Christelle Ledroit
RESEARCH SUBJECT AND INTERESTS
- Agroecology
- Sustainable development
- Biodiversity
My project title is ‘Ecological implications and sustainability of different cotton farming systems in India’. India represents a quarter of total global cotton production worldwide. In developing countries, the biggest challenge is to increase small farm productivity for the marginal poor farmers while conserving and regenerating biodiversity, soil and water quality, all of which have been degraded during and post the Green Revolution. It has been suggested that to address this, further research on agroecological technologies and systems are needed. The study will focus on comparing biodynamic, organic, conventional and conventional Bt cotton managements from both ecological and socio-economic perspectives to assess their sustainability.
Supervisory Team:
Barbara Smith (Director of Studies)
Gurbir Bhullar
Nicola Randall
BIOGRAPHY
I graduated from Sussex University in 2011 with an MSc in Biodiversity Survey. I have spent three years working with a nonprofit organization called Naandi Foundation, headquartered in South India which teaches tribal communities sustainable agriculture practices. I have been trained in Biodynamic Agriculture. Partnering with the local population, I initiated the Pollinator Programme, an apiculture project focused on natural beekeeping working the indigenous bee species Apis Cerana. The programme was also designed to empower tribal women by creating an additional income source for them through the sale of organic honey. I am now a full time PhD student at Coventry University.
Languages:
French, English
