Staff Directory
Dr Nicola Randall
BSc (Hons) PhD CertTHEPrincipal Lecturer Agroecology/Director Centre for Evidence-Based Agriculture
- Director of the Centre for Evidence Based Agriculture (CEBA)
- Principal lecturer in Agroecology.
Research Interests
My main interests are in the fields of agricultural ecology and sustainable food production, and in the use of scientific evidence/evidence synthesis in order to support and underpin policy and management decision making.
I am director of the Centre for Evidence Based Agriculture, a reviewing, training and co-ordinating hub for the collation and synthesis of agri-food evidence, and part of the UK Collaboration for Environmental Evidence Centre.
External roles and links can be found in the additional informaton section at the bottom of the page.
Author of: Randall NP and Smith (2019) The Biology of Agroecosystems. Oxford University Press
Research fields
Agricultural Ecology and Biodiversity
Evidence synthesis for environmental and agricultural decision making, Systematic Review, Systematic Mapping, Ecological Policy, Dissemination and use of research information.
Board and Advisory Roles
Advisory Board member for Ceres2030 Sustainable Solutions to End Hunger 2018-2021
Methods Expert Group 2016-2020 Eklipse EU mechanism
Editorial Board member Environmental Evidence Journal (Systematic Review Journal of CEE)
Section Editor CABI Agriculture and Bioscience
Chair - Systematic Mapping Methods Group - Collaboration for Environmental Evidence (CEE)
Committee Member British Ecological Society - Agroecology Methods Group
Chair - Research Degrees Awarding Board - Harper Adams University 2016-2021
Funding last 5 years
Over £1 million (>£650,000 as project lead). Funders include :
Research councils: Biotechnology and Biosciences Research Council (BBSRC), Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
European and UK policy organisations: European Food Safety Authoriity (EFSA), Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), Scottish Government, Environment Agency.
Industry, advisory and other organisations: Syngenta, Bayer, Morrisons, British Ecological Society, John Oldacre Foundation, Mistra Council for Evidence Based Environmental Management, Sweden (Mistra Eviem), Science Advice for Policy by European Academies (SAPEA) Humane Slaughter Association, EU H2020.
Current PhD students and projects
Todd Jenkins - The Potential of Small Landscape Features to Increase Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Arable Farmland. EU Horizon 2020 - Cropdiva. Director of Studies
Ashley Roberts -Ancient Grains for Modern Times: Diversity of naked barley for human health and agroecology. EU Horizon 2020 - Cropdiva. 2nd Supervisor
Busiswa Madikazi - The role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in agricultural development of smallholder farmers in Eastern Cape, South Africa
Christelle leDroite - Ecological Implications and sustainability of organic and biodynamic farming in comparison to conventional and BT-conventional farming. (at Coventry University). 2nd supervisor
Recent PhD student projects
Conservation at the crop edge: The botanical composition of wild headlands and their impact on provision of invertebrates for grey partridge chick diet (Perdix Perdix) (With James Hutton) Director of studies
How are national government, local planning authorities and local communities defining sustainable development in the context of rural housing in England? 2nd supervisor
Multifunctional field margins for delivery of ecosystem services (water quality protection, pollinator support and bio-control) Director of studies
The effect of maize cultivation on invertebrate biodiversity Director of Studies
The use of information and research synthesis methods with reference to invasive species. BBSRC/Syngenta Director of Studies
Teaching
Course leader:
Agroecology MSc/PgD/PgC
Module leader:
- Fundamentals of Agroecology (PG level 7)
- International Agroecology (PG level 7)
- Applied Ecology for Management (UG level 6)
Other taught modules:
- Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (PG level 7)
- Plant health principles (PG level 7)
- International perspectives on the management of wildlife populations (UG level 6)
- Sustainable crop production systems (UG level 6)
- Contemporary countryside and environmental issues (UG level 4)
Professional Memberships
- British Ecological Society (Committee member Agro-ecology special interest group)
- Society for Conservation Biology
- Senior Fellow of Higher Education Academy
Academic Department: Agriculture and Environment
Tel: +44 (0)1952 815347
Fax: +44 (0)1952 814783
Twitter: @NicolaPRandall
Office: F57 Jubilee Adams, Tudor Lodge and NW Building
Research profile: ORCID
Publications
Loading publication details from GuildHE Research...
