Dr Phillipa Nicholas

Research Associate, Institute of Rural Sciences
University of Wales Aberystwyth

Email: pkn@aber.ac.uk
Phone: +44 (0)1970 622240

Interests

I have an interest in all aspects of organic farming systems, particularly dairy and other livestock systems; organic food supply chains and organic farming policy.

Teaching

BSc Organic Agriculture (1-yr top-up)

RS20210 Introduction to Organic Agriculture
RS36620 Organic Livestock Health and Management

RSM1420 Organic Livestock Health and Management (Postgraduate)

European Network of Organic Agriculture Teachers (ENOAT)

European Network of Organic Agriculture Students (ENOAS)

Current and recently completed projects 

• CORE- ANIPLAN  Collaboration between research institutions has enabled us to evaluate, analyse and test knowledge and experiences of animal health and welfare planning. The knowledge and experience comes from current research activities and existing animal health promoting systems in participant countries. The outcome of the project will enable adaptation of animal health planning and animal health and welfare assessment. This will be achieved through animal based parameters as well as advisory systems and farmer groups. It will apply across borders and into the diverse conditions in many different European regions.  For further details see http://aniplan.coreportal.org

• QLIF  The Integrated Project QualityLowInputFood (QLIF) aims to improve quality, ensure safety and reduce cost along the organic and "low input" food supply chains through research, dissemination and training activities.  The project focuses on increasing value to both consumers and producers using a fork to farm approach.  For further information see http://www.qlif.org/

• ORGAP The European funded research project Evaluation of the European Action Plan for Organic Food and Farming gives scientific support for the implementation of the European Action Plan, and it will assess its long-term and short-term effects.  For more information see http://www.orgap.org/

• EEC 2092/91 (Organic) Revision  The overall objective of this project is to provide recommendations for the revision and further development of the EU Regulation 2092/91 and other standards for organic agriculture. The project addresses how basic ethical values can be integrated in organic standards and how the dependency on conventional inputs in the area of feeds and seeds can be further reduced.

• EU-CEE-OFP The project aims to identify how the complementary development of Organic Farming in both existing EU states, Switzerland, and in Central and Eastern European (CEE) Accession states can be fostered through policy design and innovation.  Further details can be found on http://www.irs.aber.ac.uk/EUCEEOFP/

• Animal Health and Welfare Strategy for Great Britain - Implementation in Wales  An advisory group of key stakeholders has been charged with supporting the implementation of the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy in Wales.  A sub-group of members has been looking at the issue of animal health planning and have developed a template for animal health planning which is available from the Welsh Assembly Government and via Welsh Vets.  For more information on the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy for Great Britain please see http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/ahws/default.htm

Publications

Publications in Organic E-prints

Journal papers

• P. K. Nicholas, S. Padel, S. P. Cuttle, S. M. Fowler, M. Hovi, N. H. Lampkin and R. F. Weller (2004) Organic Dairy Production – A Review. Biological Agriculture and Horticulture 22(3), 217-249.  http://orgprints.org/10861/

• Nicholas, P. K.; Kemp, P. D. and Barker, D. J. (2004) Stress and recovery of hill pastures in the North Island of New Zealand.  Grass and Forage Science 59: 250-263.

• Lile, J.A., Blackwell, M.B., Thomson, N.A., Penno, J.W., Macdonald, K.A., Nicholas, P.K., Lancaster, J.A.S., and Coulter, M. (2001). Practical use of the rising plate meter (RPM) on New Zealand dairy farms. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grasslands Association 63, 159-164.

• Macdonald, K. A.; Nicholas, P. K.; Kidd, J. M.; Penno, J. W. and Napper, A. R. (2000)  The effect of pasture silage quality on milk production and liveweight gain of dairy cows.  In:  Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 60: 253-255.

• Roach, C.G.; Stevens, G.; Clark, D.A. and Nicholas, P.K. (2000)  Effects of effluent and urea application on groundwater, soil and pastures at WTARS.  In:  Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association 62: 173-178.

PhD- thesis

• Nicholas, P.K. (1999) Environmental and Management Factors as Determinants of Pasture Diversity and Production of North Island New Zealand Hill Pasture Systems. PhD Thesis, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.

Books and book chapters

• Hodgson, J., Cameron, K., Clark, D., Condron, L., Fraser, T., Hedley, M., Holmes, C., Kemp, P., Lucas, R., Moot, D., Morris, S., Nicholas, P., Shadbolt, N., Sheath, G., Valentine, I., Waghorn, G. and Woodfield, D. (2005) New Zealand's Pastoral Industries: Efficient use of Grassland Resources.  In: Reynolds, S.G. and Frame, J (eds). Grasslands: Developments, Opportunities, Perspectives. FAO, Rome, pp. 181-205.

Conference contributions and conference proceedings

• Stolze, Matthias; Bahrdt, Katja; Bteich, Marie-Reine; Lampkin, Nicolas; Naspetti, Simona; Nicholas, Phillipa and Zanoli, Raffaele (2007) Strategies to improve quality and safety and reduce costs along the food supply chain . Paper presented at 3rd QLIF Congress: Improving Sustainability in Organic and Low Input Food Production Systems, University of Hohenheim, Germany, March 20-23, 2007. http://orgprints.org/10422/

• Bichler, B.; Dabbert, S.; Gambelli, D.; Haring, A.; Nicholas, P.K.; Paladini, M.; Vitulano, S. and Zanoli, R. (2006) The development and the impact of Organic Farming Policy in the European Regions (1998-2003).  In: Anderson, C.; Elsgaard, L.; Sondergaard Sorensen, L. and Hansen, G. (eds) Organic Farming and European Rural Development. Proceedings of the European Joint Organic Congress, 30 and 31 May 2006, Odense, Denmark. http://orgprints.org/7518/

