Welcome to knowledgescotland
This is an archive site and is no longer actively maintained
knowledgescotland.org is an online resource for policymakers and Government stakeholders that is focused in the food, health, environment and rural sectors. It highlights key research carried out by the Scottish Government’s main research providers (MRPs) – The James Hutton Institute, Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland (BioSS), Moredun Research Institute, Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and SRUC (Scotland's Rural College) – as part of the strategic research programme.
The MRPs are just about to embark on a new programme of research (commissioned by the Scottish Government’s Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS) division) which will run from 2016 to 2021.
The new research programme will focus on three main themes; natural assets, productive and sustainable land management and rural economies, and food, health and wellbeing. A substantial element of that programme is knowledge transfer and exchange activities which aim to share the knowledge generated with a range of stakeholders, including the policy audience.
As part of these activities a new website is currently under construction which will feature regular updates on the programme.
News
Spotlight on Strategic Research Achievements 2013-2014
Published on 29 January 2016
Scottish Livestock and Poultry Farmers Asked to Give SRUC Their Views on Animal Health Planning
Researchers from Scotland?s Rural College (SRUC) are appealing to livestock and poultry farmers across Scotland to take part in a short survey to discover what farmers think of animal health planning. Read more
Published on 11 March 2015
SRUC Researcher Reflects on his Findings from the Reintroduction of Beavers in Scotland
Scottish scientists gathered in Lochgilphead on 19 February to share their findings with the local community following the trial reintroduction of beavers into the wild in Knapdale, Argyll & Bute. Read more
Published on 04 March 2015 in Sustainability and Communities, Ecosystems and biodiversity
SRUC and University of Edinburgh 'Most Powerful' in UK Agricultural and Veterinary Research
Agricultural and veterinary research at SRUC and the University of Edinburgh has been ranked as most powerful in the UK in the Research Excellence Framework (REF). Read more
Published on 18 December 2014 in Sustainability and Communities, Climate, water and energy, Ecosystems and biodiversity, Food, health and wellbeing
Calling all Teenagers: Science needs YOU!
Researchers in Edinburgh have been awarded £479,000 by the UK Government's Rural Affairs Department (Defra) to study teenagers' attitudes and behaviour towards animals. Read more
Published on 27 October 2014 in Food, health and wellbeing
Spotlight on Strategic Research Achievements 2012-13
The Scottish Government (Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division) Strategic Research Programme (SRP) has launched its latest spotlight document. Read more
Published on 10 July 2014 in Sustainability and Communities, Climate, water and energy, Ecosystems and biodiversity, Food, health and wellbeing
Recent Briefings
How investment in fundamental scientific research leads to practical outcomes
This briefing by James Hutton Institute scientists describes how Scottish Government investment in a number of fundamental scientific areas at Main Research Providers, through the Strategic Research Programme, has underpinned research which is now yielding practical outcomes that are making a difference in Scotland and beyond. Read more
Published on 8 March 2016 in Food, health and wellbeing
Future Land Use Change - Working locally, thinking globally
This briefing summarises the main findings from research done in two Local Focus Areas (Ballater and Huntly) as part of the Aberdeenshire Land Use Strategy Pilot. Read more
Published on 25 February 2016 in Sustainability and Communities , Ecosystems and biodiversity
Aberdeenshire Regional Land Use Pilot: Mapping the consEquences of LanD use Change (MELODiC)
Researchers from the James Hutton Institute have developed an interactive web-based mapping tool that allows users to explore the consequences of following different policy priorities on land use change and ecosystem service delivery using native woodland expansion as a lens. Read more
Published on 25 February 2016 in Sustainability and Communities
Identifying ecosystem services provided by freshwater insects
Biodiversity conservation is increasingly framed within the ecosystem services concept. Consideration of insect-related ecosystem services has largely focussed on terrestrial taxa while those inhabiting freshwater have been neglected. Read more
Published on 8 February 2016 in Ecosystems and biodiversity
Sticking points - implications for environmental management
There are many new approaches to improve environmental management practices and projects, such as the Ecosystem Approach. Read more
Published on 21 August 2015 in Sustainability and Communities
Assessing Long-term Resilience Within the Potato Supply Chain
There is growing concern that food systems should be more resilient to a variety of shocks (e.g., economic, originating from climate change). Read more
Published on 19 March 2015 in Sustainability and Communities
Success Stories
Providing the Evidence Base to Eliminate Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD)
If BVD virus was eradicated, research at SRUC has shown that the Scottish dairy industry could save about . Read more
Published on 19 December 2014 in Food, health and wellbeing
QBA: Evaluating Animal Quality of Life
Qualitative Behaviour Assessment (QBA) is a method for animal welfare assessment that judges the dynamic expressive quality (. Read more
Published on 24 April 2014 in Food, health and wellbeing
Making a Fetus Grow
Studies using a well-established sheep model of fetal growth restriction have provided the proof of concept that prenatal maternal AdVEGF gene therapy can safely and effectively increase fetal growth in compromised pregnancies. Read more
Published on 22 October 2013 in Food, health and wellbeing
EPIC - Centre of Expertise on Animal Disease Outbreaks
The livestock disease risks that are faced in Scotland are constantly changing making it essential to provide timely and effective policy advice to the Scottish Government. Read more
Published on 17 October 2013 in Sustainability and Communities , Food, health and wellbeing
Engaging with Food
Engaging with a public (community) audience is recognised by the Scottish, UK and EU Governments as an important responsibility of the research community, especially given the rapid rate of advancement in biomedical and agri-food research and the global challenges we face, such as food security and climate change. Read more
Published on 1 October 2013 in Food, health and wellbeing
Creating a Local Food Culture
Locally produced food is of growing importance to Scottish consumers. SRUC has highlighted the need to support and develop local food and drink businesses, of which there are over 75,000 in Scotland. Read more
Published on 10 June 2013 in Food, health and wellbeing