GuildHE Research Repositories is a joint repository for research outputs designed to capture the work of individuals and institutions who are Members of GuildHE.
Loading publication details from Food and Farming Futures...
Harper Adams University supports Food and Farming Futures, the online land-based library.
Other publications
- Visser ME, Schoonees A, Ezekiel CN, Randall NP, Naude CE (2020) Agricultural and nutritional education interventions for reducing aflatoxin exposure to improve infant and child growth in low- and middle-income countries Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews Issue 4. Art. No.: CD013376
- Ricciardi V., Wane A., Sidhu B.S., Goode C., Solomon D., McCullough E., Diekmann F., Porciello J., Jain M., Randall N., & Mehrabi Z. (2020) Scoping review of research funding for small-scale farmers in water scarce regions. Nature Sustainability (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-020-00623-0)
- Priatna, A.G. Ramos, N. Randall, R.M. Richards, E.G. Ritchie, D.L. Roberts, R. Rocha, J.P. Rodríguez, R. Sanderson, T. Sasaki, S. Savilaakso, C. Sayer, C. Sekercioglu, M. Senzaki, G. Smith, R.J. Smith, M. Soga, C.D. Soulsbury, M.D. Steer, G. Stewart, E.F. Strange, A.J. Suggitt, R.R.J. Thompson, S. Thompson, I. Thornhill, R.J.Trevelyan, H.O. Usieta, O. Venter, A.D. Webber, R.L. White, M.J. Whittingham, A. Wilby, R.W. Yarnell, V. Zamora and W.J. Sutherland. In Press. (2020) Training future generations to deliver evidence-based conservation and ecosystem management. Ecological Solutions and Evidence.
- Konno, K., Cheng, S.H., Eales, J., Frampton, G., Kohl, C., Livoreil, B., Macura, B., O’Leary, B.C., Randall, N.P., Taylor, J.J. and Woodcock, P., 2020. (2020) The CEEDER database of evidence reviews: An open-access evidence service for researchers and decision-makers. Environmental Science & Policy 114 pp 256-262
- Whaley P, Aiassa E, Beausoleil C, Beronius A, Bilotta G, Boobis A, de Vries R, Hanberg A, Hoffmann S, Hunt N, Kwiatkowski CF, Lam J, Lipworth S, Martin O, Randall NP, Rhomberg L, Rooney AA, Schünemann HJ, Halsall C (2020) (2020) Recommendations for the conduct of systematic reviews in toxicology and environmental health research (COSTER) Environment International 143
- Cresswell, C.J., Cunningham, H.M., Wilcox, A. and Randall, N.P. (2019) A trait?based approach to plant species selection to increase functionality of farmland vegetative strips Ecology and Evolution 9 (8), pp.4532-4543
- Aronson JK, Barends E, Boruch R, Brennan M, Chalmers I, Chislett J, Cunliffe-Jones P, Dahlgren A, Gaarder A, Haines A, Heneghan C, Matthews R, Maynard B, Oxman M, Pullin A, Randall N, Roddam H, Schoonees A, Sharples J, Stewart R, Stott J, Tallis R, Thomas N, Vale L (2019) Key concepts for making informed choices Nature 572 (303-306)
- Collins, A.M., Coughlin, D. and Randall, N (2019) Engaging environmental policy-makers with systematic reviews: challenges, solutions and lessons learned Environmental Evidence 8(1), p.2
- Randall NP and Smith B (2019) The Biology of Agroecosystems (Oxford University Press)
- Blowers CJ, Cunningham HM, Wilcox A, Randall NP (2018) What specific plant traits support ecosystem services such as pollination, bio-control and water quality protection in temperate climates? A systematic map Environmental Evidence 7:2
- Blowers CJ, Cunningham HM, Wilcox A and Randall NP (2017) What specific plant traits support ecosystem services such as pollination, bio-control and water quality protection in temperate climates? A systematic map protocol Environmental Evidence Journal 6:3 (doi 10.1186/s13750-017-0081-3)
- Norris SL, Blackshaw RP, Critchley CNR, Dunn RM, Smith KE, Williams J, Randall NP and Murray PJ (2017) Intercropping flowering plants in maize systems increases pollinator diversity. Agricultural and Forest Entomology
- Norris, S.L., Blackshaw, R.P., Dunn, R.M., Critchley, N.R., Smith, K.E., Williams, J.R., Randall, N.P. and Murray, P.J., (2016) Improving above and below-ground arthropod biodiversity in maize cultivation systems. Applied Soil Ecology 108, pp.25-46.
