What do soil forensics, livestock vaccines and sustainable crops have in common? They’ve all been featured on the OnFARM podcast, bringing SEFARI science directly to farming and rural audiences.

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Glensaugh - Amy Cooper

Across a range of episodes, researchers from SEFARI institutes have shared how their work is tackling real-world challenges. In the latest episode, Dame Professor Lorna Dawson, explores how soil science has been used in criminal investigations, while also highlighting its role in addressing rural crime. Other episodes dive into livestock health, including efforts to develop and crowdfund a new vaccine for Louping-ill, a tick-borne disease which can be fatal to animals such as sheep and red grouse.

A dedicated mini-series also showcased the breadth of SEFARI research, from the potential of hemp as a sustainable crop, to the health benefits of Scottish soft fruit, antimicrobial resistance, and the importance of barley to Scotland’s economy. 

The conversations in these OnFarm episodes highlight the value of making research accessible, translating complex science into practical insights for farmers, students and industry. They demonstrate how knowledge exchange can happen beyond reports and conferences, through storytelling, discussion and shared curiosity.

 

OnFarm Podcast Titles and Links

Soil forensics and the World's End murders: Prof Lorna Dawson of the James Hutton Institute - https://pod.fo/e/358c4e

Louping-ill in sheep and grouse: crowdfunding a vaccine - https://pod.fo/e/344e71

Should you be farming hemp? - with SEFARI and the Rowett Institute - https://pod.fo/e/2368ab

Scottish soft fruit health benefits - with SEFARI and the James Hutton and Rowett Institutes - https://pod.fo/e/238d00

Farming and AMR (anti-microbial resistance) - with SEFARI's Moredun and Rowett Institutes - https://pod.fo/e/23b272

Barley: Scotland's most valuable crop - with SEFARI's Rowett and James Hutton Institutes - https://pod.fo/e/23d963

Moredun on the cutting edge - https://player.captivate.fm/episode/808bf470-8bfc-414a-8186-f7dc2e64b841/

Equine Grass Sickness: updating The Moredun's search for a cure - https://pod.fo/e/15d9d6

Moredun's 100 years of livestock health - https://player.captivate.fm/episode/d1a032e8-916c-404e-97dc-b11fd7324920/