Centre: Scotland's Centre of Expertise for Knowledge Exchange and Innovation (CKEI, known as SEFARI Gateway)
Lead: Professor Charles Bestwick
Title of Impact Case Study: Using SEFARI Gateway research in natural capital, agriculture, food systems, biodiversity and the rural economy during 2022–2027: Impact from two flagship projects
Flagship project 1: Estimating the health and welling value of the natural capital of the NHS estates
Flagship project 2: Genetic Diversity Scorecard update
An Interview with Dr Alison Karley
This interview was held on 11 March 2025
Dr Alison (‘Ali’) Karley (AK) is a researcher in the Agroecology Group at the James Hutton Institute, now Head of the Ecological Sciences department. She contributed to the SEFARI Gateway-funded project Roadmap for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the Scottish Potato Crop, working alongside colleagues from Scottish Rural College (SRUC). The project produced a phased roadmap for reducing emissions from one of Scotland’s most economically important crops.
An Interview with Dr David Boldrin
This interview was held on 12 March 2025
The number of new largescale community land acquisitions has slowed over the past ten years. Largely, respondents in this research suggested this was less to do with a decrease in demand, but rather an increase in barriers to acquisition. Barriers identified by respondents were:
Emerging climate-smart technologies will need to play a key role in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from beef production, however, their impact at farm level is not fully quantified. Modelling using real Scottish beef farm data demonstrated that three emerging climate-smart technologies: feed additives (including bolus), microbiome-driven breeding and GreenShed (a methane capturing cattle shed that utilises waste products to power the shed and grow indoor crops) reduced both whole farm and product emissions across all farms.
Current commercially available precision livestock farming (PLF) technologies have the potential to indirectly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from beef farms by improving production efficiency. Modelling based on real Scottish beef farm data showed that three PLF technologies - automatic weighing platforms, health sensors, and fertility sensors - reduced emission intensities on average, although impacts varied across production systems and technologies.
This research used participatory approaches to identify inefficiencies, challenges and strengths across Scottish ruminant supply chains. Stakeholders from across beef, dairy, sheep and wider industry contributed their perspectives. The findings highlighted both shared and sector specific challenges, the complexity of the supply chain and the importance of incorporating stakeholder views into policy development.#
This guidance seeks to safeguard the Scotch Whisky industry’s peat supply chain and credibility by outlining clear criteria for responsible peat extraction and harvesting. It expands on the Scotch Whisky Association’s Commitment to Responsible Peat Use, notably its first pillar of Responsible Extraction1, which should be read in conjunction with this guidance. It provides the industry with clear, actionable guiding principles and
Toxoplasma gondii is widely regarded as a classic One Health parasite because its impact spans human health, animal health, and the environment. The most recent data from Public Health Scotland shows 47 laboratory-confirmed human cases of toxoplasmosis in 2023, continuing a steady rise over the past decade. Cats (domestic and wild) are the only known definitive hosts of the parasite, capable of shedding millions of oocysts in their faeces that can persist in soil and water for long periods of time, leading to widespread environmental contamination and exposing livestock, wildlife, and humans to infection.
SEFARIGateway and NatureScot, have commissioned research to study how Scotland’s Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS) could support a just transition to sustainable and regenerative agriculture.
Wild & Flo is a vertical farming enterprise based in rural North Yorkshire. The business combines organic principles with self-built technology to create a scalable, energy-independent model tailored to underutilised rural spaces.
Vertegrow began as a commercial vertical farming operator located at Waterside Farm in Aberdeenshire. In partnership with Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS), the farm launched Scotland’s early vertical farm— deploying a single-tower, 300 m² controlled-environment system in 2020–21 to grow leafy greens, microgreens and herbs year-round with minimal energy use and rainwater harvesting. However, the venture has since shifted from food production to medicinal cannabis cultivation under the company Waterside Pharmaceuticals, founded by Martin Dickie, co-founder of BrewDog.
LettUs Grow is a Bristol-based B-Corp established in 2015 specialising in aeroponics technology.
The purpose of this guide is to outline options and considerations for businesses and organisations interested in developing controlled environment growing enterprises in the Highlands and Islands. It is intended for both existing growers looking to diversify their production systems and for businesses, community groups, SMEs, and enterprises with little or no background in horticulture.
