Dr Jonathan Cooper

Dr Cooper manages honours research projects for environmental undergraduates and acts as departmental lead for masters research projects. Dr Cooper holds a BSc in sustainable development from the University of St Andrews and a PhD in environmental management from the University of Central Lancashire. His research on the water-energy-food nexus in agricultural policy has been published by Routledge; his work on energy crops has been published recently by Elsevier. Jonathan is a member of the University's Urban Farming Group and of the UKUAT (UK Urban AgriTech collective) working group on Research & Expertise. Jonathan welcomes contact from prospective postgraduate research students interested in developing proposals related to his interests.

Research Interests

• Agricultural/Environmental Policy
• Agricultural Geography
• Agrivoltaics
• Climate Change Policy
• Energy Policy
• Environmental Land Management
• Geographies of Energy
• Low Carbon Transitions
• On-Farm Energy
• Rural Development
• Rural Sociology
• Science and Technology Studies
• Sustainability Indicators
• Sustainable Development
• Upland Management
• Urban Agriculture
• Waste Management and Resource Efficiency
• Water-Energy-Food Nexus

International Projects

Dr Cooper (along with co-applicant, the Royal Scientific Society, Jordan) received £20,000 from the Royal Academy of Engineering under the Frontiers of Engineering for Development scheme for a project entitled 'Enhancing food security through urban farming systems in Jordan'. Dr Cooper was the lead applicant for this project during 2020-21. More information can be found here.

Dr Cooper (along with partners, the South African Institute of Agricultural Engineers and the Institution of Agricultural Engineers, UK) received £159,413 from the Royal Academy of Engineering under the GCRF Africa Catalyst Phase 3 scheme for a project entitled ‘Growing agricultural engineering in Africa'. Dr Cooper led the University's involvement in this project during 2019-21.

Dr Cooper (along with partners, the South African Institute of Agricultural Engineers and the Institution of Agricultural Engineers, UK) received £70,000 from the Royal Academy of Engineering under the GCRF Africa Catalyst Phase 2 scheme for a project entitled ‘Planning for the growth of agricultural engineering in Africa by supporting the establishment of AfroAgEng’. Dr Cooper led the University's involvement in this project during 2018-19.

Dr Cooper sits on the Advisory Board of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Tunisia and advises on agricultural matters.

Undergraduate Teaching

• Contemporary Countryside and Environmental Issues (C4012)
• The Natural Environment and Climate Change (C4019)
• Wastes, Manures and Renewables (C5007)
• Research Methods for Environmental Scientists (C5010)
• Climate Change and Environmental Valuation (R5024)
• Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation (C6001)
• Sustainable Energy (R6022)

Postgraduate Teaching

• Advanced Research Methods: Social Sciences (F7031)
• Land Use and Management (R7040)
• Rural Land Policy Development (R7049)
• Sustainable Farming Systems (C7060)
• Sustainable Energy and Carbon Management (C7086)

Selected Publications

Cooper; J. C. (2023) ‘Energy and Industrial Crops’ in: Samuel, A. and Dines, L. (eds) Lockhart and Wiseman’s Crop Husbandry including Grassland, 10th ed, Oxford: Woodhead, pp. 455–464.

Cooper, J. C. (2022) ‘Farmer Perceptions of Carbon Sequestration’ Soil and Water Winter Conference, Harper Adams University, Newport, 13^th January.

Cooper, J. C. (2021) ‘Stakeholder Perceptions of Agricultural Engineering in Africa’ in: Taylor, A. J., Opara, U. L. and Smithers, J. (eds) Agricultural Engineering in Africa, Pretoria: Pan African Society for Agricultural Engineering, pp. 66–69. 

Stormonth-Darling, J., Symonds, R., Cooper, J. C., Burton, S. and Ransom, J. (2020) Homeworking and Vacant Office Space: Can Urban Agriculture Fill the Void?, Liverpool: UKUAT (UK Urban AgriTech). 

Cooper, J. C. (2019) ‘The Water-Energy-Food Nexus in Agricultural Policy’ in: Koulouri, A. and Mouraviev, N. (eds.) Policy and Governance in the Water-Energy-Food Nexus, Abingdon: Routledge, pp. 64–74. 

Cooper, J. C. (2017) ‘Rural Land Use in Conflict? Energy and Food in the UK’ in: Eastham, J. et al. (eds.) Contemporary Issues in Food Supply Chain Management, Oxford: Goodfellow, pp. 198­–203.

Research Supervision

• MRes thesis: Vertical farming: the role it plays in addressing the challenges climate change poses to agriculture in the UK
• MRes thesis: Vertical farming in the United Kingdom: consumers' and producers' perceptions of its sustainability
• MSc thesis: The role of sustainability in consumer choices on dairy products
• MSc thesis: The feasibility of carbon sequestration in agriculture: UK farmer perspectives on climate mitigation practices
• MSc thesis: Plantation on Ancient Woodland Sites in England: a review of policy
• MSc thesis: Forest managers' perceptions of the impacts of climate change on forestry in the UK
• MSc thesis: Building resilience within agriculture: the impacts of drought and flooding on Welsh beef and sheep systems
• MSc thesis: Livestock farmers' perceptions of veganism in Wales
• MSc thesis: The role of land agents in advocating renewable energy and its benefits to landowners
• MSc thesis: Organic farming in Shropshire: barriers, perceptions and motivations
• MSc thesis: Renewable energy schemes on agricultural land: case study research from North Nottinghamshire

• Possible PhD projects: https://www.harper-adams.ac.uk/research/phd-projects.cfm

Professional Memberships

• Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• Member of the Institution of Agricultural Engineers