Pioneering Research Institute Celebrates Decade of Environmental and Economic Innovation
EXETER, UK – Next week, the University of Exeter will host a landmark gathering of researchers, policymakers, and business leaders to mark the 10th anniversary of the Land, Environment, Economics and Policy Institute (LEEP). Since its inception, the institute has become a global leader in addressing the most pressing challenges of the 21st century—climate change, biodiversity loss, and food security—by reimagining the nexus between land use and economic decision-making.
Founded within the University of Exeter Business School, LEEP has spent the last decade building a reputation for bridging the gap between complex data science and practical, real-world policy. By integrating economic theory with environmental and natural science, the institute provides the essential tools required to quantify how nature supports society and how land-use decisions can catalyze a more sustainable future.
A Decade of Impact
The upcoming anniversary event, titled LEEP@10: A Decade of Impact, A Future of Change, will take place on Thursday, 10th September. The celebration will feature keynote speeches, panel discussions, and interactive sessions, including a headline address by Emma Campbell, Director of Analysis and Chief Economist at Defra.
“LEEP has pioneered the bringing together of natural, physical, economic, and social science to tackle those existential challenges facing humanity now and increasingly through this century,” said Prof. Ian Bateman, LEEP Co-Director. “Over the past ten years, we have redefined the research frontier, always focusing on turning academic excellence into practical, real-world tools that allow businesses and government to bring the environment into their decision-making.”
The institute’s influence is evident in its diverse portfolio of projects. Among its most notable contributions are the development of the ORVAL (Outdoor Recreation Valuation) and NEVO (Natural Environment Valuation Online) tools, which empower policymakers to quantify the benefits of the natural environment and predict how changes in land use ripple through society.
From Medieval Records to Indoor Farming
LEEP’s research reaches across time and industry. Current and past initiatives include:
- Historical Land Use: A project analyzing 600 years of agricultural records, spanning the Middle Ages to the Victorian era, to inform modern UK agricultural policy.
- Sustainable Seafood: A pioneering study on the potential for indoor prawn farming on UK farmland to create a more resilient and sustainable seafood industry.
- Biodiversity Economics: Home to the Dragon Capital Chair in Biodiversity Economics, a unique initiative dedicated to mitigating the negative impacts of economic activity on the natural world.
- Regional Prosperity: A leading role in the South West Partnership for Environmental and Economic Prosperity (SWEEP), which helps local businesses and governments integrate nature into their investment strategies.
Looking Toward Net Zero
A significant portion of LEEP’s current agenda is dedicated to the UK’s path to decarbonization. The institute hosts NetZeroPlus, a major interdisciplinary project investigating the efficacy and implications of mass woodland expansion to meet the government’s 2050 net-zero greenhouse gas emission goals.
Reflecting its commitment to continuous dialogue, the LEEP@10 event will be followed on 11th September by NZ+ Live: From Evidence to Action in UK Woodlands, a conference dedicated to translating research findings into tangible climate action.
As LEEP looks to the next decade, its work remains a critical component of the university’s pioneering research into global environmental sustainability. Through its commitment to high-level evidence and collaborative practice, the institute continues to shape the future of environmental governance in the UK and beyond.
For more information on the anniversary celebrations, visit the LEEP website.
