Tel |
+44 (0) 2890 255 207 |
---|---|
Research Group |
Farm and Household Economics |
Research Interests |
|
Publications | Researchgate |
Biography
Claire is a Principal Research Economist and leads the Farm and Household Economics Research Group, directing and undertaking research relating to agricultural and rural policy development alongside policy evaluation. Applying a mix of quantitative and in-depth qualitative methods Claire’s research aims to explore those factors, beyond farm profit-related motives, that influence decision-making at the farm business level. In particular, decisions relating to land management, enterprise choice, labour allocation, (on and off-farm) and environmental resources in response to market and policy changes. The research findings have contributed to informing, developing and designing a more targeted approach to the delivery of agriculture and rural development policy in Northern Ireland.
Recent and current research areas include skills and training within the farming and agri-food sector, farm safety, barriers to longer term land leasing and modelling farming systems in response to market and policy changes. Claire and her team are also involved in policy evaluation, currently evaluating the Farm Business Improvement Scheme, which is part of the N.I Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 including CAFRE’s extension programmes; Business Development Groups and Environmental Business Development Groups.
Claire obtained her BSc in Economics and PhD in Agricultural Economics from Queen’s University Belfast. She is a member of the Agricultural Economics Society (AES). Claire is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of an ESRC funded project ‘Administrative Data –Agricultural Research Collection’ AD|ARC.
Select Publications
Current Projects
- Project18/1/19 - Impact of RDP: Evaluation of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, Farm Business Improvement Scheme – Longitudinal Study (PMB1 RDP Study 1)
- The Future Agriculture Policy Framework: Identifying barriers to long term land leasing in Northern Ireland and exploring mechanism to support and encourage long term land leasing
- Whole Farm Systems Modelling