Research Articles
Proof is in the Pasture! Our latest research and insights on the benefits of pasture-based systems
This month, we’ve been highlighting our latest research and insights on the benefits of pasture-based farming on biodiversity, farm finances, soil health, carbon levels, nutrition, public goods, and more. Learn from a roster of the latest studies and insightful articles from our Research Team and partner organisations.
Feed or Food? How Livestock Factor into the Land-Use Debate
In a biodiversity depleted world facing increasing inequality and catastrophic climate change – can we really justify unnecessary (and frequently destructive) forms of land use? By Pasture for Life Research Officer Charlotte Wheeler.
The value of a more comprehensive assessment of agroecological farm systems
Laurence Smith, a member of the PfL Research Group at the University of Reading, makes the case for the need for a more comprehensive view of farm sustainability. He has co-authored this paper advocating for the integration of holistic sustainability assessment tools with life cycle analysis (LCA) to achieve a thorough evaluation of agroecological systems, that doesn’t overlook the multifunctional role of agricultural landscapes that provide ecosystem services and wider benefits to rural society.
Introducing our MSc Placement Student from University of Reading
We are pleased to welcome Maxwell Abonyo Gero to our team through the Pathways Early Career Researcher programme. Maxwell has visited several farms in the South Downs National Park participating in our Pasture and Profit in Protected Landscapes programme, and shares his findings.
Conserving Forage: Hay, silage and deferred grazing
Haymeadows have been a well-established feature of landscapes in the United Kingdom for over a thousand years, with 8 out of 10 of the settlements in the Domesday book recorded as featuring hay meadows. As late as 1970 about 80% of conserved forage was conserved as hay but by 1990 this had declined to 30% as silage making grew in popularity. This, along with the more general intensification of farming practices in the United Kingdom, has had a significant impact on biodiversity.