Natural Economy

Creating an innovation and skills ecosystem for the future

Of the many words he has spoken on the subject, one quote in particular from Andy Haldane stands out: “Innovation provides the spark, but the institutions provide the fuel.” The Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Arts could easily have been talking about SRUC, where our Digital Dairy Chain has been highlighted in Scotland’s National Innovation Strategy as a prime example of an innovation cluster. …

Wayne Powell
14/06/2023

Work starts on ONE SeedPod innovation hub for food and drink manufacturing

Work to create ONE SeedPod – the transformational industry innovation hub for Scotland’s food and drink industry – has started in Aberdeen, following the completion of the capital funding package and award of the construction contract.…

SRUC
29/05/2023

First UK outing for portable chambers to measure sheep methane

High-tech portable chambers for measuring methane emissions from sheep are being used in the UK for the first time.…

SRUC
15/05/2023

Zero carbon production ‘moon shot’ in reach for Scotland’s livestock farmers

A recent call on social media from former Defra adviser and rewilding advocate Ben Goldsmith for sheep to be removed from national parks and other marginal landscapes across the UK has led to a stepping-up of the debate over the future of ruminant livestock in our food supply chain.…

Wayne Powell
27/04/2023

Embracing nature-based opportunities

It is expected that nature and biodiversity will follow in the footsteps of carbon, with businesses encouraged (and potentially required) to measure and report on their impacts. At SAC Consulting, we are monitoring the development of this space so that we can help our clients navigate the evolving landscape.…

Brady Stevens & Ceri Ritchie
17/04/2023

SRUC Alliance for the Natural Economy Forum – Reflections #2

The second of the Alliance for the Natural Economy Forum dinners, convened by SRUC, was held on 28 March at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.…

Peter Smyth and Susannah Bolton
05/04/2023

New hedgerow and grassland management guides for farmers

New videos and practical guides have been created for farmers to help wildlife, such as pollinating insects, thrive on farms.…

SRUC
28/03/2023

Sharing a Canadian perspective on the 2023 Rural Housing Conference in Birnam, Perthshire

"Rurality is defined by community, and in the post-COVID era, community is no longer defined just by those in your immediate vicinity. By embracing and discovering new partnerships, rural spaces can only become more sustainable and resilient for years to come."…

Blake Glassford
28/03/2023

UK Government must rethink support for rural people living in poverty, say experts in new book

The needs of the poorest and most vulnerable people living in the countryside are overlooked and underserved by UK Government policy in comparison with those in urban areas, say academics in a new book.…

SRUC
14/03/2023

Where there’s muck, there’s brass

Livestock dung is typically used as a fertiliser or as a source of biogas for green energy applications, but it could be used to create the next generation of cellulosic materials according to a new study led by SRUC scientists.…

SRUC
13/03/2023

New project to sharpen seafood skills

Researchers at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) have been awarded almost £39k to develop new seafood skills training courses in partnership with Scottish Sea Farms. …

SRUC
23/02/2023

Growing for gold

Cutting-edge research will be used in a £375,000 project to find a plant-based alternative for the recovery of gold, silver and copper nanoparticles from mining waste. …

SRUC
16/02/2023