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 11 - 20 of 34
Modelling the socio-economic, greenhouse gas and natural capital impacts of land use policy and opportunities (2)
This project is increasing our understanding of the impacts of land-based funding mechanisms on land values, and related outcomes for landownership diversification and land use change. The project incorporates regional case studies and qualitative, quantitative and spatial analysis methods. It provides recommendations for policy interventions and land-based funding models which are aligned with both land use and land reform policy.
- Natural Capital
- 2022-2027
Modelling the socioeconomic, greenhouse gas and natural capital impacts of land use policy and opportunities (1)
This project applies different modelling approaches to assess opportunities and impacts of land use in Scotland. Synergies and conflicts in land use policy are explored to identify how multiple objectives can be achieved. The greenhouse gas inventory is being disaggregated to holding level to identify hotspots for emissions and mitigation potential. Farm business models are scaled up to regional levels to identify patterns of responses to policy and management change. And, natural capital is modelled spatially to explore ecosystem service supply and opportunities.
- Land Use
- 2022-2027
Nitrogen deposition impacts in natural ecosystems
Nitrogen emitted from farming, industry and domestic sources impacts negatively on the wider countryside. This project examines the impacts of nitrogen deposition on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in Scottish natural habitats and the interactions between nitrogen impacts and climate change. Methods for monitoring nitrogen impacts will be developed and the potential for mitigation are explored.
- Air Quality
- 2022-2027
Pathways to healthy and sustainable diets: identifying facilitators, barriers and unintended consequences of switching to a more plant-based diet
We explore dietary choices people make when they switch to a more plant-based diet. Plant-based diets are viewed as healthier and sustainable, but little is known about the plant-based foods people choose in place of meat and why. We conduct a series of studies to explore personal and social barriers, both perceived and real, to eating less meat and the health and environmental impacts when meat consumption and purchasing patterns vary.
- Food & Drink Improvements
- 2022-2027
People and Nature
This is project identifies and evaluates interventions and approaches which facilitate transformative change in how Scottish biodiversity is framed, valued, and managed. It also explores how the benefits of Scotland's biodiversity can be harnessed and more equitably distributed.
- Biodiversity
- 2022-2027
Protected areas to tackle biodiversity loss now, and for the future
This project aims to understand how marine and terrestrial protected areas can best conserve biodiversity under current and future climates.
- Biodiversity
- 2022-2027
Risk-benefit analysis of Scottish seaweeds as a sustainable food source
The project aims to test the evidence that Scottish seaweeds can provide rich, sustainable, plant-based sources of essential dietary micronutrients with an eventual goal to include these as dietary ingredients within foods. A key driver for this research is the need to provide alternative, sustainable sources of micronutrients which will decrease as practices transform to address the climate emergency and the need to achieve Net Zero. This project will determine levels of micronutrients as well heavy metals within selected Scottish seaweed species, and therefore aims to identify seaweed...
- Human Nutrition
- 2022-2027
Scotland’s biodiversity: people, data and monitoring
This project addresses deficiencies in data and recording infrastructure of Scottish biodiversity enabling improved identification of drivers, hotspots and uniqueness.
- Biodiversity
- 2022-2027
Seeking multiple benefits from natural carbon stores in the uplands
This project explores the relationship between carbon storage, biodiversity conservation and flood mitigation in upland habitats to detect synergies and trade-offs and identifies land management practices that optimise the benefits to be gained. It is generating evidence to inform land-use management practices in the Scottish uplands that contributes to tackling the twin challenges of biodiversity loss and the climate emergency.
- Biodiversity
- 2022-2027
Towards Carbon Positive Through Improved farming
Agriculture has a key role in sequestering carbon and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions to meet net zero targets. A lack of cost effective, robust, consistent, transparent and accurate methods limits large-scale use of mitigation measures. This project aims are to improve assessments of mitigation practices for additionality, permanence, and uncertainty in achieving net zero, and produce regionally specific options to reduce GHGs and effective monitoring mechanisms.
- Agricultural Greenhouse Gases
- 2022-2027