Newly-appointed Trevor Ellett Senior Lecturer in Grassland Science at Massey University, Andrew Cartmill, brings with him a wealth of experience in agroecology, and a desire to work with farmers to help unlock potential in agriculture.
Originally hailing from Birkenhead in the North West of England, Andrew and his wife landed in New Zealand in July after Andrew was offered the position at Massey. It’s been a whirlwind packing up and shifting their lives from their Wisconsin, US, base, but Andrew says it was an opportunity that was too good to pass up.
Having completed his undergraduate studies in the UK, Andrew moved to Texas A&M University, where he completed his Masters and PhD, and met his future wife. For the last 10 years the couple has lived and worked in Wisconsin.
Andrew’s early interest was in what was going on below ground with plants and root systems. His Masters was in a greenhouse setting with ornamentals, and explored root work and keeping plants alive with poor quality water using a naturally occurring arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.
His PhD researched the effect of warming and precipitation distribution on soil respiration and mycorrhizal abundance in post oak savannah.
On moving to Wisconsin, where his wife had been offered a teaching position at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Andrew secured a research position at the university farm.
Wisconsin is a dairying stronghold in the US and Andrew was keen to see if he could apply his skillset to an agricultural setting. Working alongside his supervisor, who worked on the water side while Andrew looked at the soil and plant component, they shared the animal aspect. He explains it was very similar to regenerative agriculture. Through this position, Andrew had the chance to work in a pastoral setting, and began working with local farming groups. Much of their work was about taking an ecological standpoint and applying it to farming systems.
This led to the pair working with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as part of its long-term agricultural research network, trying to answer questions about the sustainability and resilience of farming. Through this work, they were able to gain inclusion of the university research farm as a designated Global Farming Platform.
“The focus was on sustainability and resilience, focusing on ruminant animals and moving into the agroecology idea – the soil, the plants, the animals and the people.”
Andrew says the agricultural sector is a growing area in New Zealand, one that attracts a lot of interest. He sees potential in the sector here, and ample opportunity to work on new projects and learn a new skillset. It also affords him the chance to move back to his ‘roots’ looking at root work and gas exchange on some existing Massey projects.
“It’s early days but I’m really excited to be part of the T.R. Ellett Agricultural Research Trust and do more with the Trust. I would like to get out and work with the farming community, too. Farmers are so often ahead of myself, as an academic, and you can see and learn some neat applications of good agronomy, to fix problems and make things better.
“Agriculture is the key to civilization and I see my role as not to tell farmers what to do, but help explain why they are seeing certain things or responses with things they’re trying on farm. Agriculture is always addressing problems and making progress.”
As well, Andrew is currently working on the Whenua Haumanu project at Massey. It is a large project involving lots of people and he will be the pasture research lead. Amongst other things, he hopes to focus on the belowground aspect of pasture systems, and linking these into aboveground pasture performance and ecosystem service.
Since moving to New Zealand, Andrew has been astounded by the birdlife and how quiet it is here. He and his wife hope to rediscover a better work life balance after a hectic 10 years of teaching and researching in the US. They plan to explore the country, and enjoy heading for the hills or relaxing at the beach.
Click here for an update on Andrew’s teaching journey in NZ!