Case Studies

Food banks remain the dominant response to food insecurity in the UK but are widely recognised as inadequate and undignified.

This study examines low-income households’ experiences of food support and their views on the Cash-First approach, a key Scottish Government strategy to reduce reliance on food banks. All respondents are from low-income households (≤£20,000), making them the group most likely to use food aid and cash-based support.

This research drew up a route map to show how Scotland can reach its potential of becoming leaders in the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) and other biomolecules for environmental monitoring and assessment.

Demand for large-scale community land ownership in Scotland remains strong, but the rate of new acquisitions is slowing. Further, most large-scale acquisitions are concentrated in the Highlands and Islands, with much of Scotland seeing little activity. 

This project assessed how Scotland’s Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS) can support a just transition to sustainable and regenerative agriculture.

Toxoplasmosis is a globally important disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii affecting both human and animal health and spreading through environmental pathways such as soil, water, and food.

Orkney’s farmers are innovative, productive and central to the islands’ economy, but research activity has not always been shaped by local priorities. This project mapped current agricultural research in Orkney and worked with island stakeholders to identify knowledge gaps and future needs.

Flooding is becoming more frequent as rainfall intensifies, prompting growing interest in nature-based approaches that work with the landscape to slow, store and filter water.

Research into Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for managing low flows is advancing globally, however relatively few case studies in the UK exist. Here, we draw on findings from the Glenlivet Distillery case study; a rare UK example of the use of NbS for managing low flows.

Accompanying the rise of community landownership in Scotland, there has been an increase in research requests placed on specific communities. Our evidence suggests that such requests are becoming unmanageable, especially when respondents see very little benefit from research engagement.

As improving nutritional quality and sustainability can raise production costs, understanding willingness to pay is crucial. This study shows that taste and price are the strongest drivers of UK cheese purchases.

Does producing higher-quality food lead to a price premium in the market? We analysed the impact that a Protected Geographical (PGI) label had on the price and sales of Orkney cheddar, which gained its PGI status in 2013.

Interviews with key informants in the higher value cheese sector in Scotland revealed that although there was a market for their products, there were multiple barriers to operating their businesses.

Scottish Atlantic oak woods or temperate rainforest are rare and threatened habitats that support a vast array of biodiversity, particularly lichens and bryophytes.

We explored how source-to-sea (S2S) thinking can strengthen research collaborations and innovation across Scotland.

Potato is the second most important food crop in the UK, and the underpinning seed potato industry contributes >£1 billion to Scotland’s economy. Aphid-vectored viruses threaten potato harvests because infected crops are downgraded or destroyed. Historically, Scotland has maintained low vir

Fluctuating environmental conditions severely impact Scottish crop production affecting crop yields, nutritional quality and food security.

Our ongoing project at Glen Finglas has shown how sensitive biodiversity is to changing upland management. To maintain consistency, we have used the same monitoring methods since the beginning of the project.

It has been reported that the UK exiting of the European Union (Brexit) has affected salmon industry. Both the volume and value of salmon exported to the EU, which still is the main market for Scottish Salmon, have been impacted. 

Food fraud costs the UK around £2 billion per year, and improving testing methods is key to tackling this issue. However, current techniques often lack the speed and accuracy needed to detect mislabelled meat products.