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Project's aim was to establish whether data are currently collected by industry bodies operating within the Scottish lamb sector on (a) the use of castration and tail docking and (b) the methods employed to perform these procedures. If such data are collected, they may offer a way for Scottish Government to benchmark current practices and to monitor future trends. This report was funded by the Rural & Environment Science & Analytical Services Division of the Scottish Government Underpinning National Capacity Support to Policy Function.
The Sustainable Farm Networks initiative (SFN), linking diverse demonstration farm networks to meet to work together to improve communication between research, farm practice and food system policy, is gathering momentum. With 18 member networks that span supply chain, research project and natural capital farm groupings across all sectors and nations of the UK, over 1800 farm businesses and 175,000 Ha are represented so far - and more are joining each week. Led by the Harper Adams School of Sustainable Food and Farming, the first gathering of SFN Network Stewards- the individuals with the
Domestic agriculture provides most of our food consumption and contributes to export revenues and rural livelihoods. At the same time, it is a key sector where management and production changes can reduce pressure on the environment, including air, water, climate and biodiversity. More efficient and better targeted use of nutrients both in crop and livestock production has positive impacts on a range of policy outcomes in the UK, as has been highlighted in policies for climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity, circular economy, competitiveness and public health. Approach Despite
Soil maps in Scotland can be up to 70 years old, however, they remain as relevant today as they did when the soils were first mapped. This briefing note discusses how short-term changes, associated with soil management practices, do not fundamentally change the soil forming processes.
A report comparing the nutritional profile of several harvests of seed form NE Scottish farms growing hemp
Revised (May 2023) Centres of Expertise Booklet
Poster, presented at the 98th Annual Conference of the Agricultural Economics Society. Rathnayaka, S. D., Giha, C. L. R., & de Roos, B. (2024). Assessing Scotland’s self-sufficiency of major food commodities. Poster session presented at 98th Annual Conference of the Agricultural Economics Society, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Achieving food security has gained prominence in the present policy agenda to increase resilience to adverse events. Using a novel method, we estimated the food balance sheets of Scotland, and assessed the self-sufficiency of major food commodities for the first time. We found that Scotland can produce enough cereal, potatoes, lamb, beef, dairy, and eggs to meet its own needs, but it still depends on imports of poultry and pork. Wheat and dairy from Scotland are especially important, as they significantly contribute to the nation's overall energy, protein, and fat intake. Foods high in protein