Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content
No photo of David Styles

View Scopus Profile

David Styles

PROF

Accepting PhD Students

PhD projects

Life cycle assessment (attributional and consequential) Food and bioenergy footprints Bioproduct footprints Anaerobic digestion and biofertilisers Sustainable forestry value chains Sustainable plant protein value chains Pathways to net zero greenhouse gas emissions

Personal profile

Biography

Dave is Associate Professor in agri-sustainability, Co-Director on the Agricultural Science BSc programme, and delivers problem-based learning across various sustainability-focussed modules. Hisresearch is focused on understanding (inter-)system sustainability at all levels, with expertise across food, energy, bioproduct and waste management systems based on 20 years of experience undertaking life cycle assessment (LCA). He has held research and academic positions in, inter alia , Trinity College Dublin, Irelands Environmental Protection Agency, the European Commission Joint Research Centre, University of Bangor and University of Limerick. He currently coordinates or leads work packages across ten projects, including LandingZoNeS, a target=_blank rel=nofollow href=https:fusion-research.euforesight.htmlFORESIGHT , a target=_blank rel=nofollow href=https:eat-packaging.ieEAT-Packaging , a target=_blank rel=nofollow href=https:www.radiantproject.euRADIANT , a target=_blank rel=nofollow href=https:www.circagric.orgCircAgric-GHG and a target=_blank rel=nofollow href=https:informbioproject.ieINFORMBIO . Most of these projects integrate life cycle thinking and environmental footprinting with foresight analyses, to provide scientific evidence on the system transformations required to deliver on climate neutrality and circular economy aspirations, within planetary boundaries.Dave is a member of IEA Task 45 assessing the sustainability of bioenergy, the Climate Change Advisory Councils Carbon Budget Committee, and the expert advisory board to the National Bioeconomy Forum. He coordinates the FORESIGHT modelling consortium providing agriculture and land use modelling services to the Irish Government, and contributes to the national Land Use Review.

Research Interests

My research is centred on application of systems thinking and advanced life cycle assessment (LCA), including consequential LCA, to assess the resource efficiency and environmental sustainability of food and bio-based product value chains. Past research has involved the development of farm-scale models to fully represent important livestock emissions and nutrient flows in calculated environmental footprints of milk, beef and biogas products. Current work is evaluating the climate mitigation potential of novel plant-based protein food amp; drink products and forestry value chains in the context of net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emission targets. I am particularly interested in the interaction among food, bioenergy and new bio-based product (e.g. bioplastic) value chains in terms of land use, nutrient flows and water extraction, as well as GHG emissions.

Teaching Interests

My teaching is focused on instilling a systems approach to assess the resource efficiency and environmental sustainability of food and circular economy value chains, with an emphasis on livestock systems, plant proteins and bioenergy. More recently, I am engaging Agricultural Science students with fresight analysis to explore risks and opportunities associated with diifferent decisions at farm and landscape level.

Education/Academic qualification

B.Sc., PhD

Accepting PhD Students

  • Accepting PhD Students

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  1. SDG 2 - Zero Hunger
    SDG 2 Zero Hunger
  2. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
  3. SDG 4 - Quality Education
    SDG 4 Quality Education
  4. SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation
    SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
  5. SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
    SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
  6. SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth
    SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
  7. SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
    SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
  8. SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
    SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
  9. SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
    SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
  10. SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
    SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
  11. SDG 13 - Climate Action
    SDG 13 Climate Action
  12. SDG 14 - Life Below Water
    SDG 14 Life Below Water
  13. SDG 15 - Life on Land
    SDG 15 Life on Land
  14. SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
    SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
  15. SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals
    SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics where David Styles is active. These topic labels come from the works of this person. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
  • 1 Similar Profiles
View full fingerprint

Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
Explore network further
View all 220 research outputs
  • 2 Membership of committee
  • 1 Contract Researchers
  • 1 Current Postgraduates (Research) Supervised
View all 10 courses