Postgraduate Prospectus 2011

Aberystwyth University - ABWTH A40Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences 45• Environmental ImpactContact: Professor Nigel Scollan (ngs@aber.ac.uk)The aim of this group is to improve our understanding of the interactionsbetween farm animals and the microbes that live within them andtheir environment, in order to reduce the environmental impact ofanimal production systems and promote human health. In orderto do this we carry out strategic research on enhancing the qualityof animal products to meet the rapidly changing requirements ofconsumers for food which is safe, healthy, traceable, of consistent eatingquality, diverse and convenient. Emphasis is placed on identifying andenhancing components present in foods that contribute to a healthydiet and improve health. The environmental and societal impact ofanimal agriculture on soil, water and air quality, and their associatedenvironmental services. Focus is also placed on understanding thechallenges of maintaining viable production systems against theimpacts of climate change on biotic and abiotic systems in the contextof rural land use.• Centre of Excellence for UK FarmingContact: Professor Nigel Scollan (ngs@aber.ac.uk)The Waitrose chair in Sustainable agriculture will lead this newlyestablished group that will bring together our expertise in uplandfarming, organic agriculture and the Farm Business survey with selectedpartners to establish a centre that champions the delivery of researchbased solutions for practical rural problems. It will embrace the needfor social science and policy research within the context of sustainableland use. With our partners we aspire to be a leading global hub for thecoordination of farming knowledge transfer.The knowledge hub will be used to inform, educate and train bothfarming practitioners (the producers) and those who need to makeinformed decisions (the consumers), the latter including policy makers,advisers, food industry decision makers, and research strategy planners.It recognises that there is scope and a need to improve the translationand transfer of knowledge into use for the optimisation of the farmingindustry. The delivery of sound, concise and science-based knowledge,conclusions and advice will be a key output.