Professor Karl Behrendt
BRurSc GradDipAgEcon PhDElizabeth Creak Chair in Agricultural Systems Economics and Innovation
Research Focus
As Research Group lead of the Global Institute for Agri-Tech Economics, my research focuses on the application of economics, data, and systems thinking to support better decision-making in agriculture, food systems, and environmental management. Working collaboratively with industry, government, and international research partners, I develop evidence-based approaches that evaluate how technologies, policies, and management strategies affect economic performance, environmental sustainability, and societal outcomes. By integrating scientific, economic, and behavioural insights, my work seeks to improve productivity, resilience, and sustainability across agricultural systems and value chains.
Research Interests
- Agri-tech economics, automation and digital agriculture
- Climate-smart and net-zero agriculture
- Regenerative agriculture and agroecological transitions
- Sustainable proteins and circular bioeconomy systems
- Natural capital, ecosystem services and environmental land management
- Bioeconomic modelling for farm, industry and policy decisions
Professional Memberships
Academic Department: ÁÕÀÅÊÓÆµ Adams Business School
Research: Global Institute for Agri-Tech Economics (GIATE)
Research: Agroecology for Sustainable Food Systems
Research: Centre for Social Science
Tel: +44 (0) 1952 815 303
Office: MB67 Main Building
Research profile:
Research profile:
Publications
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- Research group lead of the Global Institute for Agri-Tech Economics
- Executive Committee,
- (Council Member)
- National Centre for Precision Farming member
- Adjunct Research Professor, Charles Sturt University, , Australia
Postgraduate Supervision
Current supervisions:
- G. Wager (HAU PhD, Elizabeth Creak Fellow: Automated monitoring and high-resolution analysis of feeding behaviours in housed cattle)
- E. Maritan (HAU PhD: Factors affecting labour-related benefits through innovation adoption in agriculture)
- S. Baker (HAU PhD: The role of intermediaries in the process of agricultural policy design and implementation. A post Brexit case study in England)
- B. Wiseman (HAU PhD: Soil Biodiversity: Value and Impact on Ecosystem Services)
- J. Broadhurst (HAU PhD: Optimum strategies for UK beef producers to achieve net zero)
- P. Rai (CSU PhD: Unravelling Regenerative Farming Realities: Investigating economic, social and environmental outcomes and preferences of Regenerative Farmers in an Australian farming context).
- M. Ager (CSU PhD: Determining optimal space allocation and bedding rate of feedlot cattle under covered housing systems)
Previous supervisions:
- Dr J. Collins (2025, A systems-level evaluation of conservation agriculture within the UK)
- Dr G.B. Martignone (2025, An examination of the Asymmetric Price Transmission in Soybean - A case study in the world market)
- Dr M. Khan (2025, Managing sustainability compliance of multi-tier food supply chains through intermediaries)
- Dr A.K.M. Al-Amin (2024, Elizabeth Creak Fellow: An economic assessment of autonomous equipment for field crops)
- Dr P. Theofanous (2023, Price Linkages in major EU Olive Oil Markets)
- Dr J. Kelly (2020, Impact of weed seeds on carcase quality in sheep meat enterprises)
- Dr S. Godfrey (2015, Traditional domestic milk value chains and dairy policy environment in Pakistan)
Research projects
- ABP PRISM 2030 - Researcher
- AHDB Landscape Recovery Project - Researcher
- AHDB Resilience Review and Action Plan for farmers in England - Researcher
- AHDB Sustainable Farming Incentive Project - Principal Investigator
- Alternative business models - wetter farming and land management on and around protected lowland raised bogs - Project Director
- Assessing the feasibility of using the ADOPT model to support RD&E investment decisions in the UK - Researcher (PI)
- Breed for CH4nge - Breeding Lower Methane Sheep - Co-Investigator
- D4AgEcol - Digitalisation for Agri-Ecology - Principal Investigator
- Defining the economic and social benefits of regenerative farming systems - Principal Researcher
- Economics of swarm robotics in UK agriculture - Researcher
- Farm Business Management Tools and Techniques - Researcher
- Impact of agri-environmental schemes and the emerging biodiversity and carbon credit markets on farm resilience - Advisor
- Paludiculture Innovation Project (PIP) - EAgri-Tech Economic Modelling
- Pasture to Plate - Researcher
- Patchy Peat Solutions Project - CO-I
- Quantitative modelling for post EU exit trade deals (UK Agricultural Industry) - Researcher
- Strengthening incentives for improved grassland management in China and Mongolia - Researcher
- The Beef Toolkit - Principal Investigator
- The Carbon Exchange: Mapping the Drivers and Impact of the Carbon Market on Rural Enterprises in the UK - Researcher
- The integration of PA tools and technologies for resilient and sustainable agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa - Principal Investigator