Lin Ma

Biography

Lin Ma has extensive knowledge on the integrated assessment of nutrient flows in food production and consumption chains. He has developed a model (NUFER — Nutrient flows in Food chains, Environment and Resources use), for understanding the relationship between food security, nutrient losses and resource use in the food chain of China. His research includes database and model development, scenario analyses and integrated assessment of nutrient management options at regional and national level. He developed a food pyramid for the first time, which provides a visual symbol, with food production at the base (relatively large amounts of nutrients) and food consumption by humans at the top (a small fraction of nutrients ends up in food consumption). It is uniquely integrative for assessing nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) flows in the food chain at regional and national level.    　　

Research Interest

Lin Ma initiated a research group named COFER group (Coupling of Food, Environmental impact and Resource use). The missions of this group are: (1) to generate knowledge of sustainable development of agriculture and food systems by analyzing complex “soil-crop production-animal production-food processing-household consumption” chains, (2) to integrate the knowledge to design a sustainable and coupled crop and animal production system, and (3) to develop techniques of manure management from “housing-storage-processing-application” chain.