23 Apr 2019

Cadmium, crabmeat and consumer health

Crabmeat is an excellent source of protein but also provides good levels of important minerals, vitamins and beneficial omega-3 fatty acids. However, the meat from the brown crab (Cancer pagurus) can also contain the heavy metal cadmium, both in the white meat but especially so in the brown meat.

  • Healthier Foods

20 Mar 2019

Learning By Doing: Understanding and Managing for Ecological Resilience

Our natural environment is facing threats from a range of environmental drivers, including climate change, invasive non-native species, novel pests and diseases, over-exploitation, and pollution.

  • Climate and the Environment

20 Mar 2019

Mycotoxin contamination in cereal products and human exposure from the diet

Mycotoxins are unavoidable, natural food contaminants which are produced by fungi growing on agricultural crops. Growth can occur in the field or in storage.

  • Food & Drink Innovation
  • Healthier Foods

6 Mar 2019

Climate Change and Parasitism – Breaking the Cycle

This case study will summarise ongoing research on Teladorsagia circumcincta, one of the most common and economically important endemic parasites to control in sheep in the UK.

  • Agriculture
  • Climate and the Environment
  • Plant and Animal Health

27 Feb 2019

Socioeconomic and biodiversity impacts of driven grouse moors in Scotland

In May 2017, the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform announced commissioning of “research into the costs and benefits of large shooting estates to Scotland’s economy and biodiversity”1. The focus of the Cabinet Secretary’s announcement was ‘driven grouse shooting’.

  • Climate and the Environment

28 Jan 2019

Breeding to Reduce Methane Emissions from Beef Cattle

Beef production is very important for Scotland's economy (economic output of £851 million in 2017) and for providing the high quality and iconic, ‘Scotch Beef’ brand.

  • Agriculture
  • Climate and the Environment
  • Food & Drink Innovation

14 Jan 2019

Common Interest Groups: Helping smaller businesses to succeed through partnership

The food and drink supply chain is dominated by small and micro businesses. In Scotland more than 95% of businesses in the sector employ less than 12 people. Many of these smaller companies have a common desire to grow and succeed but this can be is hampered by their size.

  • Rural Economy

13 Dec 2018

The Demographic Challenges Facing Scotland's Sparsely Populated Areas

This case study summarises ongoing work exploring how changes in the population of remote and rural areas in Scotland affect the social, economic and ecological resilience of these areas.

  • Land and Communities
  • Rural Economy

5 Nov 2018

The economic cost of animal disease: Winners and losers from Johne’s disease

SEFARI scientists, in collaboration with other research partners, provide evidence which informs the Scottish Government about the economic consequences of animal diseases.

  • Agriculture
  • Rural Economy

16 Oct 2018

The Fruits of Their Labour: Seasonal Farm Workers in Scottish Agriculture

Scotland’s agricultural sector relies heavily on seasonal non-UK workers, particularly from central and eastern Europe, to meet its labour demand. Despite their importance for this sector, there was a lack of detailed information about them This case study draws on findings from SRUC’s recent study, funded by the Scottish Government, which aimed to improve our understanding of the labour market in Scottish agriculture. 

  • Rural Economy

8 Oct 2018

Governing Scotland’s natural resources: are our policies sufficiently joined -up?

Decisions about natural resources need to balance multiple interests and goals in order to safeguard Scotland’s economic, social and environmental prosperity.   However, many existing policies for the environment focus on separate problems, such as pro

  • Climate and the Environment

14 Aug 2018

Citizen Science: How to Investigate Pests and Diseases Under Climate Change

We have created a state-of-the-art, and free to download, desktop app to provide climate change risk assessments for crops pests and diseases in the UK that anyone can use.

  • Agriculture
  • Climate and the Environment

24 Jul 2018

Protecting our soil and securing the way ahead

A large proportion of the Scottish strategic road network in the Highlands is vulnerable to landslides.

  • Climate and the Environment
  • Land and Communities

25 May 2018

Food Reformulation: Making Processed Foods Healthier

This article we will explain some some of the ways we are incorporating healthy ingredients from a variety of sources into recipes to develop novel formulations of foods.

  • Food & Drink Innovation
  • Healthier Foods

17 May 2018

Science and Innovation:The Nutrients for Growing a UK Blueberry Industry

Blueberries have gained in popularity amongst UK consumers. Currently UK blueberries supply only 5% of demand and there is a huge opportunity to increase home grown supply. 

  • Food & Drink Innovation
  • Healthier Foods
  • Plant and Animal Health
  • Rural Economy

4 Apr 2018

Protein for Life – Developing food opportunities for a healthy, ageing population

'Protein for Life' is designed to identify and develop guidelines for protein products for healthy ageing (living a better, longer life) that are cost effective, sustainable and enjoyable.

  • Food & Drink Innovation
  • Healthier Foods

28 Feb 2018

Make Innovation Happen: Helping Food and Drink Businesses Succeed

SEFARI is an important partner in ‘Make Innovation Happen’, which is an initiative coordinated by the Scotland Food and Drink Partnership.

  • Food & Drink Innovation
  • Rural Economy

28 Feb 2018

The Health Benefits of Dietary Fibre

SEFARI scientists are investigating the potential benefits of supplementary soluble indigestible fibres for promoting healthy weight loss.

  • Healthier Foods

22 Feb 2018

Assessing the impact of tree diseases on the wider environment

Recently there has been a rapid increase in the spread and number of non-native tree pests and pathogens around the world. Traditionally the impact of tree diseases and pests has been assessed in terms of their impact on forestry and the loss of wood products.

  • Climate and the Environment

14 Feb 2018

Maximising the Benefits of Peatland Restoration: Right Place, Right Time and Best Practice

Scotland has committed to peatland restoration as part of its array of policies to tackle climate change.

  • Climate and the Environment

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