Cranfield University at Silsoe (1975-2008)

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Open Access
Design of the robotic self-travelling sprinkler system
(1999-08) Ozaki, Yuriko; Blackmore, S.
A conventional rain gun system is adversely affected by windy conditions. Therefore, the robotic self-travelling sprinkler (STS) system that controls the head and the water supply with relation to instant windy conditions. The robotic STS head has two degrees of freedom; sector and trajectory angles, driven by stepper motors to follow the control model, which are found by applying prediction models of water distribution, Centre of volume and Semi-empirical models. As a result, it was shown that the control for the sector angle compensated for the horizontal water distortion from wind, however, the trajectory angle was found to need more data to model the optimum trajectory angle. To control the water supply, a cut-off solenoid valve was installed and shut when wind was over 6 m/s upwind and 7 m/s downwind. This indicated that the trajectory angle was less than 10 degrees above horizontal. Under such windy conditions, water can not be distributed as far from the STS as required or becomes spray, which cannot reach to the ground. As the experimental results showed, the system enabled to minimize the commercially ineffective water distribution. A chemigation system was added, which can injects chemicals into the main water flow. The system enables farmers to save the cost for extra chemigation equipment. The process of the system while working can be checked by the interactive communication system between the embedded computer and the user’s computer. Therefore, this system made the robotic STS system more reliable, furthermore, it enabled the user’s computer to read and save the data sent from the field controller unit. This robotic STS system can distribute water or chemicals to the required area, even if up to the irregular boundaries,(fence lines, comers of fields), with the minimum water supply. Also, the system is ready to incorporate treatment maps and DGPS. In other words, it is possible to feed the adequate amount of water or chemicals which varies depending on the different regions of fields, species of plants, and seasons.
Open Access
Ethical investment: An analysis trends in UK socially responsible investments funds
(2004-09) Jones, Christopher; Robbins, Peter
Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) is a growing sector in the financial world. SRI involves selecting and investing in stocks based on the ethical views of investors, and then screening, negatively and positively, companies for investment. Some of the ethical issues commonly addressed by SRI funds are alcohol, tobacco, gambling, and environmental and social issues. A model was adapted from Spillers 4 P’s for Ethical business to provide an analytical framework for generating qualitative theories about socially responsible investment (SRI). The aim of the thesis was to use this analytical framework as a starting point and develop/collapse it through constant comparison with data, in line with the grounded theory approach. Semi structured interviews were conducted with members of different groups with interests in SRI, and the transcriptions were coded using the qualitative data analysis software programme Atlas.ti. The results of the interviews confirm that the central driving force behind SRI is the investor, and this has been the case since SRIs inception. However, interviews with informants also reveal that there is an increasing influence from asset managers, as they recognise that SRI can provide a more sustainable form of investment. Changes in social attitudes about the role business plays in society are also behind an increasing desire to make corporations more accountable. Funds that use engagement as an investment strategy are trusted more by investors, because they are seen to have a greater commitment to socially responsible issues, but informants said that these funds need to be more transparent in their engagement policies. Many of the interviewees believed that there was a need for the integration of social, environmental, and ethical issues, with financial criteria when funds consider investment decisions.
Open Access
Exploring the effectiveness of ISO 14001 in local authorities
(2004-07) Campbell, Marion; Neame, Charles
In this study the effectiveness of the implementation of ISO 14001 by Local Authorities is explored, as are the factors that hinder and/or further implementation of the standard. These include the motivations for applying the standard, its strengths and weaknesses and the consistency of it use. The research was undertaken using interviews both of key informants in a variety of councils and of those in a detailed case study of Bedfordshire County Council. The research suggests that consistency of application between different councils was poor and the motivations were mainly environmentally based, and its strengths and weaknesses, although varied, had few consistent factors as perceived by the respondents. The main strengths of ISO 14001 included flexibility and the demand for continual improvement, and its main weaknesses being the opportunity that flexibility provides for abuse of the standard.
Open Access
The impact of the EU water framework directive on irrigated agriculture in England
(2005-01) Freeman, David; Morris, Joe
Irrigation in the England is a small but strategically important sector. It makes a significant contribution to agricultural GDP allowing the production of specialised crops with the ability to maintain and maximise both yield and quality. It is this demand for reliable, quality supplies of produce that drives the demand for irrigation water and is likely to increase in future. In some areas of East Anglia irrigation can account for up to 70% of water abstraction in the region during peak demand. Concerns over environmental quality combined with increasing pressures on scarce water resources have prompted the introduction of new regulation and tighter controls on resource distribution. The introduction of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) into European legislation aims to facilitate better water management and to improve quality of the water environment. Irrigation farming can lead to problems of water quantity and water quality as a result of abstraction and agrochemical discharges. This study aims to identify the mam irrigation farming systems in England; to determine the characteristics and performance of irrigation farming systems; to , evaluate the impacts of alternative policy measures on these systems and to determine possible coping strategies that could be adopted. Three case study farms have been used to develop a linear programming (LP) model to enable the assessment of alternative policy measures. ;Measures aimed at encouraging efficient use of water arid reduction in agrochemical discharges have been modelled in the LP and the· effect of these policy changes on the sustainability of farms investigated with respect to economic, social and environmental objectives. The study confirmed the links between irrigated agriculture, WFD and water resource and quality issues. The study indicated that the implementation of policy measure as a result of the WFD are likely to affect the sustainability of irrigated agriculture. The use of abstraction license restrictions and abstraction charge increases facilitated reductions in the use of water. Reduction in water/use availability led to reduced areas of irrigated cropping. Reductions in the areas of cropping are closely linked with the returns to water gained for each specific crop. Under water abstraction charge increases, reductions in water use were dependant upon the value of water to the crop, under high net margins the value of water was high and large areas of irrigated cropping remained in the system. This value could be up to £9.00m3 for strawberries and in the region of £1.00 -£2.00m3 for potatoes and vegetables. The inelastic nature of demand for irrigation water leads to a transfer of income from farmers to the regulatory body. General trends showed that the profits -to farms could be significantly reduced with the loss of irrigated crops. Labour requirements were also reduced significaantly with reductions in the areas of irrigated land. Environmental performance improved under reduced irrigation, confirming the high potential for pollution to occur under the irrigated crops with high levels of agrochemical inputs. Controls on the agrochemical losses impacted upon- the areas of land under production. The cropping pattern switched to the most profitable crops with the highest returns per unit of agrochemical loss. Irrigated crops became dominant within the cropping pattern. Areas of land were taken out of production in order to allow the maximisation of areas of irrigated cropping while allowing the farm unit to remain within the limits of agrochemical loss to the environment. Coping strategies were identified namely; the use of winter abstraction combined with a storage reservoir and the use of trickle irrigation as a more efficient method of application, their use was validated under licence restrictions and abstraction charge increases. Trickle irrigation and winter water strorage have been confirmed as being viable options in extending irrigation. The study identifies priorities for future research, including:- • Expansion of the examination of coping strategies, (this may include work on deficit irrigation), • Agrochemical use~ and possible yield and quality responses to reduced inputs, • Development of more complex models including the use of a greater range of cropping options and coping strategies, with the possibility of incorporating reduced input options and agri-environmental land use.
