John Tzilivakis

Dr John Tzilivakis is a Reader (equivalent to Associate Professor) in Agricultural and Environmental Systems at the University of Hertfordshire, serving as Director and research lead for the Agriculture and Environment Research Unit (AERU) within the School of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences. His work focuses on evaluating environmental impacts of rural land use through policy implementation and practical farm-level tools.

He holds a BSc, MSc, and PhD, providing foundational expertise in agricultural and environmental systems. His professional credentials include Practitioner Membership in the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (PISEP) and membership in the Institute of Analysts and Programmers (MIAP).

John's research centers on agri-environmental policy assessment, biodiversity and ecosystem service quantification, and pesticide risk indicators. Key projects include the Farmland Ecosystem Assessment Support Tool (FEAST) and UK Pesticide Load Indicator, which translate complex environmental data into actionable insights for farmers. His work integrates environmental, economic, and social dimensions to create holistic sustainability frameworks applicable across European agricultural landscapes.

Analysis of his 164 research outputs reveals consistent innovation in environmental indicator development, particularly for EU directives like the Nitrates Directive and Industrial Emissions Directive. His publications demonstrate a strategic shift toward landscape-scale biodiversity assessment and decision support systems that bridge scientific research and practical farm management.

John has secured funding from European Commission programs, UK government bodies (DEFRA), industry partners including supermarkets, and NGOs, leading 56 projects totaling significant research investment. His knowledge transfer approach emphasizes co-creation with stakeholders, resulting in widely adopted software tools and policy briefings. He actively supervises postgraduate students and contributes to policy committees through frequent conference presentations and technical workshops.

As Director of AERU, John leads a multidisciplinary team developing cutting-edge methodologies for environmental impact assessment. Current initiatives focus on refining pesticide load indicators, expanding FEAST's capabilities for agrobiodiversity management, and supporting EU policy evaluations through projects extending into 2025. The unit maintains strong industry partnerships to ensure research directly addresses real-world agricultural challenges.