Scientists at the James Hutton Institute are researching ways to prepare for and prevent future threats to arable and horticultural production in Scotland. In work funded by the Scottish Government’s Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS), the research aims to prioritize threats to crop production and analyze likely future scenarios with stakeholders to find ways of avoiding these risks.
An online survey has been launched to seek the views of farmers, farming organizations, agricultural suppliers, processors, retailers, and industry regulators about what they perceive to be the main threats to arable and horticulture production in Scotland.
The information from the survey will help researchers to characterize the likely future scenarios, which will be analyzed with stakeholders to find ways of mitigating potential risks to crop production.
Dr. Alison Karley, a natural scientist at the Institute, explains: “The changing climate, pest and disease pressures, and global events can affect the productivity of agriculture and trade in agricultural goods. One way to mitigate against negative effects on agricultural production is to identify the most likely issues and envisage ways that farmers, industry, policy, and other stakeholders can prepare for the future.
“The views and participation from farmers and other agricultural stakeholders are vital to this research,” adds Dr. Luz Maria Lozada, “as they will inform and help to refine recommendations to policy in Scotland.”
For more information:
The James Hutton Institute
Craigiebuckler Aberdeen AB15 8QH Scotland
Invergowrie Dundee DD2 5DA Scotland
+44 (0)344 928 5428
info@hutton.ac.uk
www.hutton.ac.uk