollination ecology, and sustainable agriculture.

    Dr James graduated with a BSc in Environmental Science from the University of Greenwich in 2019, during which she worked as an entomology assistant for the Natural Resources Institute. This formative experience sparked her enduring interest in insect-plant interactions and ecological networks. She went on to complete a PhD in 2023 titled "The role of species-combination pollination systems in fruit crop production, quality, and nutritional composition." Her doctoral research investigated the ecological and agronomic impacts of diverse pollination systems on fruit crops, examining both yield and nutritional outcomes.

    Alongside her PhD, Dr James held the position of Lead Research Assistant at Queen Mary University of London, where she contributed to a major research project on tropical butterflies and their evolutionary adaptations to climate change. This work further broadened her expertise in evolutionary ecology and species responses to environmental pressures.
  • Selected Publications:
    • Arnold, S.E.J., Dudenhöffer, J.-H., Fountain, M.T., James, K.L., Hall, D.R., Farman, D.I., Wäckers, F.L. and Stevenson, P.C. (2021). Bumble bees show an induced preference for flowers when primed with caffeinated nectar and a target floral odor. Current Biology, (16). doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2021.06.068.
    • James, K.L., Springate, S., Harte, S., Farman, D., Colgan, R. and Arnold, S. (2024). How multi-species pollination boosts strawberry yield, quality, and nutritional value. Journal of Pollination Ecology, 37, pp.326–340. doi:https://doi.org/10.26786/1920-7603(2024)788.
  • Research / Scholarly Interests:

    Dr James's current research focuses on biodiversity within pollinator networks, pollinator behaviour, and the ecological drivers of crop yield and nutritional composition. She is particularly interested in the role of pollination in promoting sustainable agricultural practices and enhancing food security through improved ecosystem function.

    Katie’s previous research during her PhD focused on the role of pollination systems involving multiple pollinator species working together to enhance crop production, yielded new findings. Notably, she discovered that hoverflies (Eupeodes corollae) in combination with bees (Bombus terrestris) in natural systems can increase the vitamin C content in strawberry fruit—a finding that has the potential to impact how we approach crop production, especially in areas facing nutrient deficiencies and opens new research into areas of plant defence.

    Katie’s current research is focusing on integrating machine learning into understanding the mechanisms of pollinator behaviour and interactions, as well as how plant pathways facilitate successful pollination and vitamin C concentration.
  • Teaching Programmes:

    Bumble bees show an induced preference for flowers when primed with caffeinated nectar and a target floral odour. (2021) Research assistant.

    The role of species-combination pollination systems in fruit crop production, quality, and nutritional composition (2023). A diverse assemblage of insect visitors can provide functional complementarity within plant pollination due to differences in characteristics such as their physical traits, visitation rate and foraging time of day or year. In a horticultural context, greater functional complementarity may play a crucial role in enhancing fruit yield and quality by improving pollination. We tested whether the identity of the crop pollinators (bumblebee Bombus terrestris and hoverfly Eupeodes corollae) independently and additively influenced commercial strawberry yield, quality, and nutritional parameters such as vitamin C and sugar concentration. Fragaria x ananassa “Malling Champion” plants received pollination treatments of either a) “control”: self-pollination where pollinators were excluded, b) “bee”: bumblebee Bombus terrestris, c) “hoverfly”: Eupeodes corollae, d) “combined”: both B. terrestris and E. corollae. Hoverflies and bumblebees exhibited distinct visitation patterns throughout the day, establishing a functional complementary relationship that enhances pollination success and crop output as well as vitamin C concentrations. Strawberries from plants receiving pollination by bumblebees, or bumblebees and hoverflies combined, had higher yields of higher marketable quality. They also had measurably higher vitamin C content than strawberries from plants pollinated by hoverflies alone, or the control (self-pollinating) plants. This study advances our understanding of niche complementarity and its impact on fruit yield and quality.

    The role of gibberellic acid in pollination and fruit development (2025). Little is known about the Smirnoff-Wheeler pathway and how vitamin C is synthesized within the plant and fruit of strawberry. This project seeks to use multiple modes of pollination (including self-pollination) to elucidate what role gibberellic acid has within pollination and the production of vitamin C in commercial strawberry.

    Machine learning and pollinator dynamics (2025). This project seeks to use 3D tracking software and machine learning to identify behavioural patterns and interactions between pollinators to further understand the dynamics and interactions that take place within pollinator biodiversity.
  • Responsibilities:

    Deputy Programme Leader, BSc Environmental Science & Masters by Research Chair of the NRI-ECR forum
  • Awards:
    • Former President of the NRIPS (NRI-GRE)
    • British Ecological Society
    • Royal Entomological Society
    • Kent wildlife Trust
    • NDCS
    • Founder and Former President of the Natural Science Society (2016-2019).
  • Recent Conference Presentations:
    • K.L. James: Interspecific interactions between hoverflies and bumblebees, British Ecological Society Conference, Liverpool.
    • K.L. James: Strawberry production and multi-species pollination, AAB, Slough.
Lecturer in Applied Ecology/Environmental Sciences

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