• Nicholas, P; Jeffreys, I and Lampkin, N (2006) Effects of European organic farming policies at sectoral and societal levels. Poster presented at What can organic farming deliver? COR 2006, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, 18-20 September 2006; Published in Atkinson, C; Ball, B; Davies, D H K; Rees, R; Russell, G; Stockdale, E A; Watson, C A; Walker, R and Younie, D, Eds. Aspects of Applied Biology 79, What will organic farming deliver? COR 2006, page pp. 163-166. http://orgprints.org/10213/

• Nicholas, P. K.; Padel, S.; Lampkin, N.; Fowler, S.; Topp, C. and Weller, R. (2004) Modelling organic dairy production systems.  In: Hopkins, A. (ed) Proceedings of the BGS/AAB/COR Conference, 20 – 22 April 2004, Harper Adams University College, Shropshire, UK.  British Grassland Society Occasional Symposium No. 37, British Grassland Society, Reading, UK. http://orgprints.org/10999/

• Nicholas, P.K.; Padel, S.; Fowler, S. M.; Lampkin, N. H.; Topp, C. F. E and Weller, R. F. (2002) The Validation of a Computer Simulation Model For Use In Organic Dairy Farm Systems in the United Kingdom.  In: Proceedings of the Colloquium of Organic Researchers Conference, 26 – 28 March 2002, University of Wales, Aberystwyth, UK. http://orgprints.org/8392/
• Lile, J.A., Blackwell, M.B., Thomson, N.A., Penno, J.W., Macdonald, K.A., Nicholas, P.K., Lancaster, J.A.S., and Coulter, M. (2001). Practical use of the rising plate meter (RPM) on New Zealand dairy farms. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grasslands Association 63, 159-164.

• Macdonald, K. A.; Nicholas, P. K.; Kidd, J. M.; Penno, J. W. and Napper, A. R. (2000)  The effect of pasture silage quality on milk production and liveweight gain of dairy cows.  In:  Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 60: 253-255.

• Roach, C.G.; Stevens, G.; Clark, D.A. and Nicholas, P.K. (2000)  Effects of effluent and urea application on groundwater, soil and pastures at WTARS.  In:  Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association 62: 173-178.

• Nicholas, P.K.; Kemp, P.D.; Barker, D.J.; Brock, J.L. and Grant, D. A. (1997)  Production, stability and biodiversity of North Island, New Zealand hill pastures.  Proceedings of the XVII International Grassland Congress.

• Nicholas, P.K.; Kemp, P.D. and Barker, D.J. (1997)  Biodiversity, stability and pasture management – the role of functional groups.  Proceedings of the 9^th Australian Agronomy Conference, Wagga Wagga, Australia.

• Barker, D.J.; Springett, J.A.; Lambert, M.G.; Mackay, A.D.; Kemp, P.D. and Nicholas, P.K. (1997)  Anthropogenic Impacts on Some Indigenous Species in North Island, New Zealand Hill Country Pasture.  In: Nature Conservation in Production Environments: Managing the Matrix.  1-5 December 1997, Taupo, New Zealand.

Reports and other publications

• Nicholas, P.K.; Sundrum, A. and Padel, S. (2007) Guidance notes to operators including recommendations in relation to nutrient supply.  Deliverable D 4.3, EEC 2092/01 (Organic) Revision.  Aberystwyth, University of Wales Aberystwyth

• Lampkin, N.H. and Nicholas, P.K. (2006) ORGAPET Section C1: Identifying action plan and policy objectives.  EU Project ORGAP. Aberystwyth, University of Wales Aberystwyth.

• Nicholas, P.K.; Jeffreys, D. I.; Tuson, J. and Lampkin, N.H. (2006) Final report on organic farming policies in EU15 and CH, including comparative analyses and cost-effectiveness assessment with national report cards.  Further Development organic Farming Policy in Europe with Particular Emphasis on EU Enlargement QLK5-2002-00917, Deliverable 17, Commission of the European Community.

• Fowler, S. M.; Wynne-Jones, I.; Nicholas, P. K.; Lampkin, N. H. (2003)  Organic Dairy Farm Incomes 1998/99 – 2001/2002.  Project No. OF0146 Report to DEFRA.  Institute of Rural Studies, University of Wales Aberystwyth, UK.

• Nicholas, P.K.; Padel, S.; Fowler, S. M.; Lampkin, N. H. (2002)  Organic Dairy Farm Modelling 2001/2001.  Project No. OF0146 Report to DEFRA.  Institute of Rural Studies, University of Wales Aberystwyth, UK.

• Weller, Richard; Nicholas, Philipa and Fowler, Susan (2002) Comparison of the physical and financial performance of organic dairy farming systems (OF0146). Report, Ty Gwyn, Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research. http://orgprints.org/8086/

• Mackay, A.; Doak, M.; Rhodes, A. P.; Burborough, T.; Jackman, J.; Redward, D.; Williams, P.; Pearse, T.; Pollard, J. and Nicholas, P.K. (2002)  Understanding the Costs and Risks of Conversion to Organic Production Systems.  MAF Technical Paper No. 2002/1.  Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

• Van Steensel, F.; Nicholas, P.K.; Bauer-Eden, H.; Kenny, G.; Campbell, H.; Ritchie, M.; Macgregor, A. N.; Koppenol, M.; Blake, G. and Bacchus, P. (2002)  A Review of New Zealand and International Organic Land Management Research – Relevant to soil, dairy pasture and orchard management in New Zealand. http://biodynamic.org.nz/researchreport_summary.html