Peter’s Research portfolio at Research Gate
Books
How Plants Cool and Heal the Climate: Finding Solutions Close to Home.
People have degraded about half of the vegetation of land and oceans thereby destabilising the climate and warming the planet. By stopping this destruction, revegetating as much as possible, regenerating soils and the water cycle, and eliminating our use of fossil fuels we can heal the climate sooner than you might think.
Better Business for a Better World
Some businesses strive to be enjoyable and inspiring places to work, while others are stuck in a dead-end mindset that prevents them from reaching their potential. He explores the concepts and practices that make for a better business. The second edition is available on Kindle.
Think of this book as an “owner’s manual” for your soul. We all have a soul – some deny this and many are distracted from consideration of their souls by other priorities. We have the material means to solve the crises we are experiencing, but if we are unable to draw on spiritual strengths and be more unified, we will fail. This book explores our fundamental identity and the reality of the soul.
Regenerative food systems
Methane Sources, Sinks and Uncertainties
The global warming gasses, water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide all cycle differently through the environment but are bundled into CO2 equivalents. This discussion paper explores aspects of methane’s cycling through the environment.
This multidisciplinary project explores the interface between Western science as applied in pastoral agriculture and mātauranga Māori, indigenous knowledge from Aotearoa New Zealand.
Change and the Climate Crisis: Aligning urgency and agency
This article explores change responses to the climate crisis and then describes how we might align agency and urgency using Duncan Green’s model of change, to expedite change centred on hope.
Soil Carbon Sequestration – a contested space in science
In New Zealand, some have identified soil carbon sequestration as a quantifiable option, but the prevailing view is that carbon is in equilibrium in the soil. Without a pathway to resolve this disjuncture, we restrict options for mitigating agricultural emissions.
Pathways to Sustainable Food Systems in Northland
This document explores the shift from industrial food systems to sustainable food systems and how this might happen in Northland. Options identified include food hubs, developing a regional food plan, and working at influencing food-related policy.
Our Food Story: Understanding the market dynamics of fruit and vegetable production, distribution and produce outlets in Northland
Our Food Story identifies the links between components of Northland’s food system and surfaces exciting opportunities to reshape the system to generate clear economic and social benefits for the region.
Relocalising our Food: Reshaping Northland’s food production, distribution and consumption systems
This document explores the imperatives for food system reform. It anticipates redesigning these systems to create an environment more supportive of local growers that in turn helps to reinvigorate rural communities, make local food more readily available. Better health outcomes will follow as fresh local quality food is more readily available.
The Social and Economic Impact of the Whangarei Growers Market
The Whangarei Growers Market is a community asset. Its turnover of $3.66 million creates an additional $5.84 million dollars of activity for the Northland economy. Ninety people are directly employed with a further 22 through downstream impacts. These economic impacts are perhaps less significant than the social impacts of the market.
Customers appreciate the quality of food on offer, including its freshness and the availability of spray free or organic produce. The “atmosphere” of the market is also appreciated. With the growing awareness of the contribution of fresh fruit and vegetables to health, the market provides a resource regarded as a vital component of the local health network.
Other research
Governance Development in Northland final draft (2003)
Building Board Intelligence (September 2006) An article published in Boardroom, The Journal of the Institute of Directors.
Bruce-Iri 