BSc (Lycée Saint-Louis), MSc (AgroParisTech)
Website: http://theolenormand.mystrikingly.com/ Email: tlenormand@glos.ac.uk
Profile 
Theo is a PhD student at the University of Gloucestershire. His PhD is a partnership between the CCRI, the Welsh Government (through the Environmental Evidence Program) and the CCF (Community and Countryside Foundation) aiming at assessing the impact of the Post-Brexit environment (policy and trade) on the Welsh farm's choice of evolution. His PhD examines the landscape and the impact at a community level, including from an economic perspective. He is supervised by Professor Janet Dwyer (CCRI), S. Devienne (AgroParisTech), Chris Short (CCRI), K. Watts (Welsh Government) and Dr. P. Williams (Bangor University). Theo’s PhD is multidisciplinary, bridging the gaps between farming sciences, social sciences and agri-economics.
To study this subject, he is using a French method called “Agrarian Diagnosis”, which is a fieldwork-based approach to farming research (Cochet and Devienne, 2005). Conducting this sort of work in several focus areas across Wales will help develop a better understanding of farming evolution and how they may be affected by different factors, for example how farms will fare after Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic. This will help inform new agricultural policy, at a time when Wales is gaining more independence in its agricultural policy design. It is therefore very important to hear the experiences and views of farmers in Wales. It means closely studying selected focus areas through fieldwork, to understand how and why agriculture has evolved through time (e.g., impacts of the landscape, policy, economy…). Because farming is a complex subject, the goal is to fully appreciate how the impacts of such factors vary between different areas and farm types.
Theo is currently doing some fieldwork for his PhD; working on North Wales and the Vale of Clwyd. After finishing this, he will be applying the same approach to an area of Snowdonia and South Pembrokeshire. He is trying to deliver findings at regular intervals to inform on future developments in farming to a wide range of stakeholder.
Reports
Janet Dwyer awarded OBE
Former CCRI Director, Janet Dwyer has been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2022 for her services to rural research over more than three decades.
Professor Julie Ingram delivers inaugural lecture
Yesterday afternoon, Professor Julie Ingram delivered her inaugural professorial lecture entitled ‘Unpacking the multiple meanings of innovation for sustainable agriculture: the who, what, how and why?’
Julie Ingram presenting and contributing to 14th European IFSA Symposium
This week Professor Julie Ingram is attending the 14th European Farming Systems Conference (IFSA – European Group) at the University of Évora, Portugal. The main focus of this years’ Conference will be Farming Systems Facing Climate Change and Resource Challenges.
Julie Ingram – Inaugural Professorial Lecture
On April 26th, Professor Julie Ingram will present her inaugural professorial lecture which will focus on innovation for sustainable agriculture. Find out more and register to attend this important event.
CCRI Placement Student 2022 – 2023
Would you like to gain work experience in a dynamic research team, carrying out academic research and consultancy projects for a wide range of clients? We are seeking to appoint an Undergraduate Placement Student as a Research Assistant to support our work for 2022-23.
Website update
A number of you have reported to us that you are experiencing problems with our website. CCRI Director Matt Reed explains what is happening with regard to this.