Documents

Welcome to this, our seventh ELPEG bulletin of the 2022-2027 RESAS Strategic Research Programme. The aim of this bulletin is to provide policy makers with updates on the research on biodiversity that is happening within the strategic research programme. The bulletin covers work from Topic D4 (Biodiversity) and the biodiversity elements within the air pollution Topic (D1).

The 12th edition of The Spark, SEFARI Gateway’s Newsletter, an update on the latest research developments from the Scott

The 11th edition of The Spark, SEFARI Gateway’s Newsletter, an update on the latest research developments from the Scottish Government’s Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture (ENRA) strategic research programme.

Soil maps in Scotland can be up to 70 years old, however, they remain as relevant today as they did when the soils were first mapped. This briefing note discusses how short-term changes, associated with soil management practices, do not fundamentally change the soil forming processes. 

October 2024 ELPEG Bulletin which summarises the latest Scottish Government funded Strategic Research Programme biodiversity research.

The 9th edition of The Spark, SEFARI Gateway’s Newsletter, an update on the latest research developments from the Scottish Government’s Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture (ENRA) strategic research programme.

Authors: Simon Gibson-Poole, Lorna Cole, Osla Jamwal-Fraser & Hernan Botero-Degiovanni

This report presents key findings and recommendations for improving agricultural practices in the North Highlands.

Defra’s Sustainable Farming Incentive directs farm support payments towards public goods which include healthier, higher welfare animals.

This policy briefing looks at the likely animal welfare impact of two current elements

1) The Annual Health and Welfare Review

2) Animal Health and Welfare capital grants under the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF)

Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland specialise in the development and application of the quantitative methods needed to enhance scientific knowledge and impact. They are embedded in the majority of projects within the programme and in addition, lead their own projects developing bioinformatics, modelling and statistical methods and tools that can be used by scientists delivering research in areas including, but not limited to, climate change, global net zero, sustainable agriculture and farm-to-fork food safety. This document summarises the projects within this theme.

Rural Scotland comprises 98% of Scotland’s land mass and is home to 17% of Scotland’s people. In 2018, the GVA of the rural economy was reported to be £37.6 billion which represents 26% of Scotland’s total. The work in the Rural Futures theme is investigating some key long standing issues for our rural and island communities. The projects are summarised in this document.

Scotland’s natural resources (air, soil, water, biodiversity) supply many essential ecosystem services which benefit human health, safety and wellbeing.  They are also key to addressing climate change and biodiversity decline, and in promoting sustainable land use and a green economy.  To protect, enhance and optimise the benefits we receive from our natural resources, we need better information about their status and quality, how and why they are changing, and how best to manage and protect them. This document provides a summary of each project within the Natural Resources theme.

The 8th edition of The Spark, SEFARI Gateway’s Newsletter, an update on the latest research developments from the Scottish Government’s Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture (ENRA) strategic research programme.

The Sustainable Food System and Supply research theme is investigating all topics on food from sustainable and secure food production to supporting a safe and healthy diet. The interdisciplinary research goes from farm to fork, contributing to the economy, people's livelihoods and the health of the nation. This document contains a brief summary of all the individual projects.

Lay summaries for the projects within the Plant and Animal Health research theme. This document summarises the work ongoing to protect and develop high quality agricultural crops and livestock to underpin Scotland's growing food sector. The work is required to provide confidence against a background of uncertainty generated by climate change, shifting world trade patterns and the spread of diseases and pests.

A SEFARI Gateway Fellowship Report prepared by Dr Michaela Roberts.

This fellowship’s objective was to: “Undertake research and evidence collation and analysis to produce a report that develops a framework for assigning costs for delivering biodiversity outputs, using a sample of actions drawn from the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy Delivery Plan.”

A SEFARI Gateway Specialist Advisory Group on Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been created to advise the Scottish Government on the use, future opportunities, risks and regulatory aspects of AI both as being used, or might be applied, to support Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture (ENRA) policy in Scotland.

This report outlines the initial workshop's findings which considered key questions, such as what is meant and understood by AI in an ENRA context, issues with data availability and completeness, and the specific ethical issues of data and AI in the fields of environmental science and agriculture.

The 7th edition of The Spark, SEFARI Gateway’s Newsletter, a monthly update on the latest research developments from the Scottish Government’s Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture (ENRA) strategic research programme.

The “You Are What Your Food Eats” Conversation investigated the long-term effects of land-use decisions on climate change and the food chain and, in particular, which crops can be grown locally, by traditional or alternative methods, to provide the nutrition for a healthy diet.

This series of Conversations was funded by the Scottish Government Climate Change Engagement Programme and SEFARI Gateway, and was organised through collaboration between SEDA Land, The James Hutton Institute and Scotland’s Rural College.

This report summarises the information provided to, and discussed with, the Scottish Government by a SEFARI Gateway-funded Specialist Advisory Group (SAG). The aim of the SAG was to draw on the individual and collective expertise of a group of academics to provide information and advice to the Scottish Government on its introduction of a rural lens and on its Rural Delivery Plan.