Supervisors:
Professor Jo Smith - School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen - [Email Address Removed]
Dr Kairsty Topp - Agriculture, Horticulture and Engineering Sciences, Scotland’s Rural College - [Email Address Removed]
Professor Pete Smith - School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen - [Email Address Removed]
Professor Jenny Macdiarmid - Rowett Institute, School Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen - [Email Address Removed]
Livestock are a key source of greenhouse gases (GHGs), emitting 7.1 Gt of carbon dioxide equivalents per year, 14.5% of all anthropogenic GHG emissions, representing 58% of global food system emissions. Governments are already moving to use livestock reductions to meet net zero emissions targets; the UK Committee on Climate Change has recommended an immediate 20% reduction in consumption of beef, lamb and dairy. However, we have very little understanding of where and how this can be done to avoid negative impacts on soils, nutrition, cultures, farmer incomes and food production. Protein is a key factor in human nutrition, and livestock contribute ~25% of global protein consumption, providing a high-quality protein source as well as energy and micronutrients. However, globally, 9% of cereal grain production is used to feed ruminants and production of animal protein is inefficient; each 1 kg of animal protein requires on average ~6 kg of plant protein. Those advocating reductions in livestock suggest that, due to this inefficient conversion, availability of human-edible food is reduced by grazing of livestock on land that could otherwise be used to produce nutrient-dense crops and by feeding grain to livestock that could more efficiently be consumed by humans. To counter this, a series of global studies have accounted for extensive grazing and the quality of protein fed to and produced by animals and concluded that ruminants are in fact a net source of human-edible protein. However, none of these studies has yet accounted for the long-term impacts of livestock on soils and productivity, factors that could have contrasting effects in different locations and are of critical importance to continued production of food. Depending on soil conditions, livestock can either reduce or add to soil organic matter; grazing of livestock can adversely impact productivity through compaction, reduced water infiltration and erosion, while incorporation of animal manures is used by farmers to increase soil organic matter, improve productivity, increase soil water and reduce irrigation needs. Therefore, the impacts of reducing livestock on soils and food is locally variable, depending on climate, soils, topography, nutrition, culture and access to markets. The proposed project will provide the first ever systems level analysis of the impacts of the UK diet being composed of an increased proportion of plant-based protein sources. The study will consider impacts on the climate, land-use, soils and human nutrition (including macro- and micro-nutrients) and provide recommendations for improved governmental policies.
It may be possible to undertake this project part-time, in discussion with the lead supervisor, however, please note that part-time study is unavailable to students who require a Student Visa to study within the UK.
Application Procedure:
Please visit this page for full application information: http://www.eastscotbiodtp.ac.uk/how-apply-0
Please send your completed EASTBIO application form, along with academic transcripts to Alison Innes at [Email Address Removed]
Two references should be provided by the deadline using the EASTBIO reference form.
Please advise your referees to return the reference form to [Email Address Removed]
Unfortunately due to workload constraints, we cannot consider incomplete applications