Latest Briefing
 james hutton institute 345x250.jpg)
How investment in fundamental scientific research leads to practical outcomes
The societal benefits of funding applied scientific research – research which addresses a question that is immediately and directly relevant to an end user such as a farmer or policy maker – are clear. It is nearly always relatively straightforward to identify practical outcomes that emerge from such projects, making them highly attractive to funding bodies and industrial collaborations, particularly at a time of financial constraint. However, these applied outcomes frequently rely upon and develop previous fundamental research programmes for which practical outcomes were not immediately or obviously apparent at the time. This article describes how Scottish Government (SG) investment in a number of fundamental scientific areas at Main Research Providers (MRP), through the Strategic Research Programme has underpinned research which is now yielding practical outcomes that are making a difference in Scotland and beyond.
Read morePublished on 8 March 2016 in Food, health and wellbeing
Recent Briefings
Long-Term Land Use Change on the Machair and its Impact on Biodiversity
Machair is a distinctive type of coastal grassland restricted to about 25,000 ha in world-wide extent; 17,500 ha of this resource are in Scotland. Read more
Published on 3 May 2012 in Sustainability and Communities , Ecosystems and biodiversity
Bracken and the Asulam ban
Bracken is well known as an agricultural, ecological and health problem with little in the way of redeeming features. Read more
Published on 2 May 2012 in Sustainability and Communities , Ecosystems and biodiversity
KE of science - changing behaviours that challenge society
Society today faces a number of challenges, such as climate change, that require individuals to collectively change their behaviour in ways that incur additional costs (financial and/or non-financial). Read more
Published on 25 April 2012 in Sustainability and Communities
Sustainable Intensification within Scotland
This brief outlines the results of a recently published discussion document on applying the concept of Sustainable Intensification to Scotland. Read more
Published on 20 March 2012 in Sustainability and Communities
Marine litter issues, impacts and action-contributing to a marine litter strategy for Scotland
Increasingly, policy makers and the public are experiencing the problem of litter in our seas and on our beaches. Read more
Published on 2 February 2012 in Sustainability and Communities , Climate, water and energy , Ecosystems and biodiversity
Putting 'Good Practice' in Context - Lessons for Catchment Management
In recent years, collaborative and cross-sectoral approaches have been recommended as the most effective and equitable way to achieve better water quality in catchments. Read more
Published on 6 December 2011 in Sustainability and Communities , Climate, water and energy , Ecosystems and biodiversity
Designing effective flood warning systems in Scotland
The risks from flooding can never be completely eliminated but the harm caused by floods can be greatly reduced or mitigated by effective flood warning systems. Read more
Published on 2 November 2011 in Climate, water and energy
High Nature Value Farming Indicators established for Scotland
A previous Knowledge Scotland Research Briefing (Identifying And Supporting High Nature Value Farming Systems, May 2009) has provided a background to the development of the European High Nature Value (HNV) farming systems concept. Read more
Published on 17 October 2011 in Ecosystems and biodiversity , Food, health and wellbeing
Clubroot in Oilseed Rape
Recent work at SRUC (formerly SAC), in collaboration with ADAS, has revealed that half of all oilseed rape fields in Scotland are infected with clubroot. Read more
Published on 26 September 2011 in Ecosystems and biodiversity , Food, health and wellbeing
Raising the competitiveness of Scotland's agri-food industry
This briefing discusses the results of a research project which aimed to indicate how Scottish agriculture and the wider agri-food industry can improve its competitiveness through raising productivity at both the farm production and food chain level. Read more
Published on 20 September 2011 in Food, health and wellbeing
