United Kingdom

Global Research Alliance Modelling Platform (GRAMP)

The UK is leading the GRA activity to create a web-based modelling platform which will provide a place for researchers and model developers to share information about biogeochemical ecosystem modelling. The website is designed to link researchers with datasets, document model versions, correct errors, share experiences and build capacity, for example via training material and webinars. GRAMP will eventually support a variety of ecosystem models but has been piloted on DNDC building on the work done by the Global DNDC Network in New Zealand. GRAMP aims to improve model predictions of soil carbon and nitrogen cycling in the context of climate change. The project is led by Professor Pete Smith (University of Aberdeen) and Dr Jagadeesh Yeluripati (University of Aberdeen) with contributions from scientists at SRUC, ADAS and Rothamsted Research. The GRAMP website is at gramp.org.uk and will be open for public registration in the near future.

MAGGnet (Managing Agricultural GHGs network)

This research collaboration led by the USA is to establish a global on-the-ground research project with common treatments, measurement protocols and data management (along the lines of GRACE-net). UK scientists are contributing to the project and Professor Bob Rees, on behalf of the UK GHG Platform N₂O project, recently submitted an updated metadata template for UK N₂O flux measurement sites for the database.

Peatland and Wetland activities

This component of the Croplands Research Group work plan is led by Norway and Sweden. Key activities include writing a paper on best management practice options for restoration or mitigation of emissions from agricultural peatlands; convening a series of international workshops to discuss peatland management, restoration and emissions mitigation; and generating a network of emissions sites. There is a variety of research relevant to this component being carried out in the UK and we are actively developing links within this component. Contributing UK scientists are Dr Chris Evans (CEH), Professor Pete Smith (University of Aberdeen) and Professor Davey Jones (Bangor University).

Animal Health & GHG Emissions Intensity Network

The UK is leading this GRA Livestock Research Group initiative to investigate links and synergies between efforts to reduce livestock disease and GHG emissions intensity reductions. The Network will maintain and enhance capacity in the cross-cutting field of animal health and GHG research, facilitate interaction of practitioners from relevant research communities and encourage sharing of information on current and planned activities, so as to avoid duplication of effort, identify gaps and help focus and prioritise research efforts. For more details see the proposal for the Network available here.

The Network held its first workshop in Dublin on the 25^th March 2014 in the margins of the Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine (SVEPM) conference. The workshop aimed to provide an opportunity for network members to get to know one another, to identify Network objectives and tangible outputs, to scope regional animal health and GHG issues as well as global opportunities, and to explore funding sources particularly for enabling participation and promotion. Please visit the webpage for the Animal Health and GHG Emissions Intensity Network.

For more information on the network and upcoming workshops or to become a member, please contact Kate Smith (ADAS) at animalhealthnetwork@adas.co.uk

Livestock Research Group Networks

The UK is represented in all other Livestock Research Group research networks. See the full list of networks and further details here. Key UK scientists participating in each network are as follows:

• Animal Selection Genetics and Genomics Network:  Dr Eileen Wall (SRUC)

• Rumen Microbial Genomics Network: Professor John Wallace (University of Aberdeen) and Professor Jamie Newbold (Aberystwyth University)

• Manure Management Network: Professor Dave Chadwick (Bangor University)

• Feed and Nutrition Network: Professor Chris Reynolds (University of Reading)

Co-authoring of a best practice guidance

Using chambers to measure N₂O emissions from soils for distribution to all Alliance members

A comprehensive guide for non-steady-state N₂O chambers, to detail the current state of knowledge of N₂O chamber methodologies and provide guidelines and recommendations for their use. In developing the guidelines, each chapter covers one of the key aspects – including design, deployment, air sample collection, storage and sample analysis, data analysis and data reporting –with additional chapters on automated systems and Health and Safety. UK scientists, Professor Dave Chadwick (Bangor University), Professor Bob Rees (SRUC), Dr Ute Skiba (CEH) and Dr Rachel Thorman (ADAS), contributed to chapters 2, 3, 5 and 8.

The guidance is complete and available to download at http://www.globalresearchalliance.org/research/livestock/activities/knowledge/

Co-authoring a technical manual on alternative designs for low cost CH₄ respiration chambers for distribution to all Alliance members: A technical manual on respiration chambers covering design, performance, operation. It did not attempt to evaluate chambers against any predetermined performance criteria. UK scientists supported the development of this manual through providing information on UK respiration chambers.

The manual is complete and available to download at http://www.globalresearchalliance.org/research/livestock/activities/knowledge/

Scoping the extent to which Earth Observation data can cost effectively provide agricultural activity information

The UK is leading this project which aims to collect evidence on the most pressing data requirements for inventory compilation via an international stocktake, and critically evaluate the ability of existing or near launch EO sensors to fulfil the data requirements of developing Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) inventories either through existing products or novel algorithms.

GRA member countries have been invited to complete the stocktake which is in the form of an online questionnaire to identify key inventory activity data requirements and the potential for EO to address these. The findings of the stocktake and the critical evaluation will be presented at an international GRA workshop providing a knowledge exchange opportunity for inventory practitioners, EO specialists and policy makers and an opportunity to share lessons learned in this area and prioritise any future research effort.

Production of best practice guidance on measurement of Soil Organic Carbon

These methodological guidelines are to assist scientists, senior technicians, and environmental professionals who will design and/or implement strategies for measuring SOC stocks in agricultural lands.  The rationale for the guidelines are to help the above audience improve:  1) the comparability and consistency among different SOC measurement initiatives and 2) the quality (accuracy and relevance) of SOC. UK scientists provided feedback on the terms of reference for the best practice guidance and have since been in discussion about the development of the proposal.

Inventory and Monitoring Group Annual meeting, Edinburgh, December 2013

The UK hosted the third meeting of this group in the margins of the Agricultural GHG Research Platform meeting. Read the meeting report here.