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)
This project maps major food supply chains both within Scotland and those where Scottish industries are heavily involved to improve our understanding of how hey operate. To achieve this aim, we propose a methodology to be able to update changes in the maps, a modelled analysis of individual sectors that demonstrates where value is created, added, and lost during the supply chain, and to use the modelled analysis to simulate various scenarios whereby the value in the supply chain could be increased and distributed in Scotland among producers and processors.
- Food & Drink Improvements
- 2022-2027
This project is developing better targeted greenhouse has policies and industry initiatives, thus contributing to achieving Scotland’s net zero goal and reductions in the emissions intensity of Scottish food commodities. It combines scientific modelling and national scale data to improve the prediction of future greenhouse gas emission reduction scenarios in agricultural production, the cost-effectiveness of solutions and their wider environmental impacts. The specific focus of the project is ruminant systems, given their importance in Scottish agriculture, however, the tools and analyses...
- Large Scale Models
- 2022-2027
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
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 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
Using large datasets related to trade, launching of products, and consumer purchases, this project is studying current trends in markets relevant for the Scottish food and drink sector.
- Food & Drink Improvements
- 2022-2027
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
Agricultural practice is plagued by intractable and challenging welfare issues, which are increasingly the focus of consumer attention and legislative restrictions, such as separation of mothers and offspring, use of painful procedures, chronic disease issues and the confinement of animals in limited space or with limited opportunities to express natural behaviour. This work seeks to resolve these chronic issues through adoption of new techniques, novel approaches and implementation of innovative technology.
- Animal Welfare
- 2022-2027
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
Crop production in Scotland faces many threats. Varieties that withstand the many challenges’ growers face are essential. We are using novel plant populations and tools that examine behaviour under complex stresses and plants’ genetic content to develop high quality resilient crops, reduce inputs and allow the Scottish population to locally source more fruit and vegetables.
- Crop Improvement
- 2022-2027