Controversial agricultural technologies, especially agbiotech and bioenergy, as well as alternatives to agri-industrial systems.  These topics provide case studies for several policy-relevant issues: agri-environmental sustainability, European integration, trade conflicts, governance, public participation, regulatory science, the precautionary principle and eco-efficiency. 

Project funding has come from the European Commission and the UK’s Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).   For a list of past projects, research reports and downloadable papers on agricultural biotechnology, see the Biotechnology Policy Group webpages at http://technology.open.ac.uk/cts/bpg.htm

Research projects:

‘Ecowater: Meso-level eco-efficiency indicators to assess technologies and their uptake in water use sectors’, funded by the European Commission during 2011-14, coordinated by the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA). Project website: http://environ.chemeng.ntua.gr/ecowater/

 ‘Knowledge Production for Sustainable Bioenergy: An analysis of UK decision processes and priorities, funded by the ESRC during 2011-12,

'Co-operative Research on Environmental Problems in Europe (CREPE)’

Publicity Leaflet

Project website: www.crepeweb.net

‘Facilitating Alternative Agro-food Networks (FAAN): Stakeholder Perspectives on Research Needs’

Project website: www.faanweb.eu

 ‘Land-use, biofuels and agri-biotechnology’

Consultancy funded in early 2008 by the Wissenschaftlichen Beirats Globale Umweltveränderungen (WBGU), the Advisory Council on Global Change, Berlin.

Co-operative Research on Environmental Problems in Europe

Summary 

CRÊPE: Cooperative Research on Environmental Problems in Europe

A project coordinated by the Open University, UK

In ‘co-operative research’, researchers and non-researchers produce knowledge together. Going beyond interdisciplinary academic teams, co-operative research involves civil society in producing knowledge, thus facilitat...

ESRC Bioenergy

Summary

Knowledge Production for Sustainable Bioenergy: An analysis of UK decision processes and priorities

Main research question:  In what ways do discourses, practices and interests of technoscientific knowledge influence national research priorities for sustainable bioenergy from a wider range of options?

Objectives include:

Knowledge Production for Sustainable Bioenergy: An analysis of UK decision processes and priorities

This brief includes details about the project 'an analaysis of UK decision processes and priorities focused on sustainable energy area. This project has received funding from ESRC in Dec, 2010. 

Lev Levidow podcast

Lev Levidow podcast

Download Now

Sustainable Bioenergy: What UK innovation priorities? Sustaining what futures?