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Research

Research

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.

Plant and Animal Health

Protecting Plant and Animal Health to underpin our globally competitive economy and ambition to be a Good Food Nation

Sustainable Food Supply System

Leading the way to a Sustainable Food System and Supply contributing to the economy, livelihoods and the health of Scotland

Human Impacts on the Environment

Supporting the large-scale and coordinated transition to net zero and reduction of Human Impacts on the Environment

Natural Resources

Protecting, valuing and optimising the multiple benefits we recieve from our vital Natural Resources

Rural Futures

Committed to empowered, inclusive and resilient Rural Futures for Scotland’s rural and island communities

Ongoing research (2022-2027)

Displaying 11 - 20 of 29
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
Novel insights on Scotland’s rural and island economies

The unique characteristics, challenges, and aspirations of the local business base, and opportunities for community wealth building in rural and island communities are examined. We focus on understanding the role of economic infrastructure in prosperity and consider how future changes to agricultural support may impact the rural and island regions of Scotland. 

  • Rural Economy
  • 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
Realising change: working with communities to inform a resilient recovery process in remote, rural and island communities

This project seeks to both understand and facilitate change in remote, rural and island communities working with stakeholders at local, regional and national levels using a combination of qualitative, quantitative and modelling approaches. 

  • Rural Communities
  • 2022-2027
Risk-benefit analysis of Scottish seaweeds as a sustainable food source
colourful seaweed floating on the surface of water

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 Land Reform Futures

The Scotland’s Land Reform Futures project supports Scottish Government policy development regarding community land ownership and engagement in land use decision-making, and increases our understanding of roles of land ownership and land reform in achieving net zero emissions and reversing biodiversity decline. It advances social theory on community empowerment, social justice, and the potential for progressive property rights in Scotland.

  • Land Reform
  • 2022-2027
The benefits of a rural green recovery: pinpointing opportunities, assets and support needs

This project uses mixed data and methods, including participatory and experimental approaches and community engagement, to create an advanced model of Scotland’s rural economy, and provides insights into how the benefits of plausible and aspirational economic scenarios could overlap with community- and place-based assets. It assesses progress towards a green recovery and just transition.

  • Rural Economy
  • 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
Understanding of the principal drivers of pest and disease incidence, severity, and spread in Scotland, and the factors currently limiting effective disease control

We are delivering a comprehensive body of research that integrates cutting-edge mapping, artificial intelligence, genomics, experimental, and modelling techniques to quantify the abundance, diversity, and spatiotemporal dynamics of key Scottish crop pests and pathogens, as well as the ecology of pest and pathogen-host-environment-management interactions and potential impacts of climate change. 

  • Plant Disease
  • 2022-2027
Crop Genetic Improvement

The main activities will focus on barley, wheat, potato and soft fruit, the crops of major importance to the Scottish economy. For each crop, the spectrum of capabilities is linked into translational crop genomics pipelines that ultimately deliver improved cultivars. Underpinning research in all projects will be the continued development of novel technologies and approaches including custom platforms for genomic and functional characterisation of important traits.

  • Plant Disease
  • Crop Improvement
  • 2016-2022

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