Toxoplasma gondii is widely regarded as a classic One Health parasite because its impact spans human health, animal health, and the environment. The most recent data from Public Health Scotland shows 47 laboratory-confirmed human cases of toxoplasmosis in 2023, continuing a steady rise over the past decade. Cats (domestic and wild) are the only known definitive hosts of the parasite, capable of shedding millions of oocysts in their faeces that can persist in soil and water for long periods of time, leading to widespread environmental contamination and exposing livestock, wildlife, and humans to infection. The parasite causes significant veterinary disease, including abortion in sheep and goats, whilst also posing a major public health concern through foodborne transmission, environmental exposure, and congenital infection. Fatal infections have also been reported in some marine mammals. As transmission pathways cross ecosystem boundaries, effective control of T. gondii requires a co-ordinated approach integrating public health, veterinary medicine, agriculture, and environmental management.
The aim of the symposium was to bring together experts and stakeholders from a wide range of disciplines to discuss a One Health approach to tackling toxoplasmosis (Table 1). We wanted to provide a platform to discuss and assess the current epidemiological landscape of toxoplasmosis and to share ideas and innovations for detection and control, whilst also identifying critical knowledge gaps. These discussions will help shape future research priorities and inform effective policy and intervention strategies to reduce the burden of T. gondii across sectors.
Thirty-two invited participants took part in the symposium which was held at the Moredun Research Institute on 20th November 2025. The morning sessions consisted of talks from experts in the field, focusing on public health perspectives, clinical data, veterinary impacts, vaccination, environmental and foodborne transmission, and developments in state-of-the-art research tools to aid future drug and vaccine development. Two of the speakers were able to provide European perspectives, detailing outcomes from a multi-country, collaborative project addressing source attribution of T. gondii, and summarising current parasite genotyping tools available to aid epidemiological studies and source tracking during outbreaks (www.onehealthejp.eu/ projects/foodborne-zoonoses/jrp-toxosources). One of the invited participants was from Brazil, so could also share experiences from South America during the discussions. The afternoon session comprised three breakout discussion groups focusing on identifying knowledge gaps and future steps.
We conducted a participant survey at the start and end of the day to gather opinions on priority areas for research, barriers to control, engagement with other sectors, and next steps.
This report summarises the main outcomes from the day and highlights areas for future prioritisation to tackle toxoplasmosis.
SEFARIGateway and NatureScot, have commissioned research to study how Scotland’s Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS) could support a just transition to sustainable and regenerative agriculture.
Scotland has committed to becoming a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture, with this ambition embedded in the Vision for Agriculture (2022), the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024, and the Code of Practice on Sustainable and Regenerative Agriculture (2025). Achieving these goals requires an Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS) capable of supporting land managers through complex, long term transitions under increasing climate, economic, environmental and regulatory pressures. This research investigates the capacity of AKIS Scotland to support a just transition, including recommendations for Tier 4 support framework.
A literature review, an online survey, semi-structured interviews, case studies analysis, and five workshops
(three in person and two online) involving more than 120 participants from across Scotland and representing all type of AKIS actors were carried out to collect both qualitative and quantitative data.
Orkney’s farmers are innovative, productive and central to the islands’ economy, but research activity has not always been shaped by local priorities. This project mapped current agricultural research in Orkney and worked with island stakeholders to identify knowledge gaps and future needs. It sets out a practical route towards a locally driven, place-based model of research that strengthens trust, improves uptake of new technologies and new opportunities, and ensures agricultural research delivers lasting impact for Orkney’s communities.
Main Image: Standing stones on Orkney. Photo credit: Professor Lee Innes.
Flooding is becoming more frequent as rainfall intensifies, prompting growing interest in nature-based approaches that work with the landscape to slow, store and filter water. Temporary storage areas are small features that capture and temporarily hold runoff, typically in rural upper parts of a catchment, before slowly releasing it. However, there is limited evidence on how to design these measures so they perform reliably during large storm events. This research shows that reducing flood peaks requires new, distributed storage that remains empty between storms and is ready to hold runoff when it is at its highest. The Temporary Storage Area Design Optimiser Tool (TSA-DOT) helps tailor designs to local conditions, supporting more reliable nature-based flood storage.
Main Image: An example of an edge-of-field temporary storage area (TSA) intercepting and storing surface runoff and sediment from soil erosion at Tarland. Photo credit: Dr Martyn Roberts, The James Hutton Institute.