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Hi I'm
Professor Christine Watson

  • Position: Associate Dean
  • Location: Craibstone Campus
  • Expertise:
    • Agriculture, Crops and Soils
    • Climate, Environment and Wildlife
    • Natural Economy
    • Policy

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I am Professor of Agricultural Systems and Associate Dean of the Northern Faculty at ÒÁÈËÖ±²¥ based at the Craibstone Campus.ÌýÌý

I started my career with a degree in soil science and have spent much of my career working on nitrogen cycling in different kinds of land use systems – from grassland and arable systems to outdoor pig production and agroforestry. I am particularly interested in systems which utilise legumes like clover and beans to supply nitrogen. This is hugely relevant to future farming as we move towards net zero. I am really interested in the use of long-term experiments to understand how climate change and soil management affect food and nutritional security. I also enjoy the challenge of working across organic and conventional farming systems.ÌýÌý

I hold a guest professorship at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences where I am based in the Department of Crop Production Ecology. I have been going to Sweden regularly for the last 10 years and really enjoy being part of, and learning from, the different work and life cultures in Scandinavia.ÌýÌý

PhD supervision is a big part of my job as we build a PhD community at Craibstone. I have been lucky enough over the last few years to work with students on topics as diverse as legume production in Sub-Saharan Africa, nutrient and calorie production in diverse crop rotations and the role of pasture management in equine laminitis.ÌýÌý

Areas of expertise and interests

  • Agriculture, Crops and Soils
  • Climate, Environment and Wildlife
  • Natural Economy
  • Policy

I'm currently working on

  • Developing soil health metrics for use on farmsÌý
  • The impact of soil pH on crop production and soil healthÌý
  • Developing intercropping for food and feedÌý
  • Integrating crops and livestock in European farming systemsÌý
  • Improving organic farming systems to deliver food, feed and ecosystem servicesÌý
  • Legumes for food and feedÌý

My professional highlights

  • Associate of the Royal Agricultural SocietiesÌý
  • Chair of Defra Expert group on Organic ProductionÌý
  • Trustee of the Organic Research CentreÌý
  • Member of the Research Steering Group for the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (Scotland)Ìý
  • KSLA Wallenberg Professorship Sweden 2019Ìý
  • Member of the ZALF (Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research) Scientific Advisory BoardÌý
  • President of the Association of Applied Biologists (2016-2018)Ìý
  • President of the European Society for Agronomy (2014-2016)Ìý

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