The Scottish Government Programme for Government (2021/22) commits to the creation of Regional Land Use Partnerships (RLUPs) and Regional Land Use Framework (RLUFs), as set out in the Land Use Strategy. In spring 2021 it announced five pilot Partnerships for testing approaches and practicalities, with particular reference to governance and local engagement.
Appendices to the SEFARI report on ‘The adoption of agroecological principles in Scottish farming and their contribution towards agricultural sustainability and resilience.’ This Agroecology in Scotland is understood differently by different people and at times contrary to what constitutes agroecology.
Agroecology in Scotland is understood differently by different people and at times contrary to what constitutes agroecology.
In the face of COVID-19 and the immediate (and anticipated) impact on the food and drink sector across rural Scotland, the Scottish Environment Food Agriculture Research Institutes (SEFARI) and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) established the SEFARI supported knowledge exchange ‘COVID-19 Food and Drink Sector Think Tank for Scotland’s Rural Economy’. The Specialist Advisory Group (SAG) was set up with a core membership and also with the intention of accessing ‘expert advisors’ and wider stakeholders.
This report has been developed with the aim of:
Environmental Standards Scotland (ESS) is being established as a new non-ministerial office to monitor Scottish public authorities’ compliance with, and the effectiveness of, environmental law following the UK’s departure from the EU. It will be independent of the Scottish Government and will be responsible for ensuring that public authorities in Scotland comply with environmental law.
March 2022 update on database based on the Peatland Action Programme in Scotland.
The landscape for society, industry and policy is ever evolving but the last few decades have seen a sharpening focus on the key issues of climate change and the sustainable use of resources. This has led to the development of policies and initiatives around factors mitigating and adapting to climate change and activities, particularly industrial, that deliver equivalent or enhanced outputs but with reduced greenhouse gas emissions. All of this highlights a shift away from fossil fuel-based feedstocks and the requirement for sustainable and renewable resources and processes.
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This report is the output of a Fellowship project aiming to increase the understanding of the animal health, agri-tech and aquaculture (AAA) sector in Scotland and improve understanding of opportunities and challenges facing the sector. This was achieved through creation of an inventory mapping key stakeholders in the sector across Scotland and a survey to key stakeholders.
The final, of four educational posters on the topic of water, created as part of the Water Words (see related blog) Responsive Opportunity Funded Project.
The third of four educational posters on the topic of water, created as part of the Water Words (see related blog) Responsive Opportunity Funded Project.
The second of four educational posters on the topic of water, created as part of the Water Words (see related blog) Responsive Opportunity Funded Project.
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The first of four educational posters on the topic of water, created as part of the Water Words (see related blog) Responsive Opportunity Funded Project.
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This report provides selected highlights from research and Knowledge Exchange (KE) during 2020-21, which reflect the strengths and benefits of long-term strategic funding from the Scottish Government. The SRP is delivering integrated, interdisciplinary research that creates significant innovation and practice change, while also underpinning expertise to support advice for policy and practice. Central to this is SEFARI’s enduring relationships with policy, agency, business and civic society across Scotland, UK and globally. SEFARI Gateway is the Centre for Knowledge Exchange and Innovation for the Portfolio.
This work represents the third phase of a research project conducted by SRUC and the James Hutton Institute on the impacts of, and responses to, the Covid-19 pandemic on rural Scotland and the prospects for a rural recovery. The previous phases of work incorporated stakeholder interviews to explore factors that promoted or hindered a resilient community response (Phase 1), and spatial analysis to identify areas with lower or higher underlying capacity to be resilient (Phase 2). The Phase 2 mapping was also used to identify the paired case studies used for this report (Phase 3).
This report provides a review of land and environmental monitoring and modelling programmes in England and Wales and draws lessons to build the case for developing a Scottish integrated approach for environmental and land-use statistics, to support evidencebased decision and policy making for the land and agricultural sectors.
Nature-based Solutions (NbS) have been defined many times, but in essence are developing solutions to societal problems using natural processes. Many ways of assessing the potential benefits and disbenefits of these NbS have been put forward and, if these assessment frameworks are to be used for best results, then the most appropriate framework(s) should be identified and recommended to users. This project searched for potential assessment frameworks and carried out a two-stage process to identify the most appropriate framework.
NbS are “actions to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural and modified ecosystems in ways that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, to provide both human well-being and biodiversity benefits”. The IUCN Global Standard and its Guidance provide a framework for designing and evaluating Nature-based Solutions (NbS). This standard sets out eight criteria which need to be met during both planning and evaluation of NbS. This overview introduces these criteria to encourage application in Scotland and provides links to further explanation and guidance.
Legumes have a key role to play in sustainable agricultural systems. If implemented and managed appropriately, legumes could help protect pollinators whilst enhancing agricultural yield.
A report investigating how farmers interact on the online platform Twitter, with the aim of helping scientists to better facilitate mutual learning and support good farm practice.