- James KL, Randall NP, Walters KFA, Haddaway NR, and Land M (2016) Evidence for the e?ects of neonicotinoids used in arable crop production on non-target organisms and concentrations of residues in relevant matrices: a systematic map protocol Environmental Evidence 5:22 (DOI 10.1186/s13750-016-0072-9)
- Natalie Rebelo Da Silva1, Hazel Zaranyikal, Laurenz Langer, Nicola Randall, Evans Muchiri1, and Ruth Stewart (2016) Making the Most of What We Already Know: A Three-Stage Approach to Systematic Reviewing Evaluation Review early view available
- Hardman C, Potts S, Dicks L & Randall NP Notes (2016) Spatial targeting brings new opportunities for agri-environment schemes Living with Environmental Change Policy and Practice Notes Note No 28. March 2016
- Katy L. James, Nicola P. Randall and Neal R. Haddaway (2015) A methodology for systematic mapping in environmental sciences Environmental Evidence 5:7
- Ruth Stewart, Laurenz Langer, Natalie Rebelo Da Silva, Evans Muchiri, Hazel Zaranyika, Yvonne Erasmus, Nicola Randall, Shannon Rafferty, Marcel Korth, Nolizwe Madinga, Thea de Wet (2015) The Effects of Training, Innovation and New Technology on African Smallholder Farmers’ Wealth and Food Security: A Systematic Review The Campbell Library - International Development Group 11 (16) ( View this systematic review at: http://www.campbellcollaboration.org/lib/project/310/)
- Nicola P Randall, Louise M Donnison, Paul J Lewis and Katy L James (2015) How effective are on-farm mitigation measures for delivering an improved water environment? A systematic map Environmental Evidence 4:18 (http://www.environmentalevidencejournal.org/content/4/1/18 )
- Ruth Stewart, Yvonne Erasmus, Hazel Zaranyika, Natalie Rebelo Da Silva, Marcel Korth, Laurenz Langer, Nicola Randall,Nolizwe Madingaa & Thea de Wet (2014) The size and nature of the evidencebase for smallholder farming in Africa: a systematic map Journal of Development Effectiveness (To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19439342.2013.877060)
- Dicks L. V., Ahpole J.E., Danhardt J., James K., Jönsson A., Randall N., Showler D. A., Smith R. K., Turpie S., Williams D.,and Sutherland W. J. (2014) Dicks L. V., Ahpole J.E., Danhardt J., James Farmland Conservation. Evidence for the effectiveness of interventions in northern and western Europe. Pelagic Publishing
- Millingon A and Randall NP (2013) How effective are farmland interventions for reducing Faecal Indicator Organisms (FIOs) in bathing and shellfish waters (especially Escherichia Coli and Intestinal Enterococci) coming from river catchments? A Quick Scoping Review
- Waterson A and Randall NP (2013) What impact does the alteration of timing to slurry applications have on leaching of nitrate, phosphate and bacterial pathogens? A Rapid Evidence Assessment.
