Professor Ian Dodd
Professor of Sustainable AgricultureResearch Interests
As an Australian, Ian is used to droughts, and regularly applies them to plants “in his care”, to understand the fundamental mechanisms by which plant root systems communicate the effects of drought (and other soil stresses) to the shoot. This research aims to improve crop water use efficiency (“crop per drop”) to guarantee food production within a changing climate. This work has been extensively applied both within the UK and internationally, with current projects on agricultural water management funded by the Global Challenges Research Fund (http://www.recirculate.global/ ) and the European Union (http://www.shui-eu.org/ ).
Ian’s primary responsibility in the department is being Director of Study of the
Food Security (Distance Learning) MSc
Published research
His published work includes over 100 refereed journal papers (see link below), many of which have sought to understand the effects of irrigation volume, frequency and placement on plant physiological responses and crop yields. This includes work on “partial rootzone drying” and “alternate wetting and drying” irrigation techniques. The impacts of the above-ground environment (specifically changes in evaporative demand and light quality) on crop water use has occupied recent attention. He has also collaborated with other LEC scientists to investigate how various soil management practices (eg. soil amendments, tillage) affect plant water availability.
Previous EU FP7 projects include:
- DROPS: Drought tolerant yielding plants (www.dropsproject.eu )
- ROOTOPOWER: Empowering root-targeted strategies to minimize abiotic stress impacts on horticultural crops (www.rootopower.eu )
- SIRRIMED: Sustainable use of irrigation water in the Mediterranean region (www.sirrimed.org )
- WATBIO: Development of improved perennial non-food biomass and bioproduct crops for water stressed environments (www.watbio.eu )
Additional funding sources include the
- Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board (AHDB)
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
- British Council
- Newton Fund
- Royal Society
Current research
The PhD students he supervises work on a range of topics including root physiology and phenotyping, rootzone CO2 enrichment and various soil amendments (including alternative liming agents, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria and surfactants). His laboratory regularly receives overseas visitors, especially from drier parts of the world (than UK) such as Spain, Italy, Turkey and China.
Roles
Ian is currently:
- handling editor for the Journal of Experimental Botany and Plant and Soil
- Member of the Plant Sector Group of the Technology Strategy Board
Teaching
Ian’s teaching includes:
- an undergraduate course on Sustainable Agriculture as part of the LEC BSc degree schemes in Ecology & Conservation Biology
- postgraduate courses on Agriculture, Climate Change & Food Security and Sustainable Soils Management within the M Sc Environmental Management
Outside interests
When not engaged in academic duties, Ian can be found at the Bowerham Lawn Tennis Club (but not studying the surface)
University of Lancaster (The) and Newage Agric Solutions Limited
15/07/2024 → 14/07/2026
Research
AKT with Stopford Ltd.
11/03/2024 → 24/07/2024
Research
AKT with Stopford Ltd.
11/03/2024 → 24/07/2024
Research
Integrating membrane processes into hydroponics systems to promote plant growth, recover added-value root exudates and recycle nutrients
01/03/2023 → 30/04/2024
Research
Plant diversity & irrigation management to enhance ecosystem services
01/01/2023 → 31/03/2025
Research
New genotypes, water and nutrient management: improving the livelihood of rice farmers in Ghana
01/12/2022 → 30/11/2023
Research
New genotypes and irrigation management to boost rice micronutrient levels in Ghana
01/09/2022 → 31/08/2023
Research
BREAKTHRU: developing soil compaction resistant wheat
01/08/2022 → 31/07/2025
Research
Sustainable, Low Impact Fertilisers for Agriculture
01/05/2022 → 30/04/2024
Research
Rhizobacteria to improve plant growth
11/01/2022 → 11/03/2022
Research
DSI: Nursery management to enhance climate resilience of transplanted trees
11/10/2021 → 27/03/2022
Research
CASE : Microbes for crop stress relief
01/10/2021 → 30/09/2025
Research
Can increased plant diversity restore soil-associated ecosystem services in agroecosystems experiencing variable rainfall patterns?
01/10/2021 → 31/03/2025
Research
Can increased plant diversity restore soil-associated ecosystem services in agroecosystems experiencing variable rainfall patterns?
01/10/2021 → 31/03/2025
Research
A transdisciplinary in-field application method for the selection of highly productive and climate-resilient wheat and quinoa genotypes with exceptional nutritional and agro-industrial quality in the Peruvian highlands
01/07/2021 → 30/06/2022
Research
H2020 : Transforming Unsustainable management of soils in key agricultural systems in EU and China: developing an integrated platform of alternatives to reverse soil degradation. (TUdi)
01/07/2021 → 30/06/2025
Research
Newton Impact Scheme: Evaluating the impact of climate resilient cereal varieties on farmer livelihoods and community nutrition in Peru.
28/02/2021 → 31/03/2022
Research
Bean Breeding for Adaptation to a Changing Climate and Post-Conflict Colombia
01/04/2019 → 30/09/2021
Research
Field-based phytohormone phenotyping to select climate resilient cereal varieties
15/02/2019 → 14/02/2020
Research
Soil Hydrology research platform underpinning innovation to manage water scarcity in European and Chinese cropping systems
01/10/2018 → 30/09/2022
Research
Soil Hydrology research platform underpinning innovation to manage water scarcity in European and Chinese cropping systems
01/09/2018 → 31/08/2022
Research
Physiological characterization of heat-tolerant bean genotypes in simulated future environments to enhance post-conflict regional development
01/04/2018 → 31/03/2019
Research
Rutherford Fund Strategic Partner Grant 2018
01/04/2018 → 31/03/2019
Research
Complementary laboratory and field phenotyping to extend the future agro-climatic range of soybean
29/01/2018 → 31/01/2020
Research
RECIRCULATE : GCRF: Driving eco-innovation in Africa:capacity-building for a safe circular water economy
01/10/2017 → 31/12/2021
Research
RECIRCULATE : GCRF: Driving eco-innovation in Africa:capacity-building for a safe circular water economy
01/10/2017 → 31/03/2022
Research
Field Evaluation of Rhizobacterial Inoculants for Enhancing Lettuce Production
01/08/2013 → 31/03/2014
Research
FP7: WATBIO Development of improved perennial non food biomass and bioproduct crops for water stress
01/11/2012 → 31/10/2017
Research
Sub Project 2.3: Improving Spike Fertility and Plant Development by Modifying Its Sensitivity to Environmental Cues
01/11/2012 → 31/10/2013
Research
Intensifying Cut Salad Production With A Novel Vertical Growing System (TSB)
01/04/2012 → 30/09/2012
Research
FP7: ROOTOPOWER: Empowering root targeted strategies to minimize abiotic stress impacts on horticultural crops
01/01/2012 → 31/12/2015
Research
Detection and amelioration of rootzone ethylene production in protected crops
01/10/2011 → 31/12/2014
Research
ICA:Cement Kiln Dust
01/10/2010 → 30/06/2014
Research
FP7: SIRRIMED
01/07/2010 → 31/03/2014
Research
Increasing crop yield and resource use efficiency via root-zone CO2 enrichment
01/01/1900 → …
Research
Centre of Excellence in Environmental Data Science
- Centre for Global Eco-innovation
- Improving global stewardship
- Plant and Crop Science