Professor David Kemp

Professor David Kemp graduated from Sydney University with BScAgr (Hons) and MScAgr and a PhD from University of Western Australia. He was Principal Research Scientist with NSW Agriculture (now NSW Department of Primary Industries) until 1999, when he was appointed the Foundation Chair in Farming Systems at the University of Sydney. He was appointed to the same position with Charles Sturt University, Orange when the Orange Campus was transferred between the two Universities.

David Kemp has a background in agronomy, plant physiology, applied ecology and the management of livestock grazing systems, with his research focus aimed at developing the applied discipline of sustainable farming; the management and integration of soils, plants, animals, economics and sociology into viable, sustainable enterprises.

Professor Kemp has worked in the subtropics and temperate zones on pastures, grasslands, crops (wheat), forage and livestock production systems. The aim of recent work has been to devise cost-effective, sustainable management practices for livestock production from degraded grasslands, in western China, Mongolia and Australia.

Research

• Sustainable livestock grazing systems on Chinese temperate grasslands: ecology, management, farm surveys, herder attitudes and methodologies for analysis of research results for existing grasslands. Improving incomes of small-holders in western China and Mongolia (ACIAR, Chinese Government).
• Strengthening incentives for improved grassland management in China and Mongolia: policies for improving effectiveness of payments for environmental services (ACIAR, Chinese & Mongolian Governments).

Teaching

Professor Kemp has taught in Agronomy, Plants in Agriculture (Systems analysis), Pasture Production and Management, Grazing Management.

• President 22^nd International Grassland Congress and representative for Oceania on the IGC Continuing Committee
• Member (Past NSW President), Australian Institute of Agriculture
• Member, NSW Grassland Society

• Managing permanent grasslands sustainably
• Developing better methods for data analysis and applied management of grassland / livestock systems
• Why do farmers do what they do?
• Olive growth, development and management

Kemp DR, Badgery WB and Michalk DL (2015). Principles for grassland systems research for livelihood and environmental benefits. In Ghosh P K, Mahanta S K, Singh J B and Pathak P S. (Eds). Grassland: A Global Resource. Rangeland Management Society of India, Jhansi, India Chapter 13, pp 283-310.

Zhang Yingjun, Huang, Ding, Badgery Warwick B, Kemp, David R, Chen Wenqing, Wang Xiaoya and Liu Nan (2015). Reduced grazing pressure delivers production and environmental benefits for the typical steppe of north China. Scientific Reports 5, 16434; DOI: 10.1038/srep 16434 (2015).

Briske David D, Zhao Mengli, Han Guodong, Xiu Changbai, Kemp David R, Willms Walter, Havstad Kris, Kang Le, Wang Zhongwu, Wu Jianguo, Han Xingguo and Bai Yongfei (2015). Strategies to alleviate poverty and grassland degradation in Inner Mongolia: Intensification Vs production efficiency of livestock systems. Journal of Environmental Management 152C, 177-182.

Li Zhiguo, Han Guodong, Zhao Mengli, Wang Jing, Wang Zhongwu, Kemp David R, Michalk David L, Wilkes Andreas, Behrendt Karl, Wang Hong and Langford Colin (2014). Identifying management strategies to improve sustainability and household income for herders on the desert steppe in Inner Mongolia, China.  Agricultural Systems 132, 62-72. DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2014.08.011

Kemp DR, Han GD, Hou XY, Michalk, DL, Hou FJ, Wu JP, and Zhang YJ (2013). Innovative grassland management systems for environmental and livelihood benefits. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 110 (21), 8369-8374.