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.
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This brief outlines a policy analysis and literature review that were conducted to consider the pros and cons of Defra’s proposals for improving animal welfare. Defra and the devolved authorities consulted (March - May 2024) on introducing stricter rules around country of origin and expanding method of production labelling (5-tiers) to chicken and pork.
Project's aim was to establish whether data are currently collected by industry bodies operating within the Scottish lamb sector on (a) the use of castration and tail docking and (b) the methods employed to perform these procedures. If such data are collected, they may offer a way for Scottish Government to benchmark current practices and to monitor future trends.
This report was funded by the Rural & Environment Science & Analytical Services Division of the Scottish Government Underpinning National Capacity Support to Policy Function.
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.
A report comparing the nutritional profile of several harvests of seed form NE Scottish farms growing hemp
Poster, presented at the 98th Annual Conference of the Agricultural Economics Society.
Rathnayaka, S. D., Giha, C. L. R., & de Roos, B. (2024). Assessing Scotland’s self-sufficiency of major food commodities. Poster session presented at 98th Annual Conference of the Agricultural Economics Society, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
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October 2024 ELPEG Bulletin which summarises the latest Scottish Government funded Strategic Research Programme biodiversity research.
A final briefing, by Benjamin JJ McCormick (a SEFARI Gateway Fellow), on he's work on ‘estimating the nutrient value of agricultural products’
Final Fellowship project slides 'estimating the nutrient value of agricultural products' - Benjamin JJ McCormick
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Posters, showcasing research across the ENRA Portfolio, submitted to and Presented at this year's ENRA Science, Evidence and Policy conference. More details about the event and links to separate posters can be found in our blog post: Climate Change Adaptation: 2nd Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture (ENRA) Science, Evidence and Policy Conference.
A SEFARI Gateway Innovative Knowledge Exchange (IKE) Report on 'Developing Dialogues on Land Use Decision Making for Natural Capital' by Naomi Beingessner, Lin Batten, Bryony Nelson, Acacia Marshall and Umar Farooq.
The key aim of this project was to support community involvement in land use decision-making in contexts of natural capital/green land investment in rural Scotland.
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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.
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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)
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The Human Impacts on the Environment theme brings together research on activities that have a direct environmental impact including on the climate, land use and resource use. The individual projects within the theme are summarised in this document.
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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.