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How do we feed the world, adapt to and mitigate climate change, and conserve biodiversity? My research addresses these critical questions by quantifying the trade-offs between agricultural production, climate change, and biodiversity in tropical agricultural landscapes. A key focus of my work is agroforestry—the strategic integration of trees into cultivated lands. While agroforests are not a one-size-fits-all solution, my research shows that agroforestry, when informed by a quantitative understanding of these trade-offs, can improve biodiversity and climate outcomes without compromising agricultural productivity.

Through fieldwork and conservation planning, and in collaboration with my wonderful colleagues at the Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science (CBCS), I aim to understand how agricultural landscapes can be optimized across large geographic areas, to best meet conflicting goals and improve biodiversity outcomes. The goal of this work is to improve sustainability outcomes across West Africa, where tropical forests have been rapidly converted in order to produce 60% of the world’s cocoa.

Research

My research focuses on soil health in cropping and pasture systems, with particular expertise in soil carbon and soil organic matter dynamics, microbial ecology, and plant–soil interactions. I investigate how agronomic interventions influence soil functional processes and productivity, with the goal of reversing soil fertility decline and building healthier, more resilient soils. This work includes assessing the impacts of tillage, cover cropping, crop rotational diversity, nutrient management, and organic amendments on soil processes, crop development, and long-term system performance.

Teaching and education

I am committed to student‑centred, evidence‑based teaching that prepares graduates for contemporary agricultural practice. My teaching spans introductory to advanced agronomy, with a focus on aligning theory with hands‑on learning through lectures, tutorials, practicals, and field‑based activities. I coordinate and teach into courses including fundamentals of agriculture and cropping systems, and serve as Course Coordinator for an industry placement course, where students undertake structured work‑integrated learning experiences with agricultural and agri‑industry partners.

Across my teaching, I emphasise applied problem‑solving, quantitative skills, systems thinking, and graduate employability. I am particularly interested in curriculum design, constructive alignment, assessment for learning, and integrating research and industry context into agronomy education.