Rural Policy Centre

Our Rural Policy Centre is a knowledge hub for rural Scotland. We engage and collaborate with researchers, businesses and communities to exchange ideas, share experiences and contribute evidence-based research to rural policy in Scotland.

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New policy spotlights: Animal Welfare and Animal Feed

These policy spotlights by Dr Rick D'Eath discuss options for farm support payments for animal welfare in Scotland and what this means for a just transition to net zero to address the climate and biodiversity crises. They also look at international examples of using food waste for animal feed and make recommendations for enhanced research and policy changes to enable a circular economy in the UK.

Read the Policy Spotlights: Animal Welfare and Animal Feed

Rural policy resources

We examine the impact of policies on rural businesses and communities to provide knowledge for future policy development. Our research briefings and policy summaries share valuable and straightforward insights on the big issues affecting rural lives.

Rural policy projects

We aim to inform the development of future policies by gathering evidence and sharing knowledge. Our research projects focus on a range of issues of importance to the sustainability and resilience of Scotland's rural and island communities and businesses.

Rural policy events

We organise virtual and in-person events to discuss rural topics, highlight rural policy issues and facilitate connections amongst stakeholders. We welcome any collaborations and suggestions for future events.

Contact the Rural Policy Centre

The Rural Policy Centre is a knowledge hub for rural Scotland. We engage with rural communities as well as consultants, educators and researchers across SRUC to harness the latest rural knowledge.

Rural Brexit Hub

Our Rural Brexit Hub has information on all the Brexit-related activities taking place across SRUC.

Have your say

The Rural Policy Centre is Secretariat for the Cross-party group in the Scottish Parliament on Rural Policy, which on a quarterly basis.

Cross-party groups include MSPs from across the Scottish Parliament and are open for everyone to attend that lives, works or has an interest in rural Scotland and beyond.

We’d love it if you could join us at a meeting to have your say on the issues affecting you.

Find out more

Connect with us

Through our work we aim to improve the quantity and quality of evidence and expand upon the knowledge base about rural Scotland. The work we do informs the development of future policies by raising the profile of issues affecting our rural communities.