Dr Marion Johnson

A former shepherd and farm manager, Dr Marion Johnson combines academic science and research with practical and traditional farm knowledge. Now a Senior Scientist at The Future Farming Centre, Lincoln Dr Johnson holds degrees in Agricultural Science, Environmental Biology and Veterinary Parasitology.

Her research interests encompass Te Rongoā (Māori traditional medicine) and how native medicinal plants can be incorporated on farm promoting animal health, biodiversity and ecosystem support. Other smaller projects include subclinical parasitism in red deer, the development of mixed pastures and leys incorporating native plants, ( Te Rongoa pastures: healthy animals, resilient farms)  and multispecies pastures in cut and carry systems for dairy goats.

She is Principal Investigator on the NPM Project Indigenous Agroecology.

 

 

Related Projects

Full project

Project commenced:

Te Rongoā Pastures: Healthy Animals, Resilient Farms

Dr Marion Johnson is the Principal Investigator of Te Rongoā Pastures: Healthy Animals, Resilient Farms.

The Te Rongoā project identified a number of plant species that could be used on farms to promote animal health. The focus was on browse species that would contribute to biodiversity and pasture resilience. Grazing provides a large proportion of an animal’s intake and pasture is the major productive component on a farm and the research studied what rongoā species could be incorporated into pastures to make a useful contribution to animal health and productivity, while also describing how to manage and sustain the species on farms.

Full project

Project commenced:

Indigenous Agroecology

Agroecology, grounded in local knowledge and communities, applies ecological principles to agricultural systems. Indigenous agroecology is an opportunity for mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) and totohungatanga Moriori (Moriori knowledge) to inform and generate innovation in farm practices. It focuses on guardianship of the land and the waters that flow through it, based on the traditional and contemporary experience of Māori and Moriori agricultural practitioners.