Latest Briefing in Sustainability and Communities for 2011
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. However, the realisation that such an approach is often the right thing to do does not mean that this is a simple and predictable process.
Previous research has identified several factors that promote collaborative management success including the use of adaptive management approaches, good communications between stakeholders and management of conflictive situations. However, critical assessment of past case studies shows that following good practice processes may not always result in successful outcomes (e.g. increased engagement, sustainable process, improved water quality) as other factors can intervene such as lack of funding, poor coordination, and difficulties in maintaining engagement with key stakeholders. This research addresses the need to understand the factors that may influence the efficacy, efficiency and equity of such processes.
Read morePublished on 6 December 2011 in Sustainability and Communities , Climate, water and energy , Ecosystems and biodiversity
Briefings in Sustainability and Communities for 2011
How to expand the market for ethical food products?
This note discusses ways in which the market of ethical food can be expanded based on lessons extracted from several pieces of research carried out by the SRUC Food Marketing Research team. Read more
Published on 19 July 2011 in Sustainability and Communities
Addressing farmland biodiversity concerns effectively in the Common Agricultural Policy
Farmland is one of the dominant land covers in Europe, covering over 45% (173 million hectares) of the European Union’s 27 Member States. Read more
Published on 19 July 2011 in Sustainability and Communities , Ecosystems and biodiversity
Investigating the benefits of agritourism in Scotland using a typology-based approach
The capacity for agritourism to generate private economic benefits for farmers has been established in a range of international contexts. Read more
Published on 26 May 2011 in Sustainability and Communities
Drivers of sustainable malting barley production in Scotland
Barley is Scotland's most important cereal crop in terms of output, being estimated at £243 million for 2008 according to the 2009 Economic Report on Scottish Agriculture, and its contribution to Scottish agricultural output is only exceeded by cattle and dairy production. Read more
Published on 3 May 2011 in Sustainability and Communities
New vaccine hopes for endemic sheep disease
Since its introduction into the UK over two decades ago, caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) has become endemic within the national sheep flock. Read more
Published on 18 April 2011 in Sustainability and Communities , Food, health and wellbeing
New diagnostic test for endemic cattle disease under development
Johne's Disease caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis is endemic disease in cattle and its prevalence is increasing. Read more
Published on 16 February 2011 in Sustainability and Communities , Climate, water and energy , Ecosystems and biodiversity , Food, health and wellbeing
Plant breeding has increased the nitrogen use efficiency of barley varieties
Nitrogen (N) is an essential element in the growth and development of crops. Poor access to N fertilizer is a major limitation to crop productivity in some developing countries, whilst in other more affluent countries increased productivity over recent decades has been associated with a substantial increase in N fertilizer use. Read more
Published on 7 February 2011 in Sustainability and Communities
Chlamydial infection of sheep an infectious cause of prenatal lamb death
Chlamydial infection of sheep is the single largest infectious cause of prenatal lamb death in the UK. Read more
Published on 26 January 2011 in Sustainability and Communities , Food, health and wellbeing
Can acaricide treatment of sheep control ticks and tick-borne disease in the environment?
The tick Ixodes ricinus is the most important pathogen-carrying vector in Europe, including the UK. This species of tick is a generalist parasite, feeding off most types of terrestrial vertebrate, including sheep, deer, horses, dogs and humans. Read more
Published on 10 January 2011 in Sustainability and Communities , Food, health and wellbeing
When will NVZ nitrate mitigation measures be seen to have an effect on groundwaters?
Under the requirements of the European Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC), four areas of Scotland were designated as Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) in 2002. Read more
Published on 6 January 2011 in Sustainability and Communities
