A feast for OnFARM listeners’ ears
The project began following a previous year’s Royal Highland Show, where SEFARI colleagues such as the Rowett Institute, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and Moredun have presences at the event.
‘Arable farming in a new era’ – be part of the conversation at this year’s Arable Scotland event
The ever popular ‘Arable Conversations’ are at the heart of this year’s programme will provide a forum for lively discussion about current issues in the arable industry. The morning conversation is chaired by Elizabeth Massie, a farmer in East Lothian, who will steer a panel of farmers and agronomists to identify which farming practices will create resilience in Scottish arable systems. The panel and audience will discuss soil and crop management practices that are starting to show benefits for coping with weather extremes and associated changes in pests and diseases.
Foodborne toxoplasmosis: a study of retail meat
Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite that impacts human and animal health worldwide. Infection in humans is usually very mild, however, there can be severe or life-threatening disease in immune compromised people or pregnant women. Toxoplasma also impacts the livestock sector where it can cause abortion in sheep and goats. Foodborne transmission of T. gondii is thought to be a major source of infection in people, particularly the consumption of raw or undercooked meat.
Carbon neutrality requirements may bring vertical collaboration to the pig supply chain
The agri-food market environment, where the Scottish food and drink sector operates is often characterised by high price instability in product and input markets. In such an environment, effective business relationships along supply chains have the possibility to reduce uncertainty. For instance, by securing a more stable inflow of orders and increasing quality and safety assurances associated with inputs.
Fastbreeders – accelerating genetic improvement for farm and food resilience
FastBreeders is a collaboration between four progressive farmers located in South West Scotland. Highly educated and with years of experience and professional development, the group share the same vision for resilient dairy systems that have minimal environmental impact. Their joint operations can exploit economies of scale, benefit from increased selection intensity in breeding animals and build resilience because genetic material can move freely across the four farms.
Inspiring change one step at a time
Supporting Rural Women
Rapid Evidence Review: Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture in Scotland
This report considers urban agriculture in the Scottish context.
Small, but Mighty: Understanding animal disease using miniature lab-grown organs
Infectious diseases have a major impact on the welfare and productivity of animals raised for food production worldwide. Furthermore, poor productivity leads to increased carbon emissions, and the drugs used to control infections can harm the environment and reduce biodiversity. Therefore, better control of infections in food producing animals will play a key role in achieving important policy goals, including Net-Zero and Biodiversity targets.
Dr Dave McBey
David's work is concerned with sustainable and healthy diets, and how behaviour change may be accomplished in all parts of the food system. He is currently studying the pathways to healthy and sustainable diets in Scotland. Using a wide toolkit of qualitative methods, David is unpicking the barriers, whether real or perceived, to diet change.
Previously, he has worked in the University of Aberdeen Environmental Modelling Group, looking at agricultural practices in China and Ethiopia.
Dave McBey
The Rowett Institute
Foresterhill House
Ashgrove Rd W
Aberdeen
AB25 2ZD
Making silk purses out of sows’ ears – challenges facing a Scottish pig farmer
Scotland’s pork sector is under financial pressure. One way to address this could be to increase the value added to Scottish pork. This case study, which focusses on a Scottish pork producer, provides insights into an enterprise serving the high value pork products market and the challenges it faces.