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Foodborne pathogen infections and antimicrobial resistance are real health crises. The first aim of this project is to identify specific non-harmful bacteria isolated from livestock and the environment that can inhibit growth of a range of pathogens, in order to interrupt the spread of foodborne pathogens across a range of different environments. The second aim is to screen genome sequences from our collection of Campylobacter strains and non-harmful gut bacterial isolates to identify identical genes, and understand their role in the spread of antimicrobial resistance through the environment.
This project evaluates the potential of Scotland’s underutilised lands to contribute towards a sustainable food system and provide economic motivation to protect our natural capital. The focus is on wild species that can contribute towards sustainable food production, while meeting environment and biodiversity targets. Engagement with a wide range of stakeholders provides a RoadMap that will meet cross-sector needs.
Changing environmental conditions necessitate adaptations in Scottish agriculture. This project investigates the development of crop species that are resilient to combinations of environmental stresses whilst using resources more efficiently. We test the hypothesis that utilisation of latent diversity in crop species can improve both resource efficiency and stress tolerance.
Vertical farming is an emerging food manufacturing process with potential to change how food is produced and distributed in rural and (peri)urban areas. Reliable food production and significantly reduced inputs as well as waste makes the approach a prospectively valuable option for food producers. This project is establishing baseline energy use, greenhouse gas emissions and inputs and outputs for vertical farming and comparing them to alternative and established production systems.
The project assesses the influence of trigger events on basic and best-fit practices. New approaches for influencing farmer behaviour are being co-designed with farmers and industry stakeholders, empirically tested through applied agroecology, parasitology and experimental economics, and promoted through on-farm demonstrations, workshops, training events and multimedia campaigns.
This project is increasing our understanding of increasing production and use of Scotland’s fruit and vegetables through a multidisciplinary, systems-led approach examining production, supply and distribution. The project focuses on scientific practices underpinning sustainable agroecology and draw in external stakeholders and socio-technical innovations along food supply chains.
This project seeks to provide tools to rapidly identify chemical risks in foods and to contribute to improved consumer diets through reformulation to reduce harmful components such as sugars, fats, and salt.
We are measuring the Strontium (Sr) isotopes in Scottish soils to create a map (isoscape) to aid in determining the origins of conventionally grown crops. For crops grown in soilless, controlled environment units the link to location is however lost. We are therefore analysing the crops, waters and nutrients from such producers using isotope and chemical methods to see whether such an approach could be used for provenancing.
This research aims to quantify the flow of antimicrobial resistance genes and pathogens from the environment to the food chain and directly to humans in the farm environment under different farming practices. This will be integrated with social science work on antimicrobial use. Both quantitative and qualitative data will be used to develop a risk assessment model based on a Bayesian Belief Network.
This project investigates how age, grazing management, early life events and tolerance to parasites affects livestock productivity and associated environmental impact.