Dr Matt Lobley
Research Interests
My research largely focuses on understanding influences on and impacts of farm household behaviour. In particular, my main interests relate to the role of farm households in the management of the countryside, for example, through exploring the impact of CAP reform; attitudes towards agri-environmental policy; and the environmental and social impacts of agricultural restructuring. More recently, I have developed an interest in the well-being of rural households. I also have a long standing interest in family life-cycle and succession issues on family farms and co-direct a collaborative international project (FARMTRANSFERS) exploring farm succession and retirement in a range of different social, economic and political contexts. Beyond agriculture and the environment, other research interests include the design and impact of rural development initiatives and, more broadly, the social sustainability of rural communities.
From the summer of 2006 I am undertaking a three year programme of research on family farming in south west England, specifically focusing on the process of entry to and exit from farming and also exploring the impact on personal well-being of strategies to remain in farming. I am also co-leader of FarmCat, a project exploring the impact of farmer training and landscape context on the outcomes of agri-environmental schemes (funded under the Rural Economy and land Use Programme). Recent major research projects include a Defra funded project examining the pattern and implications of agricultural restructuring in England (Click here to download report) and a project exploring the impact of organic farming on the rural economy in England (Click here to download final report).
I am a co-director of FARMTRANSFERS, an international research project examining the pattern and process of retirement and succession on family farms. For further information on FARMTRANSFERS and details of how to carry out a survey using the FARMTRANSFERS questionnaire© contact Matt Lobley, John Baker (at Iowa State University) or Ian Whitehead (at Plymouth University).
Selected current and recent projects
- ESRC/RELU: Improving the success of agri-environment initiatives: the role of farmer learning and landscape context (with CEH, IGER & Reading, 2006-2011)
- Griff Davies Legacy: Entry to and exit from farming: implications for the well-being of farm household members in the south west (2006-2009)
- Food production, processing and distribution in Cornwall (Objective 1/Taste of the West, 2006)
- Green Futures: Practical environmental enhancements in the South West's improved grasslands (with IGER, 2005-2006). Funded through the SW Regional Food and Farming Strategy.
- 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)
- Social implications of changes in the structure of agricultural businesses (DEFRA, 2004-05)
- Rural Stress Review (Rural Stress Information Network, 2003-2004)
- The contribution of organic farming to the rural economy (DEFRA, 2003-05)
- Environmental and economic implications of changes in the structure of agricultural business (DEFRA, 2001-02)
- Family farming on the edge? Adaptability and change in farm households (Co Ag, 2001-02)
Research Supervision
Currently co-supervising 5 PhD students (2 of whom are part-time)
- Andrew Clappison: The 'New' Rural Governance: Power, scale and networks
- Georgina Crossman: The socio-economic implications of growth within the Equine Industry in England and Wales
- Justin Pollard: Towards sustainable communities: building on social capital to facilitate regeneration
- Gordon Morris: Rural disadvantage
- Suzanna Metz: Comparison of work of Rural church with farm women in US and GB