- Dicks, L. V., Hodge I, Smith R.K., Scharlemann, J.P.W., Siriwardena G., Randall N.P., Smith H.G., and Sutherland W. J. (2013) A transparent Process for Evidence Informed Policy-making. Conservation Letters 7 (2) pp 119-125
- Bayliss HR, Stewart GB, Wilcox A and Randall NP (2013) A perceived gap between invasive species research and stakeholder priorities Neobiota 19 (pp 67-82)
- Bayliss HR, Wilcox A, Stewart GB and Randall NP (2012) Does research information meet the needs of stakeholders? Exploring evidence selection in the global management of invasive species. Evidence and Policy 8 (1) 35-56
- Randall NP and James KL (2012) The effectiveness of integrated farm management, organiscfarming and agri-environment schemes as interventions for conserving farmland biodiversity - a systematic map. Environmental Evidence 1:4
- Randall NP Donnison LM and Lewis PJ (2012) How effective are slurry storage, cover or catch crops, woodland creation, controlled trafficking or break up of compacted layers, and buffer strips as on-farm mitigation measures for delivering an improved water environment? Systematic Review Protocol Environmental Evidence 1:12
- Bayliss HR and Randall NP (2011) Perceptions of the role of research in invasive species management In Practice 72 (14-15)
Additional Information
Research projects
- A Scientific Perspective on Microplastic Pollution - Project Manager
- A systemic approach to the energy transition in Europe - Project Manager
- An evaluation of the feasibility and impact of using ICT to provide agricultural extension information to small scale farmers in Eastern Cape, South Africa - Supervisor
- Critical review of food and feed safety vulnerabilities in circular economy - Project manager
- Critical review of slurry storage ammonia emissions and their mitigation - Project manager
- Cultural Control of Aerial Oomycetes Through Manipulation of the Protected Environment in Propagation and Protected Production - Researcher
- Evidence for the impact of neonicotinoid insecticides on the environment, mitigation measures and the potential environmental and economic consequences of not using this class of products - Project manager
- Farm Business Management Tools and Techniques - Project Manager
- Humane stunning in the slaughter of wild-caught fish for food - Project Manager
- Innovation in arable systems and their impacts on heritage assets - Project Manager
- Interventions to reduce aflatoxin exposure to improve infant and child growth in low and middle-income countries - Review team member
- Linking evidence and policy for managing biodiversity in the agricultural landscape - Project Collaborator
- Meloidogyne species that pose a threat to potato production in the United Kingdom - Advisor
- Multifunctional field margins for the delivery of ecosystem services (water quality protection, pollinator support and bio-control) - Director of Study
- Mycotoxin contamination: assessment of risk in livestock systems - Researcher
- Organics - Establishing the Strategic Framework - Project Manager
- Quick Scoping Review on the impact of pesticides used in amenity on the water environment - Project Manager
- Rapid Evidence Assessment and Quick Scoping Review for water policy decision making - Project manager
- Rapid evidence assessment of the relative risks to human health from the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic resistance genes in the aquatic environment - Project manager
- Reducing cattle’s susceptibility to Mycobacterium bovis infection through improved nutrition: establishing a knowledge base - Advisor
- Review of the value of mob or holistic grazing regimes used to support management of historic and ecological assets - Project Manager
- The effectiveness of integrated farm management, organic farming and agri-environment schemes as interventions for conserving biodiversity - Project manager
- The impact of on-farm mitigation measures for delivering an improved water environment - Project manager
- The multifunctional roles of vegetated strips around and within agricultural fields - Researcher
- The use of systematic mapping in supporting environmental decision making - Chair of methods group
- What is the effectiveness of agriculture interventions on agricultural investment, yields and income for smallholder farmers in Africa? - Project advisor
Modules
You can contact Dr Nicola Randall if you would like to discuss any of the following course modules:
Contact
Cookies on the Harper Adams University website
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the website. However, you can change your cookie settings at any time.