Dryland agriculture and Land use; past, present and future resilience [AGRI-DRY]
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Glasgow
Department Name: School of Humanities
Abstract
The interest in traditional agriculture is a worldwide trend: as people reclaim their heritage, they increasingly turn to lessons learned
by their ancestors about how to sustainability interact with their environment. The network "Dryland agriculture and Land use; past,
present and future resilience [AGRI-DRY]" aims to develop an interdisciplinary approach to traditional crop cultivation through the
recognition of the complementary value of cultural heritage and sustainable living. Human cultural development is inextricably linked
with the development of agriculture. This bond resulted in the "domestication" of the biological and physical environments around
us, and historically shaped and engendered present-day landscapes. Agricultural landscapes are a testimony to humanity's long
interaction with the land, often-unique examples of the whole people-nature system. They demonstrate a rich cultural and landscape
diversity, sustainable land-use systems and, in some cases, people's daily struggle for survival under extreme climatic and
environmental conditions. It is now recognized the key role of traditional knowledge of indigenous people and local communities for
ecosystem management and sustainable use of resources in the light of climate change. AGRI-DRY aims to bring about a significant
reorientation of European and African doctoral training in traditional agriculture. The change will involve both substance and
approach. The substance is the strong focus on rigorous techniques for interdisciplinary research. The approach is the emphasis on
both research and applicative work, through the participation of both academic and advocacy and policy-making institutions. AGRI*DRY represents a unique opportunity for European young researchers to form a "critical mass" and enjoy a wide array of training
opportunities that will be competitive with the best programmes offered outside Europe.
by their ancestors about how to sustainability interact with their environment. The network "Dryland agriculture and Land use; past,
present and future resilience [AGRI-DRY]" aims to develop an interdisciplinary approach to traditional crop cultivation through the
recognition of the complementary value of cultural heritage and sustainable living. Human cultural development is inextricably linked
with the development of agriculture. This bond resulted in the "domestication" of the biological and physical environments around
us, and historically shaped and engendered present-day landscapes. Agricultural landscapes are a testimony to humanity's long
interaction with the land, often-unique examples of the whole people-nature system. They demonstrate a rich cultural and landscape
diversity, sustainable land-use systems and, in some cases, people's daily struggle for survival under extreme climatic and
environmental conditions. It is now recognized the key role of traditional knowledge of indigenous people and local communities for
ecosystem management and sustainable use of resources in the light of climate change. AGRI-DRY aims to bring about a significant
reorientation of European and African doctoral training in traditional agriculture. The change will involve both substance and
approach. The substance is the strong focus on rigorous techniques for interdisciplinary research. The approach is the emphasis on
both research and applicative work, through the participation of both academic and advocacy and policy-making institutions. AGRI*DRY represents a unique opportunity for European young researchers to form a "critical mass" and enjoy a wide array of training
opportunities that will be competitive with the best programmes offered outside Europe.
| Description | UPF: co-Lead on AGRI-DRY project |
| Organisation | Pompeu Fabra University |
| Country | Spain |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I jointly run the AGRI-DRY project with Prof Marco Madella, UPF, as part of a wider EU-funded project, for which this funding is associated with. In addition to day to day management of the project, we also co-supervise some of the PhD students on the project; I am currently involved in the co-supervision of one of the PhD projects at UPF and I am also work package lead for several PhD projects at UPF via the AGRI-DRY project. Myself and Prof Madella and another colleague at UPF wrote the AGRI-DRY project proposal that was submitted in November 2022. Hence, the collaboration is dated back to this date. |
| Collaborator Contribution | UPF are providing supervisory input to one of the PhD students on this project, Ms Paidamoyo Chingono. They are also contributing to Work package 2 deliverables, a work package for which I am responsible for. UPF are also helping to co-run the AGRI-DRY project, principally via Prof Marco Madella, and their administrator, Maria Riu; in addition to helping to lead the project, they have also been contributing online training activities for the PhD students on the network and co-created documents around governance of the project, data management plans, ethics inputs, and co-organisation of the first AGRI-DRY summer School in Lecce, Italy, in April 2025. |
| Impact | Not yet - too early a stage |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | University of Aarhus, Denmark |
| Organisation | Aarhus University |
| Country | Denmark |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Co-supervising PhD students across the network, including one based at the University of Aarhus. Project managing the AGRI-DRY network of which this university is a beneficiary. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Co-supervising PhD students across the network, including a PhD student at the University of Glasgow. Assisting to write documents (Data management Plan, Publication plan) on the project and also providing training skills development across the network. Attending project PI network meetings. |
| Impact | None yet achieved, apart from appointment of PhD students to the doctoral network. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | University of Botswana |
| Organisation | University of Botswana |
| Country | Botswana |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I co-run the AGRI-DRY project and Botswana is a beneficiary of the network, hosting 2 PhD researchers. My contributions are around project management, arranging skills training and advice on supervisory matters. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The University of Botswana are hosting two PhD students as part of the project (EU funded) and are supervising these students. They also provide skills training and input to the management of the project, including helping with governance and guidance documents. |
| Impact | None at present |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | University of Salento |
| Organisation | University of Salento |
| Department | Department of Humanitites |
| Country | Italy |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I co-run the AGRI-DRY project (UKRI and EU funded) and Salento receive of PhD student through the network. My contributions ensure the projects is run effectively and the PhD student at Salento benefits from joint supervisory arrangements across the network, access to expertise, skills training and the infrastructure associated with the network, includinging project management. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Salento host one PhD student who contributes to the work of the network; they are also hosting the first summer school for the project in Lecce, in April 2025. They have organised a week of activities and meetings for the 10 Doctoral candidates allied to the network. |
| Impact | None as yet |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | University of Wits |
| Organisation | University of the Witwatersrand |
| Country | South Africa |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I co-run the AGRI-DRY project so this group benefit from the project management and guidance of the project and doctoral candidates. I also provide skills training to their students as part of the wider skills training of the network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Wits assist with supervision of one of the University of Glasgow PhD students, as well as other students across the network. They also provide skills training and input to project management and advice on study sites. They are also running the summer school in South Africa which will be in November 2025 and are in planning stages. They will also be participating in the Lecce summer school in April 2025. |
| Impact | None at present |
| Start Year | 2024 |