Net zero opportunities to mitigate agricultural emissions in the North East of Scotland

Lead: Benjamin McCormick, The Rowett Institute

Stakeholders: Opportunity North East

Over the past 10 years there have been a number of industry reports outlining both the opportunities to reduce emissions from agriculture and the costs associated with them. As part of a SEFARI Fellowship, we reviewed these reports and try to estimate the gap between current and target emissions and what might be feasible for the North East of Scotland.

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Identifying New Market Opportunities for Scottish Grown Hemp Grain and Fibre

Lead: Wisdom Dogbe, Rowett Institute

Stakeholders: Scottish Hemp Association and Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society

This project will identify and quantify current market opportunities for Scottish grown hemp grain and fibre, as well as exploring more advanced potentially higher value markets and, through engagement with partners and wider stakeholders, identify barriers to market. This scoping work will inform a detailed supply chain analysis based on current and projected markets.

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On Route to Net Zero: Sustainable Transport in Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park

Lead: Alexa Green, SRUC

Stakeholder: Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority

This Fellowship will focus on how Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park can simultaneously decarbonise transport in response to the climate emergency and address the transport system(s) failure that has resulted in car-dependency for those living, working and visiting the National Park.  The consequences of the high and ever-increasing car volumes have been exacerbated and accelerated by Covid-19 and car-dependant travel results in high emissions, congestion, visitor management pressures and a non-inclusive recreational opportunity. This in turn deeply constrains the ability to address our climate, health, biodiversity and economic emergencies, and is brought into sharp focus by the imperative of the Just Transition. The Fellowship will provide a specific contribution to the National Park Partnership Plan 2018-23 and will advance early thinking on its successor, particularly how participatory policy development could be used as the new Plan is developed.

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Establishing a Crop Yield Prediction Model and Map for Scotland 

Lead: Mohamed Jabloun, James Hutton Institute

Stakeholders: Scottish Government Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS) 

To support the development of an annual prediction model to estimate the yields and locations of high-profile crops across Scotland. The project will investigate novel methods and transform the way national statistics for key crops are developed while providing insight into Scottish crop production capability and values.

Helping Businesses Develop New Opportunities from Natural Capital

Lead: Alistair McVittie, SRUC

Stakeholder: Scottish Forum on Natural Capital

This fellowship offers the chance to contribute to the Scottish Forum’s work to help businesses understand how they rely on, have an impact on and can develop business opportunities from natural capital, and encourage action to protect and enhance Scotland’s natural wealth. It will aim to work with businesses to understand how taking account of these connections with nature can provide benefits and will likely focus on the SMEs and micro-businesses in the food and drink sector.

Defining the Social and Economic Value of Cooperation in the Agricultural Sector

Leads: Sharon Flanigan, James Hutton Institute and Caroline Whitfield, SRUC

Stakeholder: Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society

The fellowship aims to develop a standard and practical method for assessing the co-op business model, including both the direct and indirect benefits. You can read more about the fellowship elsewhere on the SEFARI website.

Water Resources and Benefits to the Scottish Economy

Lead: Nazli Koseoglu, James Hutton Institute

Stakeholder: Water Industry Commission (WIC) for Scotland and Scotland’s Hydronation Initiative

As part of Scotland being a 'Hydro Nation' there is a  commitment to ensure that water resources are developed so as to bring the maximum benefit to the Scottish economy whilst working towards a goal of net zero carbon by 2040. This project will review the existing literature of the assessment and reporting of non-cash, non-monetised elements, such as carbon. This would involve a wider look at the treatment in reporting of natural capital, as part of the wider reporting framework that Scottish Water is exploring. Looking at the cost benefit analysis and the non-cash, monetised elements currently used in the water industry. This will assess the broad approaches used and provide recommendations.