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
Professor Georgios Leontidis (University of Aberdeen), Dr Aiden Durrant (University of Aberdeen), Dr Mamatha Thota (University of Lincoln), Professor Derek Stewart (Advanced Plant Growth Centre, The James Hutton Institute), Dave Scott (Intelligent Growth Solutions - Industry Advisor)

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
Dr Tryphon Lambrou (University of Aberdeen), 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; Prof Paul Murray, 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.
