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.
Protecting Plant and Animal Health to underpin our globally competitive economy and ambition to be a Good Food Nation
Committed to empowered, inclusive and resilient Rural Futures for Scotland’s rural and island communities
Protecting, valuing and optimising the multiple benefits we recieve from our vital Natural Resources
Supporting the large-scale and coordinated transition to net zero and reduction of Human Impacts on the Environment
Leading the way to a Sustainable Food System and Supply contributing to the economy, livelihoods and the health of Scotland
Underpinning National Capacity by funding research services, expertise, and studentships that strengthen Scotland’s science base and support evidence-based government policy.
Ongoing research (2022-2027)
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Water and its ecosystem functions
To understand how pressures such as problems arising from agricultural and urban land use and, increasingly, climate change affect the biophysical and ecological processes within our catchments. The focus of the research is on understanding how the biophysical and ecological processes within water bodies operate and contribute to the delivery of ecosystem function and health.
Water environment, resilience and adaptation to change
To evaluate the capacity of water resources to adapt to changing environmental and socio-economic conditions, in order to maintain key functions, goods and services (resilience)
Welfare assessment techniques
To improve assessment of animal welfare in order to be able to characterise where animals are experiencing a net positive Quality of Life: Welfare of farmed livestock is an important ethical concern. Policy interest in the concept of 'positive welfare’ underlies our work. For this we aim to develop innovative welfare assessment techniques that improve our assessment of positive and negative welfare and overall Quality of Life.
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Tools
This project is directed at the core policy driver “Global climate and nature crises” that focuses on “achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions and responding to biodiversity loss”. The proposed research extends and develops broad use statistical and mathematical tools for modelling natural populations and community dynamics and biodiversity and environmental systems. The results will be useful for predicting the impacts of climate change and potential management actions on plant and animal populations and communities, and environmental-ecological systems.