Extending food production to Scotland’s underutilised lands

Challenges

Scotland’s future landscape will look very different having to accommodate increased urban spread, larger areas of afforestation and peatland restoration. Simultaneously, there is an immediate necessity to produce our food in the most efficient and environmentally friendly way possible, but mindful of restoring and enhancing important habitats for biodiversity. 

Mainstream agriculture will have to quickly adapt to incorporate novel crops with the potential to contribute to Scotland’s emission targets. We must also identify opportunities for nature-based solutions as they could be pivotal in mitigating and adapting to climate change whilst restoring nature. Within this, there is a role for underutilised semi-natural and urban land to contribute best practices for the provision of Scotland’s nutrition, while protecting our natural capital.

Delivering a sustainable food system requires ambition to think beyond domestic agriculture, more widely than from farm to fork. While contributing to the economy, people’s livelihoods, and the health of the nation, it must also contribute to the protection of Scotland’s natural habitats. Wild plants are naturally resilient to pests and climate fluctuation, their ability to grow on marginal lands necessitates a need to thrive in poorer soil, without additional water or energy requirements. Their productivity does not compare to domesticated crops developed to depend on high nutrient and pesticide demands. However, their role to support the food supply chain should be revisited. Furthermore, many species grow within much-needed wildlife habitats, an important example being forests, which will be an increasing feature of Scotland’s Landscape.

Cultivation of wild plants is achievable across much of Scotland’s lands, particularly semi-natural lands, but also underutilised urban and coastal areas. It is amendable to scale providing opportunities from small independent producers to commercial scale on land not currently suitable for mainstream domestic agriculture. The wide range of species presents opportunities for unique locations, supporting a wide range of both rural and urban communities. Incorporation of wild plants into the food supply would not only supplement nutritional requirements but would help relieve part of the demand placed on a limited variety of crops to supply nutrition, which is undesirable from both a food security and biodiversity perspective.

Questions

Solutions

This project aims to provide a RoadMap for the Provision of Food on Scotland’s Marginal Lands that meet sector needs and protect natural capital. The remit is wide, including both urban and rural landscapes, and operates at scale from individual consumers through social enterprises and small businesses to larger commercial enterprises, landowners and third-sector organisations. The tight focus, however, is on wild species that can contribute towards sustainable food production, while meeting environmental and biodiversity targets. 

Open-Source Database 

As part of this project, an open-source database detailing the chemical composition of several of Scotland’s wild plants, as well as technologies to exploit these resources is being constructed. This database will offer opportunities to collate wider cultural resources (for example ethnobotanical sources, stories, myths, songs, art, and poetry) that support and maximise the economic and cultural impact of Scotland’s wild larder.

Citizen Science

This project is engaging with small-scale food producers (backyard gardeners, allotments, and community organisations) to deliver a community science project to explore the importance of sustainable food production that supports climate targets and biodiversity. Information will be collected on soil type (if known), gardening practice, germination time/success, time to harvest and yield. Participants will be encouraged to share photos, recipes, and stories to facilitate a conversation around climate, land use, biodiversity and health.

Regional and International Engagement

Regional procurement of food and drink ingredients has been identified as being an important aspect of green recovery, as well as supporting post-Brexit markets. Engaging with stakeholders situated within distinct landscapes and natural biota, including semi-natural highlands, semi-natural lowlands, underutilised urban central belt, underutilised urban highlands, coastal mainland, and coastal island will be an important focus. Similar projects regarding the reintroduction of wild relatives into the food supply chain exist within Europe and across the world and the aim is to host an international meeting focusing on the utilisation of marginal lands for food production with a strong environmental focus.

Project Partners

Progress