NMEG report: Improving policy and practice for agricultural nutrient use and management

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.

Assessing Scotland’s self-sufficiency of major food commodities

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.

Climate Change Adaptation: 2nd Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture (ENRA) Science, Evidence and Policy Conference

Following the success of the first ENRA Science, Evidence and Policy conference last year, the conference returned this year to provide a forum to discuss key cross cutting strategic issues affecting Scotland’s environment, communities and rural economy. In addition to showcasing excellence in Scottish Government funded research, the event facilitates building networks and collaborations across science and policy - vital for effective and timely action for climate change adaptation.

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The Three A’s of innovation - Agritech, Animal Health and Aquaculture

Ahead of this year’s A3 Scotland Conference in Inverness, we thought we’d highlight a few examples of how we contribute to the Agritech, Animal Health and Aquaculture sector. A sector key to innovation in Scotland which is supporting a sustainable future for our communities, places and environment.

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Food for Thought: Soil, Food, Farming and Trade - Border Union Agricultural Society Business Breakfast, Kelso, 26 July 2024

The talks started with a provocation on the topic of soil from Professor Lorna Dawson, SEFARI Gateway Knowledge Exchange Lead for Environment and Senior Soil Scientist at the James Hutton Institute. She discussed the devastation from the dust bowl in the 1930s when an estimated 1.2 billion tons of soil were lost across 100 million acres in the US, to the current regenerative farming practices, which help to protect our soils. Lorna spoke about how, without living plant roots and fungal networks to hold soil in place, strong winds and floods can seriously erode our precious soils that deliver so many of the services on our planet such as fresh water, clean air and nutritious food.

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Exploiting plant pathogen biology for future disease control

Agriculture faces many challenges, including a warming climate, more frequent occurrence of extreme climate events and increased incidence and severity of crop diseases. Control of plant diseases with major resistance genes has not always proven durable and application of crop protection chemicals is becoming problematic with the development of pathogen insensitivity to the chemicals, as well as increased regulation.

What does Regenerative Farming mean for you?

The GO Falkland event came back for its second year, after last year’s success, offering a thought-provoking two-day programme, packed with talks and panel discussions by representatives of the land-based industries in Scotland, policymakers, and scientists – all providing their perspective on regenerative land use in Scotland and beyond.

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