A multi-million pound programme of strategic research delivered over five years providing science and evidence to support policymakers and its partners. Informed by strong partnerships and the needs of a broad range of stakeholders. Science at the heart of society contributing to the health, wealth and wellbeing of Scotland and beyond.
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Research
Ongoing research (2022-2027)
Displaying 1 - 10 of 37
Achieving multi-purpose nature-based solutions
This project is assessing and enhancing water-related ecosystem services of Nature-Based Solutions in catchments. We explore how NBS can work across multiple sectors and scales to achieve transformative change.
- Water
- 2022-2027
Barley to support food and drink innovation
This project evaluates whether whole grain phytochemical-rich barley accessions developed from ancient grain (for improved climate credentials) can produce a significant change in blood sugar levels to complement the established lipid lowering health claims related to barley β-glucan. This project supports new food and drink market opportunities and promotes barley as a healthy and sustainable crop.
- Human Nutrition
- 2022-2027
Building the circular economy: sustainable technologies, green skills and upscaling behaviours
This project observes ‘living lab’ case studies in rural and island Scotland with a focus on dominant industries analysed through an innovative blend of micro- and macroeconomic concepts and methodologies to map an understanding of circular economy drivers and barriers such as behaviours (willingness) and socio-economic capacity i.e., technologies and green skills (readiness) under alternative scenarios depicting regional circular economy paths.
- Circular Economy & Waste
- 2022-2027
Climate change impacts on natural capital
This project aims to develop a Risk and Opportunities Assessement Framewowork to asses Natural Capital assets and impacts of climate change, by integrating multiple (qantitative and qualitative) data, to identify risk asset types and consequences on capacity for Nature-based Solutions.
- Natural Capital
- 2022-2027
Co-designing and implementing best-fit farming practices
The project assesses the influence of trigger events on basic and best-fit practices. New approaches for influencing farmer behaviour are being co-designed with farmers and industry stakeholders, empirically tested through applied agroecology, parasitology and experimental economics, and promoted through on-farm demonstrations, workshops, training events and multimedia campaigns.
- Improving Agricultural Practice
- 2022-2027
Data driven innovations for improved sustainability of ruminant productions systems
Use of precision livestock farming tools is increasing globally. When exploited fully, these can aid farm-level management, improve animal health, welfare and productivity, monitor or reduce emissions, and improve traceability. This project explores current and new digital innovations, key barriers to adoption and solutions, and provide a robust evidence base demonstrating benefits of integrated data use within beef, sheep and dairy systems.
- Livestock Improvement
- 2022-2027
Developing metabolomics and proteomics tools to identify the provenance of foods and beverages of economic importance in Scotland
The consumer has a right to know what is contained within the food they eat. Allied to this, there is a significant risk in the food supply chain of fraud where a food is replaced by a cheaper or inferior alternative. This project will develop mass spectrometry-based approaches for determining the provenance of food and beverages. We are developing methods for determining the composition of whisky and meats to ensure their integrity.
- Diet & Food Safety
- 2022-2027
Developing the circular economy in Scotland: resource flows, behaviours, and skills
This project investigates how behaviour change at the individual, household and organisational level creates challenges and opportunities for moving to a more circular economy.
- Circular Economy & Waste
- 2022-2027
Development and implementation of tools, strategies, and stakeholder engagement to understand threats and improve disease management in practice
The project is mitigating threats posed to key crops by new, emerging and endemic pests and pathogens, to protect Scotland’s industries and delivering integrated and sustainable crop protection strategies for Scottish growers.
- Plant Disease
- 2022-2027
Evaluation and mitigation of mycotoxin contamination across the Scottish cereal supply chain to assess human exposure and inform risk analysis
Mycotoxins are toxic fungal contaminants which are often found in cereal foods. This project addressees an important food safety issue, the contamination of cereal foods with mycotoxins which are produced by fungi in agricultural production. This project aims to minimize the risk to consumers from mycotoxin contamination in cereal foods by improving our understanding of the sources of contamination in primary cereal production and processing and by assessing human exposure and risk through biomarker analysis.
- Food & Drink Improvements
- 2022-2027