A multi-million pound programme of strategic research delivered over five years providing science and evidence to support policymakers and its partners. Informed by strong partnerships and the needs of a broad range of stakeholders. Science at the heart of society contributing to the health, wealth and wellbeing of Scotland and beyond.
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Research
Ongoing research (2022-2027)
Displaying 1 - 10 of 53
A systems understanding of the flow of Antimicrobial Resistance from livestock production to the environment and humans: informing antimicrobial stewardship and optimal use
Antimicrobials are often the last line of defence in protecting animal health and maintaining animal welfare standards. This project is providing a deeper understanding of the consequences of antimicrobial use in livestock production to extend the useful lifespan of individual antimicrobials and reduce risk to public health and the wider environment.
- Animal Disease
- 2022-2027
A systems understanding of the flow of Antimicrobial Resistance from livestock production to the environment and humans: informing risk analyses
The aim of this project is to characterise and quantify the flow of antimicrobial resistance genes within and from livestock holdings to the wider environment and human population, to inform antimicrobial stewardship and optimal use, and human risk via the food chain. Using a study site with pig, beef, poultry and sheep holdings, we are generating top-down descriptions of antimicrobial resistance patterns found in the environment and matching them with bottom-up hypothesis testing with experimental characterisation of the processes driving antimicrobial resistance gene flow through the...
- Diet & Food Safety
- 2022-2027
Addressing knowledge gaps in the sources, epidemiology and genetic diversity of important foodborne pathogens
This project investigates the role of Scottish livestock and their environments in transmission of important foodborne pathogens, Toxoplasma gondii and Campylobacter spp., to humans.
- Diet & Food Safety
- 2022-2027
Agriculture climate and carbon
This project provides new approaches for reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from agriculture and land use in Scotland, establishes a database of management activities contributing to the mitigation of GHG emissions, investigate new approaches to GHG mitigation, and assess the potential for land management activities to contribute to carbon sequestration. Engagement with stakeholders will explore barriers to uptake of mitigation measures.
- Agricultural Greenhouse Gases
- 2022-2027
Assessing the impact of changing migratory patterns and population size of greylag geese on livestock and public health
This project aims to investigate microbial risks carried by wildlife species whose distribution and abundance is affected by climate change.
- Biodiversity
- Plant & Animal Health
- 2022-2027
CentrePeat
This project delivers underpinning and integrated research for: (i) emission factor updates and activity data, (ii) the development of a specific Peatland Monitoring Framework, (iii) improved Natural Capital accounting, further development of the Peatland Code, and (v) improved carbon auditing tools that include climate risk assessments.
- Soils
- 2022-2027
Collaboration within Scotland’s food and drink supply chain
Effective business relationships in vertical supply chains are thought to: (a) reduce uncertainty (b) improve access to crucial resources and ⁄or (c) raise business productivity. This project aims to review the status-quo of collaboration and engagement between various stages of Scotland’s food and drink supply chain; to identify those points under acute pressure in the wake of recent shocks and recognising their strengths and weaknesses; and to identify means by which collaboration can be enhanced.
- Food & Drink Improvements
- 2022-2027
Crop Improvement for sustainable production in a changing environment
Changing environmental conditions necessitate adaptations in Scottish agriculture. This project investigates the development of crop species that are resilient to combinations of environmental stresses whilst using resources more efficiently. We test the hypothesis that utilisation of latent diversity in crop species can improve both resource efficiency and stress tolerance.
- Crop Improvement
- 2022-2027
Drivers and barriers for adopting healthy and sustainable food swaps in young adults
This project aims to identify the most effective food swaps, based on an individual’s diet, that makes their shopping basket more healthy and environmentally sustainable; and monitor in real-time whether physiological, psychological and environmental factors, at an individual level, affect the adoption of such food swaps and make individual diets healthier and more environmentally sustainable, in young adults.
- Food & Drink Improvements
- 2022-2027
Emerging water futures
This project is integrating model-based assessment of future risks to water quality and quantity under a range of scenarios, with new empirical water quality data and socio-economic risk assessment for drinking water supplies.
- Water
- 2022-2027