SUSTAIN Projects
We are delighted to showcase our four-year PhD projects in the application of Artificial Intelligence to sustainable agri-food.
Explore the projects in more detail below.
Interested in being involved in future projects from an industry perspective? Please contact us for more details sustain@lincoln.ac.uk
Cohort 1 (2024/25)
L1101
Intelligent, Energy-efficient De-leafing for the Soft Fruit Industry
Prof Elizabeth Sklar, University of Lincoln; Prof Greg Keeffe, Queen’s University Belfast; Sarah Palmer, Driscolls Genetics Limited (Industry Supervisor)
Cohort 1 (2024/25)
L1103
Robotics and AI to Support Scalable Agronomy (RAISSA)
Prof Marc Hanheide, University of Lincoln; Prof Georgios Leontidis, University of Aberdeen
Cohort 1 (2024/25)
L1218
Service Robots Interventions Promoting More Sustainable Buyers’ Choices in Supermarkets
Dr Francesco Del Duchetto, University of Lincoln; Dr David McBey, University of Aberdeen; Dr Leonardo Guevara, University of Lincoln
Cohort 1 (2024/25)
A1106
Machine Learning Crop Breeding in Precision-Controlled Vertical Farming for a Sustainable Future
Dr Aiden Durrant, University of Aberdeen; Dr Mamatha Thota, University of Lincoln; Prof Georgios Leontidis, University of Aberdeen; Prof Derek Stewart, Advanced Plant Growth Centre, The James Hutton Institute; Dr Tanveer Khan, Intelligent Growth Solutions
Cohort 1 (2024/25)
A1107
Transparent Carbon Footprint Quantification and Reporting in Agriculture
Dr Milan Markovic, University of Aberdeen; Dr Paul Williams, Queen’s University Belfast; Dr Matthias Kuhnert, University of Aberdeen; Karl H Richter, iSumio Ltd
Cohort 1 (2024/25)
A1109
Nature-based Solutions for Restoration of Degraded Soils in Sub-Saharan Africa
Prof Jo Smith, University of Aberdeen; Prof Anil Fernando, University of Strathclyde; Prof Georgios Leontidis, University of Aberdeen; Getahun Yakob, Southern Agricultural Research Institute (SARI), Ethiopia (Industry Supervisor), Moses Kimani, Lentera Ltd, Kenya (Adviser)
Cohort 1 (2024/25)
S1102
Advanced Video Processing to Optimise Feeding of Livestock in Farms
Dr Paul Murray, University of Strathclyde; Prof Ilias Kyriazakis, Queen’s University Belfast; Anthony McMahon Peacock Technology (Industry Supervisor), Prof Christos Tachtatzis (University of Strathclyde).
Cohort 1 (2024/25)
Q1214
Food Authentication Using Portable Sensors: Addressing Food Fraud and Food Mislabelling
Prof Hui Wang, Queen's University Belfast; Prof Louise Manning, University of Lincoln
Cohort 2 (2025/26)
A2120
Computer Vision and Multimodal Approaches to Automate Flower Bud Detection and Yield Forecasting of Medicinal Cannabis in Controlled Environment Agriculture Systems
Prof Georgios Leontidis, University of Aberdeen; Dr Aiden Durrant, University of Aberdeen; Dr Oorbessy Gaju, University of Lincoln
Cohort 2 (2025/26)
A2228
Clear and sound: combining image analysis and bioacoustics to link pollinators traffic with fruit set and harvest.
Dr Roslyn Henry, University of Aberdeen; Dr Fabio Manfredini, University of Aberdeen; Prof James Windmill, University of Strathclyde; Prof Georgios Leontidis, University of Aberdeen
Cohort 2 (2025/26)
S1213
Towards sustainable net-zero farming using machine learning
Prof Vladimir Stankovic, University of Strathclyde; Dr Matthias Kuhnert, University of Aberdeen; Prof Lina Stankovic, University of Strathclyde.
Cohort 2 (2025/26)
S1215
Artificial Intelligence for Satellite Assessment in Grassland Ecosystems (AI-SAGE)
Dr Robert Atkinson, University of Strathclyde; Dr Lan Qie, University of Lincoln; Prof Christos Tachtatzis, University of Strathclyde
Cohort 2 (2025/26)
S1105
Development of a Milk (mid-infrared) MIR Spectral Deep Learning Neural Network as a Classifier Model for GHG Emission Profiles in Dairy Cattle
Prof Craig Michie, University of Strathclyde; Prof Chris Creevey, Queens University Belfast
Cohort 2 (2025/26)
S2119
AI for the Decarbonisation of the Dairy Sector: Heat Recovery and Energy Harvesting
Prof Lina Stankovic, University of Strathclyde; Prof Tom Jefferies, Queens University Belfast; Prof Vladimir Stankovic, University of Strathclyde
Cohort 2 (2025/26)
S2121
A Machine Learning Accelerated Spectral Matching Algorithm to Identify Harmful Algal Blooms and Other Threats to Aquaculture Operations.
Prof David McKee, University of Strathclyde; Prof Paulo A. Prodöhl, Queens University Belfast; Dr Steven Owens, University of Strathclyde
Cohort 2 (2025/26)
Q1110
Multi-Object Visual Tracking (MOT) of Animals in Agriculture
Dr Niall McLaughlin, Queens University Belfast; Prof Christos Tachtatzis, University of Strathclyde; Prof Ilias Kyriazakis, Queens University Belfast
Cohort 2 (2025/26)
Q1217
Machine Learning and Bayesian Modelling Approaches for Big Data in Beef Agriculture & Food Production
Dr Arran Hodgkinson, Queens University Belfast; Dr Mingjun Zhong, University of Aberdeen; Prof Ilias Kyriazakis, Queens University Belfast
Cohort 2 (2025/26)
Q2122
Harnessing Explainable AI to Identify Key Microbial Drivers of Reduced Ruminant Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Prof Chris Creevey, Queens University Belfast; Dr Robert Atkinson, University of Strathclyde
Cohort 2 (2025/26)
Q2123
Using Machine Learning and AI Approaches to Determine the Origins of Post-Weaning Diarrhoea and Antimicrobial Resistance in Piglets
Dr Linda Oyama, Queens University Belfast; Dr Mingjun Zhong, University of Aberdeen; Prof Ilias Kyriazakis, Queens University Belfast
Cohort 2 (2025/26)
Q2229
Harnessing AI Tools and DNA-based Monitoring to Enhance Arthropod Biodiversity Assessments
Dr Karen Siu Ting, Queens University Belfast; Prof Christos Tachtatzis, University of Strathclyde
Cohort 2 (2025/26)
L2331
AR2MS – Automated Robotic Rapid evaporative ionisation mass spectrometry Meat Sampling
Dr Athanasios Polydoros, University of Lincoln; Dr Nick Birse, Queens University Belfast; Prof Mark Swainson, University of Lincoln
Cohort 2 (2025/26)
L1216
Trade-offs in land use: Utilising argumentation theory and dialogue to optimise for net-benefits
Dr Daniel Magnone, University of Lincoln; Prof Nir Oren, University of Aberdeen; Prof Simon Parsons, University of Lincoln.