Grasslands project led by UWE Bristol academic to support UK’s bid for net zero emissions

A UWE Bristol researcher will lead a £4.7 million project focused on the management of UK’s grasslands aimed at supporting efforts to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Angelina Sanderson Bellamy, Professor of Food Systems, will lead a project called ‘Grassland resilience for net zero: sustainable practices for shaping the future of UK land use’.

The three-year project aims to optimise grassland use through techniques such as grazing in upland areas, relying on hay and other animal feed with a lower carbon footprint, and integrating more trees in pastures and other farmed land.

As well as helping the UK achieve its mitigation goals, the grasslands initiative also has the potential to help the UK save more than £1.6 billion annually.

Professor Sanderson Bellamy said: “I’m really excited to be able to work on such a crucial aspect of getting the UK to Net Zero by 2050. The livestock sector faces significant challenges in reducing carbon emissions, while also delivering on biodiversity goals and ensuring livelihoods in our rural communities continue to be supported.

“Our hope is that by working together with farmers who are leading the way, we can evidence practices for doing so and work with our project partners to support more farmers to transition the way they farm and manage their lands.”

The project is one of five to have received a share of a £14.5 million investment by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and government partners. The five initiatives have been announced under phase two of the Transforming Land Use for Net Zero, Nature and People programme (LUNZ). They aim to revolutionise agricultural practices, land use change and soil health in the pursuit of a more sustainable future.

The announcement of the £14.5 million investment follows the launch of the LUNZ Hub in January - a £6.25 million investment by UKRI and partners. Professor Sanderson Bellamy is part of the leadership team for the LUNZ Hub, which is charged with equipping UK policymakers, industry, civil society and communities with the evidence needed to drive transformational change in land use.

LUNZ forms part of UKRI’s building a green future strategic theme. The theme aims to accelerate the green economy by supporting research and innovation that unlocks solutions essential to achieving net zero in the UK by 2050.

Professor Gideon Henderson, Director General for Science and Analysis and Chief Scientific Adviser at Defra, said: “Decarbonising agriculture and land use sectors is extremely challenging, and UK emissions have remained stubbornly high.

“The Land Use for Net Zero programme, jointly funded by UKRI and Defra, will provide new evidence to help solve this problem and help Defra develop policy to achieve net zero goals.

“I’m delighted to see the announcement of five research projects, which will join the recently launched programme hub.

“These new projects will address important land types, from grassland to peatland, and provide exciting modelling to assess optimal routes towards net zero while still using our land to produce the food on which we all depend.”

Professor Anne Ferguson-Smith, Executive Chair of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, said: “This significant investment from UKRI and government partners across all four nations underscores our collective commitment to addressing the urgent challenges of climate change through innovative research.

“Combined with the LUNZ Hub, the five projects selected for funding are poised to make substantial contributions towards transforming the UK’s land use practices, accelerating the bioeconomy and building a greener future for all.”