(he/him)
I’ve spent my career at the intersection of science, policy, and practical land management. After many years with Natural England—first delivering agri-environment schemes and later as National Specialist in Grassland Agronomy—I moved into the seed industry, leading an Innovate UK pilot, Re-wilding Our Seed, on maintaining genetic integrity in commercial seed production. More recently, as Tree and Woodland Officer for the North Pennines National Landscape, I developed and delivered restoration projects that prioritised native seed sourcing and the local provenance of plant material for both woodland and grassland restoration schemes.
This PhD draws together the strands of my professional journey—a chance to consolidate years of work in conservation, farming, and seed systems into research that strengthens the link between science and practice.
Safeguarding genetic integrity: Inter-situ conservation approaches to strengthen Biodiversity Net Gain through provenance-based seed sourcing
Durham University with Dr Adrian Brennan
PhD aim:
My research investigates how genetic and phenotypic variation in key meadow species affects the success of grassland restoration, with the aim of informing national Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) guidance to better reflect local adaptation and provenance.
PhD objectives:
- Use ddRADSeq to define genetically appropriate seed zones for BNG grassland schemes;
- Evaluate and optimize seed procurement methods to secure a sustainable and genetically appropriate restoration strategy;
- Translate genetic integrity findings into BNG guidance, empowering farmers as stewards of local seed resources to boost agri-biodiversity and the long-term sustainability of farming systems.
Contact details:
email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: Paul Muto