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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.
Explore our research projects
To enable the uptake of measures that will improve water management, both to improve water quality and to contribute to flood risk management. This RD examines the options to improve water management in the complex socio-economic and policy settings of 'real world' catchment management.
- Water
- 2016-2022
Originally, this research had two main aims. The first was to establish the nature of household food insecurity in Scotland, what societal sectors and communities are affected by and respond to it, how it affects health and wellbeing, and what can be done about it. The second aim was to examine the practicability of producing maps of the range and availability of culturally acceptable foods in Scotland.
- Food Supply & Security
- 2016-2022
The aim of this RD is to assess the environmental sustainability of different sectors of the rural economy and identify trade-offs and opportunities for the production and use of bio-materials in a circular economy. The key drivers for this research are policies for the circular economy and zero waste domains.
- Land Use
- Circular Economy & Waste
- 2016-2022
Disease has a detrimental effect on animal health and welfare and causes substantial losses in production. In order to assess the effectiveness of control measures and determine their economic impact, a quantification of the level of disease and/ or health status is needed.
- Animal Disease
- 2016-2022
This research targets a number of complementary, interdisciplinary strategies to support changes in food culture, social norms and dietary choices towards ‘sustainable and healthy balanced diets’. Socioeconomic and behavioural approaches will be applied to characterise factors affecting dietary choice and behaviours in different population groups and life-stages, particularly cultural influences. The aim is to explore the potential benefit of innovative interventions to change dietary habits.
- Food Supply & Security
- Food & Drink Improvements
- 2016-2022
The focus of the work is on microbial contaminants of food, either directly or via toxins, and heavy metal contaminants. The work will define risk factors and improve detection of the most important food-borne pathogens, toxins and heavy metals, and will examine the flow of antimicrobial resistance through the food and into the commensal microbiota, all of which will contribute to improved public health in Scotland through uptake by stakeholders in public health and the food industry.
- Diet & Food Safety
- 2016-2022
This work aims to understand the relationship between Scottish consumption of domestic food and drink products versus imported products; and whether purchases of a particular provenance are due to prices or other reasons. Furthermore there is a need to understand the relationship between Scottish exports and domestic demand for those exported products and to what extent the goals of the Scottish Government of expanding the exporting base are compatible with domestic food security.
- Food Supply & Security
- 2016-2022
The major aim is to develop suitably characterised germplasm resources leading to the generation of crops better equipped and adapted to future climatic conditions, taking into account key areas of stakeholder concern that impact on profitability and the sustainability of Scottish crop production. The specific goals are based on identifying relevant genetic diversity in germplasm and developing new phenotyping methods.
- Plant Disease
- Crop Improvement
- 2016-2022
The aim of this work is to develop novel approaches to improve the understating of environmental and management controls of nitrous oxide emissions from the soils, and to improve the estimation of methane emissions from grazing cattle and sheep. The work also aims to provide policy and practical guidelines to greenhouse gas mitigation in Scottish farming, through a wide process of engagement with key stakeholders.
The research builds on previous work within the RESAS Strategic Programme and on collaborations with UK and International partners.
- Agricultural Greenhouse Gases
- 2016-2022
Animal-based strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ruminant livestock: The aim of this work is to address major knowledge gaps in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from livestock by investigating the effects of different grassland management systems, the rumen microbiome (the microbes that normally inhabit the gut), endemic diseases and host genetics on methane production and emissions intensity.
- Large Scale Models
- 2016-2022