Agriculture, Conservation and Land Use

Genetically Modified Organisms

RPA has prepared studies for the UK Government and European Commission on the impacts and potential for improvement of regulatory controls over deliberate releases of genetically-modified organisms.  The majority of deliberate releases to date have been of agricultural crops.  Read more…

Nutrients

Nutrients (nitrate and phosphorus) can have a significant sdverse impacts on the quality of water bodies and aquatic ecosystems.  RPA has worked with Defra on the potential costs to agriculture of the Water Framework Directive and to appraise the options for meeting the requirements of the Nitrates Directive, which aims to reduce water pollution caused by nitrogen from agricultural sources and to prevent such pollution in the future.  We also advised English Nature on the potential role of economic instruments in managing diffuse nutrient pollution.  Read more…

Pesticides

RPA was contracted by Defra’s Pesticides Division to review the effectiveness of the Pesticide Regulations.  A follow-on study gathered information to determine the use and usage patterns of amenity pesticides across the UK.  Previously, we advised Defra on the potential for economic instruments to reduce the environmental impact of pesticide use.  Read more…

Conservation

Examples of RPA’s work on conservation include a study for English Nature of the effectiveness of floodplain Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) schemes in maintaining and enhancing biodiversity and advice to Defra on the potential environmental impacts of the reform of Pillar I and the potential implications for Axis II funding under the Common Agricultural Policy (the CAP Health Check).  Read more…

Sustainable Land Use

RPA undertook work for the Broads Authority on the decline of the reed and sedge cutting industry.  The Authority has since taken steps to revive the industry.  Read more...