Dr. Jo Smith

Job title

Senior agroecology researcher

Contact details

Email prefix: jo.s (add suffix @organicresearchcentre.com)
Phone: +44 (0)1488 658298 - extn. 531
Mobile: +44 (0)779 964 3384
Fax: +44 (0)1488 658 503
Postal address: Elm Farm, Hamstead Marshall, Newbury, Berkshire RG20 0HR

Academic qualifications

PhD: Agri-environment schemes and soil biodiversity (Centre for Agri-Environment Research, University of Reading and Soil Biodiversity Group, Natural History Museum, London.
MSc: Advanced Methods in Taxonomy and Biodiversity (Imperial College and Natural History Museum, London).

Main roles and responsibilities

Managing the Agroforestry programme and other agro-ecological research
Working within the SOLID project on a task assessing an agroforestry system in terms of feed supply and multifunctionality
Leading a work package on dissemination within the ICOPP project
Task leader within the CO-Free project to investigate an agroforestry approach to reducing copper use in top fruit production

Research interests

My main research interest focuses on evaluating an agroforestry approach to balancing productivity with protection of the environment and the delivery of ecosystem services from agriculture. I also have a keen interest in the effects of agriculture on biodiversity, both at a field- and landscape-scale, with a particular interest in the biodiversity of soil macrofauna.

External activities

Executive committee member of the Farm Woodland Forum
Member of the Agricultural Ecology Specialist Group of the British Ecological Society
UK sub-delegate for the European Agroforestry Federation
Advisory member for farming on the North Wessex Downs AONB Council of Partners

Selected publications

Smith, J., Pearce, B.D. and Wolfe, M.S. 2012. Reconciling productivity with protection of the environment: Is temperate agroforestry the answer? Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems. doi:10.1017/S1742170511000585

Smith, J., Pearce, B.D. and Wolfe, M.S. 2012. A European perspective for developing modern multifunctional agroforestry systems for sustainable intensification. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems. doi:10.1017/S1742170511000597

Smith J, Pearce BD, Döring TF, Wolfe MS. 2012. Developing modern multifunctional agroforestry systems for sustainable intensification. In: McCracken K (Ed.) SAC-SEPA Biennial conference: Valuing Ecosystems: Policy, Economic and Management Interactions. Edinburgh 3rd-4th April 2012; ISBN 1 85482 996 3; pp. 257-262.

Eggleton, P., Inward, K., Smith, J., Jones, D.T. & Sherlock, E. (2009) A six year study of earthworm (populations) in pasture woodland in southern England shows their responses to soil temperature and soil moisture. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 41: 1857-1865

Smith, J., Potts, S.G., Woodcock, B.A. & Eggleton, P. (2009) The impact of two arable field margin management schemes on litter decomposition. Applied Soil Ecology 41: 90-97

Smith, J., Potts, S.G., Woodcock, B.A. & Eggleton, P. (2008) Can arable field margins be managed to enhance their biodiversity, conservation and functional value for soil macrofauna? Journal of Applied Ecology 45: 269-278

Smith, J., Potts, S.G., & Eggleton, P. (2008) The value of arable field margins for enhancing soil macrofaunal biodiversity in agroecosystems. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 127: 119-125

Smith, J., Potts, S. & Eggleton, P. (2008) Evaluating the efficiency of sampling methods in assessing soil macrofauna communities in arable systems. European Journal of Soil Biology 44: 271-276

Clarke, M.A., Creamer, R.E., Deeks, L.K., Gowing, D.J.G., Holman, I.P., Jones, R.J.A., Palmer, R.C., Potts, S.G., Rickson, R.J., Ritz, K., Smith, J., Thompson, T.R.E., Truckell, I.G., Vickery, J., Whalley, W.R., Whelan, M.J. & Woodcock, B.A. (2008) Scoping study to assess soil compaction affecting upland and lowland grassland in England and Wales. Final project (BD2304) report to Defra.

Smith, J., Chapman, A. & Eggleton, P. (2006) Baseline biodiversity surveys of the soil macrofauna of London’s green spaces. Urban Ecosystems 9:337-349