Dr Allan Butler
Research Interests
My research mainly focuses around social and economic aspects of farm businesses. My main interests include modelling economic aspects of farming systems to understand what implications that government policy has on the farm business. Aside from economic modelling, other particular interests relate to how making agriculture more sustainable impacts both economically and socially on farm businesses. At present, I am working on three main projects:
Analysis of socio-economic aspects of local and national organic farming markets Department. for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). (OF0377).
The optimisation and impacts of expanding biogas production in the UK. North Wyke Research - Department. for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). (AC0406).
Social, economic and environmental implications of increasing rural land use under energy crops (RELU project).
Other recent projects:
Evaluation of key factors that lead to successful agri-environmental co-operative schemes (CCRI, University of Gloucester – Welsh Assembly funded)Sustainable and Safe Recycling of Livestock Waste (RELU funded).
New Integrated dairy production systems: specification, practical feasibility and ways of implementation (North Wyke Research - Defra funded IS0214).
The Wider Social Impacts of Changes in the Structure of Agricultural Businesses (Defra RE04002).
Transfer of knowledge through the Vocational Training Scheme (VTS), in association with Duchy College.
The Footprint of Organic Farming in the Rural Economy (Defra RE0117).
Exmoor Annual Contract (annual service level agreement to support evidence based policy development).
Devon County Council Annual Contract (annual service level agreement to support evidence based policy development).
Research Students
Currently co-supervising 1 PHD student:
Pedro Garzon Delvaux. Woodfuel in the South West (UK): opportunities and constraint. Centre for Rural Policy Research.
