The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have released a stark warning of the consequences of uncontrolled greenhouse gas emissions in a recent Special Report. We now recognise that to avoid dangerous climate change, it will be necessary to limit global temperature rises to no more than 1.5oC above preindustrial levels.
Allan is a soil hydrologist at the James Hutton Institute with over 40 years experience in soil hydrology, soil survey and soil mapping. A key aspect of Allan's work is in interpreting soils data for a range of purposes and to make it more readily accessible to a wide range of users. His current focus is on estimating and quantifying soil carbon stocks. Allan is the curator of the National Soils Archive and the lead on the Research Deliverable Soil Management (1.1.4).
The James Hutton Institute
Craigiebuckler
Aberdeen AB15 8QH
Scotland UK
The dietary choices and habits of a person cannot be divorced from climate change, biodiversity and ecosystems, or the more common focus, the prevalence of diet-related diseases (e.g. obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer).
As regards climate change, it has been estimated that the food system (including e.g. agricultural production, processing, distribution, retail, cooking and waste) accounts for 20-30% of all UK greenhouse gas emissions (GHG).
Our natural environment is facing threats from a range of environmental drivers, including climate change, invasive non-native species, novel pests and diseases, over-exploitation, and pollution. It is difficult to predict exactly how nature will respond to these drivers and to tailor management solutions precisely to each threat. An alternative approach is to try to understand what makes species and ecosystems generally more resilient, and to develop management plans which aim to enhance resilience.
Davy is Head of Department of Integrated Land Management and Head of Hill & Mountain research centre at SRUC. Davy is involved in a range of research and demonstration projects investigating the economic, social and environmental resilience of upland livestock systems and seeking to understand the trade-offs associated with changes to those systems.
Christopher is head of Cryptogamic Plants and Fungi at the Royal Botanical Garden in Edinburgh, using his research to understand how habitat management can offset negative impacts of global change. He co-ordinates RBGE's Scottish biodiversity science, including activities contributing to the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy (2020 Route Map) and the Scottish Government’s Strategic Research Programme (Theme 1 - Natural Assets).
Roy is a Rhizosphere Ecologist who is one of the key staff members leading Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPM) research at the James Hutton Institute. His recent projects have focused on biodiversity loss due to transport by soil erosion, nematode ecology, endochrine compounds and risk of invasive species.
Lionel is a mathematical phytologist at the James Hutton Institute, where he develops models that predict how crops utilise environmental resources to grow and produce yield. His research for SEFARI sits within soil and ecosystem function, and plant-soil-water interactions.
Eric is a Root physiologist and Biochemist at the James Hutton Institute, and the theme of his research over the last 15 years has largely revovoled around the impact of rhizodeposition on soil microbial communities and processes.
James Hutton Institute
Craigiebuckler
Aberdeen
Scotland
AB15 8QH
This case study will summarise ongoing research on Teladorsagia circumcincta, one of the most common and economically important endemic parasites to control in sheep in the UK. SEFARI scientists have found that as temperatures gradually get warmer there could be a ‘tipping point’ where parasite burdens suddenly get a lot higher. Our scientists have also shown that climate change can increase parasite burdens, these parasite burdens can substantially drive-up greenhouse gas emissions, and ineffective parasite control can lead to further increases in emissions.