Open Access
Incorporating corporate social responsibility criteria into the Barclays bank lending appraisal process
(2003-10) Considine, Kevin; Morris, Joe
In response to growing corporate power, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is increasing public demand that businesses should demonstrate greater responsibility for managing their impact on society beyond simply paying taxes and complying with regulations. Critical to this debate are commercial banks, which through the action of lending, play a pivotal role in society as financial intermediaries, and therefore, it is argued have an extraordinary potential to further sustainability. The thesis, a case study, examines the feasibility for incorporating CSR criteria as part of the lending appraisal process at Barclays Bank. To begin, the thesis examines the literature on CSR and assesses the theory, application and reliability of this new and growing financial risk factor. For the methodology, the study adopts a process of engagement with a pre-selected group of Barclay’s stakeholders to evaluate the issues key to the debate. Supporting this process of stakeholder engagement, a wider secondary stakeholder group was surveyed to assess the validity of Barclays’ stakeholder responses. To assist the research, an analytical framework of the CSR appraisal process was constructed. The results show correlation between the two stakeholder groups, illustrating not only the objectivity of the stakeholders put forward by Barclays but also the degree of commonality on societal and ethical issues amongst representatives from various organisations. The findings further illustrate that banks are being driven to adopt CSR by a combination of risk factors. Finally, the study puts forward recommendations on facilitating CSR for the lending appraisal process. It draws upon new framework guidelines for CSR and existing environmental credit risk polices and procedures, but in addition, presents new arguments that reflect the opinions of the stakeholder process.
Open Access
Strengthening the local rural economy: promoting the sustainability of rural business in Bedfordshire
(2002-09-25) Reeves, A. J.; Neame, Charles
This research was undertaken for Bedfordshire County Council to investigate appropriate mechanisms for the promotion of sustainable rural business in Bedfordshire. The research seeks to provide insights into the future requirements of small rural businesses in Bedfordshire and to build upon the support that Bedfordshire County Council currently provides to ‘local producers’ through the ‘Made in Beds Directory’. A user-friendly postal questionnaire was targeted to businesses in Bedfordshire with a rural postcode, with 25 or fewer employees and regardless of their business activity. The survey covered: the strengths and weaknesses of the businesses; the perceived importance of those strengths and weaknesses; the barriers to improving business performance; and appropriate support provisions to enhance business performance. These were previously identified in the literature and policy review, corroborated and augmented in a pilot study. The results were varied, illustrating the highly individual nature of the businesses and their perceived requirements. The businesses identified their strengths as: technical expertise; financial management; ability to innovate; compliance with legislation and the location of the business and weaknesses were identified as: marketing and promotional ability; training provision; I.T.; product development and logistics. The perceived barriers to improved business performance identified and future support provision requirements, resulted in the provision of valid insights into the rural businesses. The wide scope of the research meant that despite not fully achieving the objectives, it provided useful insights enabling a series of informed conclusions. The principle recommendations were: • Support should be directed at the agricultural sector; • Support should address the principal areas of weaknesses: marketing and promotional activities; training provision; I.T.; product development. • Support is directed at overcoming the perceived barriers to improving business performance, namely: lack of management time; lack of staff skills; lack of marketing and promotional ability; access to finance; coping with competitors. Further exploratory research should be carried out into: methods for developing the strengths of rural companies and providing strategies for sustainable competitive advantage for the businesses; the types of staff training which rural businesses would participate in to enhance staff skills; Increased promotion and signposting to free local business resources available; Promotion of the benefits of addressing environmental issues in the business decision-making and the provision of free or subsidised membership of the Bedfordshire Green Business Network to businesses with rural Bedfordshire postcodes; BCC to establish a panel of businesses for the purpose of implementing the recommendations on an experimental basis. Over a period of time the panel would provide useful additional data and experiences, which could inform future support strategies for sustainable rural businesses. The use of a pilot panel would allow for the appropriateness of support measures to be assessed prior to implementation thus reducing the risk of inappropriate use of public funding and adverse public opinion.

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