Skip to main content
Harper Adams University logo
    Photograph of Karl
    Staff Directory

    Professor Karl Behrendt

    BRurSc GradDipAgEcon PhD

    Elizabeth Creak Chair in Agri-Tech Economic Modelling

    Research Focus

    As the Director of the Global Institute for Agri-Tech Economics my research focuses on the economics of innovative agricultural technology and digitalisation through the application of interdisciplinary systems based approaches to inform decision making at multiple levels. This is being achieved by working with industry, government and other research institutions to provide economic intelligence and agri-tech solutions for UK and global agriculture and value chains. The objectives of my research are to develop approaches that link economics and science to provide greater insights into how agricultural systems work and how they can be manipulated to achieve the objectives of stakeholders and society. This includes the analysis of the impact of innovative technology, climate change and management on economic, environmental and social outcomes.

    Currently I am undertaking research into the economics of PLF and smart dairy systems; the economics of autonomised robotic cropping systems; use of precision agriculture in small holder farming systems; bioeconomic modelling of pasture systems, and intensive and extensive livestock systems and their externalities; benefits and barriers of bovine EID for traceability in the UK, socio-economics of paludiculture, regenerative and conservation agriculture; the value of soil biodiversity and its management; barriers to farmer participation in carbon and BNG markets; and farmer behaviour in response to changes in agri-environmental policies.

    Recently completed research includes developing better PES policies for China and Mongolia, the cost of compliance of exporters to the EU; the impact of technology, water policy, market instruments and climate change on irrigated and dryland mixed farming businesses in both the rice and cotton industries; identifying best management practice for the management of perennial and annual weeds in mixed farming and grazing systems; and the economic analysis of RD&KT investment in agriculture.

    Research Interests

    • Economics of adopting innovative technology and digitalisation in farming and value chains
    • Precision Livestock Farming technologies and their application in the value chain
    • Impact of technology on agricultural and environmental systems management and policies
    • Bioeconomic modelling of agricultural and ecological systems
    • Development of predictive and prescriptive decision support systems for agriculture and value chains
    • Agricultural risk and investment analysis
    • Agribusiness planning

    Postgraduate Supervision

    Currently supervising the following postgraduate students:

    • George Wager (HAU PhD, Elizabeth Creak Fellow: Economics of Precision Livestock Farming)
    • Abdullah Al-Amin (HAU PhD, Elizabeth Creak Fellow: An economic assessment of autonomous equipment for field crops)
    • Pamela Theofanous (HAU: PhD: Price Linkages in major EU Olive Oil Markets)
    • Joe Collins (HAU PhD: A systems-level evaluation of conservation agriculture within the UK, Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership BBSRC Funded)
    • Gustavo Martigone (HAU PhD: An examination of the Asymmetric Price Transmission in Soybean-A case study in the world market)
    • Muhammad Khan (HAU PhD: Managing sustainability compliance of multi-tier food supply chains through intermediaries)
    • Deborah Hall (HAU PhD: Potential valorisation strategies for chicken manure).
    • Tom Nash (HAU MRes: Optimization of net zero strategies in UK beef and sheep sectors, Worshipful Company of Butchers supported).

    Professional Memberships

    Academic Department: Food, Land and Agribusiness Management

    Tel: +44 (0) 1952 815 303

    Twitter: @AgriTechEcon

    Office: AC20 Aspire Centre

    Research profile: ORCID

    Research profile: ResearcherID.com

    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.

    Additional Information

    Recently completed research projects

    • Pruex (2020-2022) Green, R., Williams, L. Jeffery, S., Butler, M., Behrendt, K. Collaborators: Pruex, Hudson & Sanders Ltd (Applied Group), Ross Robotics. Funded by Innovate UK.
    • AHDB Farm Resilience Review and Action Plan for farmers in England (2022) Huang, I, Hill, N.,Behrendt, K. Funded by AHDB.
    • Bioeconomic modelling of White Clover, Lime, Phosphorous and climate interactions (2021-2022) Behrendt, K. Funded by NSW Department of Primary Industries.
    • AHDB Sustainable Farming Incentive Project (2021-2022) Behrendt, K., Huang, I, Hill, N., Parker, E. Funded by AHDB.
    • Strengthening incentives for improved grassland management in China and Mongolia (2015-2020) Brown, C.; Bennett, J. Kemp, D.; Addison, J.; Behrendt, K.; Waldron, S.; Zhang, J. Collaborators: University of Queensland, Australian National University, Charles Sturt University, CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University; Institute for Grassland Research, Chinese Academy Agricultural Science Ministry of Food and Agriculture of Mongolia, Ministry of Science and Technology, Mongolia University of Life Sciences. Funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR ADP/2012/107)
    • AgriBenchmark 2016-18 project: Beef and Sheep networks (2016-2018). Behrendt, K. Collaborators: Meat & Livestock Australia, Graham Centre, International agri benchmark network, private consultants/extension personnel. Funded by Meat & Livestock Australia (D.IIS.1610).
    • Sustainable Livestock Grazing Systems on Chinese Temperate Grasslands (2012-2017). Kemp, D.; Badgery, W.; Behrendt, K.; Michalk, D.; Takahashi, T. Collaborators: China Agricultural University; Gansu Academy of Agricultural Science, Gansu Agricultural University; Gansu Grassland Ecological Research Institute, Lanzhou University; Inner Mongolia Agricultural University; Institute for Grassland Research, Chinese Academy Agricultural Science. Funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR LPS/2008/048)
    • Improving adoption of management strategies for summer perennial weeds through effective engagement processes (2015-2017). Wu, H. (NSW DPI), Herbert, K.; Behrendt, K.; Bowden, P.; Higgins, V. Funded by Meat & Livestock Australia Limited.
    • Climate change adaptation in southern NSW-lower rainfall agriculture: A biophysical and economic assessment of farm performance at three irrigated Murray Valley mixed farm sites, under a projected climate and irrigation allocation scenario, factoring in water market instruments (2017). Behrendt, K. in collaboration with NSW Department of Primary Industries Cashen, M.; Broadfoot, K.; Clark, A.; Graham, P. Funded by Murray LLS.
    • Development of FarmEcon analysis module for economic assessment of mixed farm biophysical simulations (2015-2017). Behrendt, K. in collaboration with NSW Department of Primary Industries Cashen, M.; Broadfoot, K.; Clark, A.; Graham, P. Funded by Murray LLS.
    • Developing a mixed farming system R,D&A program (2016-2018). Friend, M.A.; Robertson, S.M.; McGrath, S.R.; Behrendt, K. Collaborators: CSIRO; DEDJT&R (Vic); Nicon Rural Services; NSW Department of Primary Industries; DAFWA (WA). Funded by Meat & Livestock Australia Limited.
    • Determining the value of ground cover to limit serrated tussock invasion (2014-2016). Behrendt, K. in collaboration with Badgery, W.B.; Millar, G.; Simmons, A.; Simpson, M.  Funded by NSW Weeds Action Program.
    • AgriBenchmark: Australian beef and sheep agri benchmark network (2013, 2014 & 2015). Behrendt, K. Funded by Meat & Livestock Australia Limited
    • Assessing Farmers' Costs of Compliance with EU Legislation in the Fields of Environment, Animal Welfare and Food Safety (2012-2013). Expert contributions by Behrendt, K.; Davies, L. in collaboration with Centro Ricerche Produzioni Animali SpA (PI); agri benchmark. Funded by EU Commission.

    Research projects

    Documents

    Contact

    Enquiry

    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.

    Ok, got it  Learn more