Calmer Farmer
Led by the Alef Trust, and along with York St John’s University and Earthbound, this project aims to develop and deliver training curricula on evidence-based embodiment practices and assess impact on farming practice.
Environmental Practices, Agroecology and Health
About the Cluster
With a vision to contribute to the restoration and positive health of the planetary collective, this cluster conducts conceptual, empirical and applied research into how environmental practices, particularly those linked with agroecology and organic farming, interact with human health at different scales. At global scale, the cluster critically engages with concepts including Planetary Health, One Health and Whole Health, which recognise that human healing, health and wellbeing are interdependent on the wellbeing of the Earth and all living beings and systems. It considers the systemic transformations required to improve agri-environmental practices for health, examining how different value systems, epistemologies, ontologies and cosmologies can influence and transform human-to-other-than-human relations. This includes theory-to-practice exploration of salutogenic as well as pathogenic approaches, of Indigenous concepts of health as a dynamic interplay toward balance and harmony, as well as of the integration of economic and political health into these more holistic perspectives. At the scale of human bodies, the cluster examines the relationship between agri-environmental practices and collective and individual health and wellbeing, including the inner (mental-emotional-spiritual) dimensions of human health. Research topics include:
- Conceptualising and measuring transformative health
- Soil-plant-human health relationships
- Public sector food procurement for health
- Food and nutrition security and sovereignty
- Organic farming and food quality
- Human health and wellbeing in nature, including therapeutic horticulture
- Inner dimensions of health and harmony
- Biodiversity, climate change and human health relationships
- Health impacts of anthropogenic pollutants
- Whole health /multi-sector cost accounting
Cluster Leads
Dr Julia Wright, Associate Professor
Cluster Lead
With degrees from the Universities of Wales, Cranfield, London (Wye College) and Wageningen, Julia has a 40 year track record of research and development on sustainable farming and food systems, including organic, biodynamic, agroecology, and permaculture. Working across continents for international, national and local governmental and non governmental organisations, she has explored the concept of health through the lens of farming, from multiple perspectives. She sits on the Editorial Boards of Advances in Agroecology Series (CRC Press/Taylor & Francis) and the International Journal of Cuban Studies, as well as on the steering committee of Whole Health Agriculture, and is a member of the Conscious Food Systems Alliance, the International Biodynamic Research Alliance, the Scientific and Medical Network and the International Research Association for Organic Food Quality and Health.
Dr Barbara Smith
Cluster Co-Lead
Dr Barbara Smith is an applied ecologist with over 25 years of experience in restoring biodiversity within agricultural systems aiming at ecosystem and human health. Her research focuses particularly on plant–insect interactions and the impact of their management for sustainable healthy ecosystems. In particular, she has an interest in insect pollination services and integrated pest management to reduce the harmful impacts of pesticides. Barbara co-founded the Centre for Pollination Studies at the University of Calcutta in India, initiating a long-standing collaboration on projects aimed at restoring pollinator populations in agricultural landscapes to support small farmer livelihoods. Her work in Europe has influenced agri-environmental policy and is grounded in participatory approaches to ensure meaningful, lasting impact. Barbara led the Agricultural Special Interest Group at the British Ecological Society for 15 years, is on the editorial board of The Journal of Insect Conservation. Alongside her role at CAWR she leads ecological teaching at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, where she is pioneering interdisciplinary methods to engage the creative sector in communicating the urgency of biodiversity restoration.
Publications
The members of this cluster regularly publish articles, monographs, book chapters, and other media on this multidisciplinary subject. For the most recent publications, please see outputs on the Coventry University Pure page.
PublicationsProjects
The members of the cluster lead and collaborate on a number of research projects and additional projects are available on the Coventry University Research Portal.
ProjectsFeatured Projects
Tripura Agroecology Partnership (India)
This project linked nutritional security with selective agroecological diversification for resilient rural communities in partnership with: the Centre for Pollination Studies, India; Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development Oxford, UK; Government of Tripura, India; Panchayat of Tripura villages, India and the Tripura Tribal Area Autonomous Districts Councils, India.
TERRA Project: Advancing Health-Based Solutions for Agroecological Wheat Production
With the University of Bern, this project applies organic low-residual biostimulants as a salutogenic (health promoting) and a systemic approach to treat wheat under water stress.
TRansition paths to sUstainable legume based systems in Europe
TRUE was a balanced practice-research partnership of 24 institutions, which identified the best routes, or “transition paths” to increase sustainable legume cultivation and consumption across Europe.
Correlation between the Zika virus and sanitary and drainage conditions in the Metropolitan Areas of Fortaleza/Ceará (Brazil)
In partnership with FIOCRUZ, National School of Public Health – Rio de Janeiro, the aim of this project was to investigate the relationship between mosquito-vectored Zika, inadequate provision of secure and safe potable supplies, drainage and sanitation.
