What is the environmentally optimal number of ruminant livestock in the UK? Investigating the potential for enhancement of natural capital stocks

Summary
The environmental impacts of ruminant livestock are a critical issue in developing sustainable food production systems. I research the potential for enhancement of natural capital stocks on farmland to offset environmental impacts of livestock, whilst increasing flows of additional ecosystem services and improving farm productivity. My DPhil focuses on i) integrating trees into ruminant grazing landscapes, ii) introducing ruminants into arable systems and iii) the balance of domestic and overseas ruminant production that is optimal for environmental outcomes.

BBSRC remit
This work falls under the BBSRC priority area "sustainably enhancing agricultural production" and Cross Council priorities "environment and land use" and "global food security".