Research Proposal for Master's by Thesis

Have a quick read of my research proposal for masters by thesis at Lincoln University (starting February 2014)

Last year I completed a research paper, Food Landscapes: A landscape model for intensive farming, as part of my Bachelor of Landscape Architecture at UNITEC in Auckland.  My research topic arose from my family history of Agricultural construction.  For the past 30 years my father has been specialising in the construction of broiler sheds and I developed a passion for exploring the issues relating to intensive farms, their effectiveness in producing affordable meat for the world, their compact physical footprint and the ongoing debate and controversy surrounding agricultural landuse.

This research presented a design model that utilised landscape design methodology to analyse and quantify existing intensive farming models for chicken meat production (broiler shed farms) and explored potential design interventions that could contribute to improved quadruple bottom line (animal welfare, environment, social and economics) outcomes in intensive farming practice in NZ.  It utilised systems approaches such as industrial ecology, cradle to cradle, permaculture and zero energy buildings to inform the design model that reduced intensive farming footprints whilst improving the interconnections between the multiple inputs and outputs required for such farming practices, within the site and broader environment.

It also compared quantitative data on aspects such as water, energy, biodiversity and waste between the existing intensive farm models and the proposed sustainable design model that proved the inclusion of landscape architectural design methodology informing intensive farm development can improve sustainability in an economically viable way and contribute to a more appropriate approach to food production and land use.

Since completing my study in 2012, I have been travelling New Zealand presenting my project to PIANZ (Poultry Industry Association of New Zealand), Ingham, Massey University and Novasteel.  This research paper has also been published in the 2013 IFLA Congress proceedings (Food Landscapes: A landscape model for intensive farming, pg. 103-111) and; published and presented at the Massey Advancing Poultry Production Massey Technical Update Conference May 2013.  I have gained a lot of positive feedback from the industry, with a great deal of support to take this study further.

The Poultry Industry has continually been scrutinized for their methods of producing meat and eggs and it is because of this they are currently facing many changes that will transform the industry.  The prevalent farming method within this industry worldwide is intensive farming.  This method continues to expand throughout the world and New Zealand as the demand for affordable meat continues to grow, but there is pressure on the industry to change to free range farming methods.

New Zealand has a strong dependency on this sector economically, and our presence within the world of intensive farming is also prominent.  In 2011 the poultry industry in NZ produced 90 million chickens (Statistics NZ, 2010).  Also According to a number of statistical surveys, world poultry has expanded 11 million tons to 63 million from 1965 to 1999 (Sheikh, 2012). In addition to this, the growth of super markets, alongside fast food retail outlets has also generated a major impact on poultry sales worldwide (Sheikh, 2012). The FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation of United Nations) has also stated poultry is the second most consumed meat in the world, with 33% of meat consumption being chicken (FAO, 2013).  This intensity of production highlights the need for research into poultry farming systems that are more sustainable in order to facilitate continued supply of food within a more environmentally responsible landuse framework.

It is with my Masters thesis I aim to address issues the industry is facing whilst improving the overall sustainability meat and egg production.  After in-depth discussions with the poultry industry I aim to continue on the same path as Food landscapes, forming landscape design responses to inform the design of both free range and intensive farms throughout New Zealand.  This project will aim to commercialise landscape design responses and eco services within the poultry industry.  This will be achieved by calculating current quadruple bottom line issues and addressing them with landscape design responses and eco services that contribute positively to poultry farm design in comparison with typical existing farm design.

The incorporation of eco-services within this project will provide multiple benefits for farmers/owners, animals, end purchasers of the product and the environment.  Food supply, animal welfare, environment and human health are intricately inter-linked through farming and the outcomes of this research aims to show that landscape architects can contribute to addressing the current concerns linked to agricultural landscapes.

Further research and analysis into the poultry industry and farming methods will evaluate current waste management, pollution, regional and district plans, RMA, Animal Welfare Acts, feed, free range farming, intensive farming, aethestics, transportation, exports, environmental impacts and quadruple bottom line issues.  This will then be quantified and compared with systems approaches, design responses and eco services to determine, test and calculate the positive impacts landscape design interventions can have on the design of existing and new free range or intensive farms.

With this study I aim to produce models that will be able to define which farming method:

• Improves chicken welfare.
• Reduces the chance and spreading of disease to produce safe, healthy affordable food to society.
• Contributes more ecological connections.
• Manages waste more efficiently.
• Is most cost effective for farmers, the industry and society.
• Is most effective in controlling dust and odour.
• Ameliorates environmental conditions in and surrounding farm sites.
• Reduces the need of non-renewable resources.
• Improves the aesthetics of the industry.
• Improves public perceptions of the industry.

This study will also set about working with farmers and companies to produce a minimum landscape template to be implemented throughout the industry in New Zealand.  This will establish an industry derived good management plan for famers and companies to follow, providing landscape design guidelines that create opportunities for more enforceability throughout the industry.  These guidelines could also be utilised in the RMA and; district and regional plans.  This will allow councils to ensure the continued development of intensive and free range farming will not negatively impact on our environment.  It will also illustrate the detrimental impacts farmers and companies can have on the quadruple bottom line issues if these guidelines are not followed.

“One of the main concerns with farming has been the degradation of natural resources, including soils, water, biodiversity in and around agricultural land.  These trends not only do social harm, but also undermine productivity.  This in turn contributes to food insecurity, which effects some 800 – 1 billion people worldwide.”  (p269, Thrupp, 2000).  The overall aim of this study is to provide practical landscape design interventions that will improve the overall sustainability of poultry farming throughout New Zealand.  It will include quantitative analysis of research, landscape design interventions, eco services and systems approaches to provide numeral values and calculations that evaluate the positive impacts this design method can have on the quadruple bottom line issues surrounding the poultry industry, ensuring the continued supply of affordable protein to the world.

References:

FAO, (2013). Sources of Meat. Retrieved January 20, 2013 from: http://www.fao.org

Sheikh, F., (2012). The Effect of Technical and Non-Technical Barriers to Global Poultry Trade. Retrieved January 20, 2013 from: http://thepoultryguide.com/ barriers-in-global-poultry-trade/

Statistics NZ, (2010). Agricultural Production Statistics: June 2010 (final). Retrieved April 20, 2011 from: http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/industry_s ectors/agric

Thrupp, L., (2000).  Intrnational Affairs.  Linking agricultural biodiversity and food security:  the valuable role of agrobiodiversity for sustainable agriculture.  Vol. 76, No.2 (p265-281)

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