Latest Briefing in Food, health and wellbeing for 2013
Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services and Sustaining Food Production
Recent rapid declines in biodiversity at a global scale have stimulated significant efforts to conserve and protect the natural environment. The focus of conservation efforts has shifted in recent years towards the protection not only of species and habitats, but also the services that our ecosystems provide. This shift has led to substantial interest in the processes that underpin ecosystem service delivery, including through the interaction of biodiversity – the diversity of genes, species and habitats in our natural environment – with the biophysical environment.
Understanding this relationship is extremely challenging, not least because of the huge range of services that we derive from nature, and the many different ways in which the components of natural systems can interact to deliver these services. One way of addressing this complexity is to break down the question into smaller components. Although we can recognise the inter-connected nature of the natural environment, it is reasonable to conclude that some ecosystem services are more relevant than others to particular sectors of society, business and government.
A recent review has considered the role of biodiversity and biophysical processes in delivery of ecosystem services in Scotland. In particular, the review focusses on “priority ecosystem services” that are considered particularly relevant to four broad policy goals: 1. A low carbon economy; 2. Sustaining food production; 3. Halting biodiversity loss; and 4. Sustainable water management. Here we summarise key information from this review that relates to the broad policy goal of sustaining food production.
Read morePublished on 10 December 2013 in Ecosystems and biodiversity , Food, health and wellbeing
Briefings in Food, health and wellbeing for 2013
EPIC - The Scottish Government's Centre of Expertise on Animal Disease Outbreaks
The overarching purpose of EPIC is to provide access to high quality advice and analyses on the epidemiology and control of animal diseases that are important to Scotland and to best prepare for the next major disease incursion. Read more
Published on 17 October 2013 in Sustainability and Communities , Food, health and wellbeing
Barriers to the Uptake of Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) for Genetic Selection & Improvement in the Scottish Sheep Sector
Scotland has a reputation for excellence in research into livestock genetics. Genetic improvement using Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) is a recognised method of enhancing productivity, profitability, and competitiveness. Read more
Published on 13 August 2013 in Sustainability and Communities , Food, health and wellbeing
Roots for Sustainability
An understanding of the interactions between roots and the soil is fundamental to food security, human nutrition and environmental sustainability. Read more
Published on 30 July 2013 in Sustainability and Communities , Climate, water and energy , Food, health and wellbeing
Ovine Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma - A Major Animal Health Concern for Scottish Sheep Farming
Ovine Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma (OPA) , an infectious lung cancer in sheep, has a major economic on farming. Read more
Published on 26 June 2013 in Sustainability and Communities , Climate, water and energy , Ecosystems and biodiversity , Food, health and wellbeing
Does Food Structure Affect Satiety?
Today we are presented with an ever increasing choice of foods to satisfy our hunger. The choice is not only what we eat but also in the form it is presented for consumption; as a solid or as a liquid. Read more
Published on 26 March 2013 in Food, health and wellbeing
Assessing Consumer Responses to Sustainable Plant-based Proteins: Identifying Barriers to Change
In spite of the increasing attention being paid to issues of food security and sustainability we do not fully understand how consumers will respond to the challenges of incorporating more sustainable but less familiar protein sources into their diet. Read more
Published on 8 March 2013 in Food, health and wellbeing
Developing Foods for Enhanced Satiety - Understanding Food-Gut-Brain Interactions
Currently, dietary rather than pharmacological approaches are being sought to prevent weight gain, aid weight loss and maintain a lower and healthy weight. Read more
Published on 11 February 2013 in Food, health and wellbeing
Liver Fluke in Sheep and Cattle - A Major Animal Health Concern Following One of the Wettest UK Summers on Record
The summer of 2012 has been one of the wettest summers on record and it is held responsible for the extraordinary levels of disease and death in sheep due to liver fluke. Read more
Published on 24 January 2013 in Sustainability and Communities , Climate, water and energy , Food, health and wellbeing
