Researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders gathered at Our Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh, for the ENRA Science, Evidence and Policy Conference 2025, hosted by the Scottish Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser for Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture (ENRA), Professor Mat Williams.
This year’s conference on the 3rd October focused on the draft ENRA Research Strategy 2027–2032, which sets out a mission-led approach to building collaboration, enhancing impact, and ensuring that research investment continues to deliver benefits for Scotland’s environment, people, and economy.
Throughout the day, delegates discussed key priorities including decision support tools, living labs, and embedding impact using a Theory of Change approach. Speakers emphasised that engagement and co-production are central to achieving meaningful impact, with communication and transparency highlighted as essential skills.
A poster session, coordinated by SEFARI Gateway, brought together projects from across the Strategic Research Portfolio, illustrating the diversity and applied impact of research. The posters from the session are available to view on the SEFARI Gateway website and listed below. Prizes were awarded to outstanding posters ranging from peatland restoration to potato breeding. The poster winners are listed below:
First Prize - Oana Petre, The Rowett Institute – Social Prescribing for Improving Communities Eating Practises
Second prize - Amanpreet Kaur, The James Hutton Institute - Accelerated Potato Breeding Using Genomics
Third Prize - Gillian Mitchell, The Moredun Research Institute - Does Grazing Peatland Restoration increase livestock Liver Fluke Risk
Early career researcher prize - Grant Henderson, Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland (BioSS) – Tools to Track and Control Pests and Infectious Diseases
Dr Charles Bestwick, director of SEFARI Gateway, said afterwards: “It was fantastic to see such a wide variety of research being presented at the conference. The posters showed the sheer breadth and depth of research being carried out by SEFARI scientists, in critical fields ranging from agricultural developments to tackling climate change. Being able to share and discuss research is a key part of the process of creating impact, exchanging knowledge and building links with policy experts, government agency, industry and community partners that are at the core of constructing our research with us."
Despite some disruption caused by Storm Amy, the event successfully connected researchers and stakeholders across Scotland’s research landscape. From nature-based solutions for catchments to climate-neutral farming and living labs for rural innovation, the day showcased how collaboration across the SEFARI collective continues to turn evidence into impact.
Professor Williams concluded: “missions are about action.” The ENRA conference reaffirmed that action happens when science, policy, and people work together to shape a sustainable, resilient future for Scotland.
To see all the posters that were presented during the conference plus a few additional extra please visit the following webpage - ENRA 2025 Poster Presentations | SEFARI
by Amy Cooper, SEFARI Gateway Communications and Engagement Officer