Livestock's role in food system resilience in remote, upland regions
Lead Research Organisation:
Scotland's Rural College
Department Name: Research
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Technical Summary
This proposal takes a Food System approach to understand the resilience of livestock production in remote upland regions of the UK, the consequences to the global and local food systems of these responses, and provide policy makers, food chain actors and individual stakeholders' knowledge with which to adapt to challenges to food systems.
This interdisciplinary project will examine four case study areas (Orkney, Lewis and Isle of Skye, Scottish borders and Yorkshire Dales). In each case study area we will:
Undertake a systematic stakeholder analysis and Social Network Analysis.
Characterise 20 farms on the basis of habitat occurrence and condition, herd and flock management practices and health.
Develop metrics to examine economic resilience using quantitative approaches. We will use survival analysis and path dependency modelling to identify individual farm variability over time, and measure the response of these systems to shocks. These data will parametrise a series of farm level optimisation models which characterise these systems and allow for future scenarios
Develop a set of metrics that can be used to assess the extent and condition of the terrestrial and freshwater resource on each farm together with the degree to which agricultural management is linked to the extent and condition of those resources. We will use multivariate analysis to identify clusters of generic and specific issues relating to resilience within and between areas, thereby helping to highlight whether or not approaches to address impacts need to be area, region or UK specific.
A standard method will be used to characterise each case study area in terms of food system activities (e.g. food processing, retailing), food security (e.g. food availability and access), societal factors (e.g. social and cultural impact of livestock production).
Scenario analysis will be undertaken, integrating the above data and developing four rich scenarios to be explored with a range of stakeholders.
This interdisciplinary project will examine four case study areas (Orkney, Lewis and Isle of Skye, Scottish borders and Yorkshire Dales). In each case study area we will:
Undertake a systematic stakeholder analysis and Social Network Analysis.
Characterise 20 farms on the basis of habitat occurrence and condition, herd and flock management practices and health.
Develop metrics to examine economic resilience using quantitative approaches. We will use survival analysis and path dependency modelling to identify individual farm variability over time, and measure the response of these systems to shocks. These data will parametrise a series of farm level optimisation models which characterise these systems and allow for future scenarios
Develop a set of metrics that can be used to assess the extent and condition of the terrestrial and freshwater resource on each farm together with the degree to which agricultural management is linked to the extent and condition of those resources. We will use multivariate analysis to identify clusters of generic and specific issues relating to resilience within and between areas, thereby helping to highlight whether or not approaches to address impacts need to be area, region or UK specific.
A standard method will be used to characterise each case study area in terms of food system activities (e.g. food processing, retailing), food security (e.g. food availability and access), societal factors (e.g. social and cultural impact of livestock production).
Scenario analysis will be undertaken, integrating the above data and developing four rich scenarios to be explored with a range of stakeholders.
Planned Impact
This research addresses the critical factors affecting the resilience of beef and sheep production in upland regions of Scotland and Northern England. The way in which these producers can increase resilience in the face of uncertain environments and policy landscapes, and what are the possible consequences of these responses to the global and local food systems, and ecosystem services provided by upland regions.
Key beneficiaries of this research are individual farmers, environmental and food-related organisations, policy makers and local organisations promoting the wellbeing of the area. More specifically we have support from local enterprise agencies (York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Enterprise Partnership, and Highlands and Islands Enterprise have both indicated this project is aligned with their strategic objectives). This research will benefit these organisations by providing knowledge useful for strategy development, with full exploration of different responses to increasing resilience of hill farms and the interactions of these responses with other activities (both intended and unintended consequences, and trade-offs among consequences).
Our approach is to treat farmer participants in this research as collaborators rather than research subjects. We have support from a number of farmer networks e.g. Yorkshire Agricultural Society, Yorkshire Farmers Network and Scottish Crofting Federation as well as existing farming networks via XLVets and SAC Consulting. The benefits to farmers of this project is a fuller understanding of the options for increasing resilience, and potential impact of adopting specific practices. The range of upland areas being covered in this project should provide knowledge that will allow farmers in specific situations to develop bespoke responses.
We will also interact with wider food system organisations with our existing extensive networks and new relationships established during the project, though interviews, workshops, participation in scenario planning and membership of the Advisory Committee. These links will reach beyond farming communities to food processors and retailers (e.g. supporting letter from Quality Meat Scotland provided) and environmental organisations, both agencies and non-governmental organisations (e.g. supporting letter from Scottish Natural Heritage provided). This research will benefit these organisations by providing a fuller understanding of the interactions in the food system, and resilience metrics that can be used in their strategy development.
The public in these areas also have an interest in the outcome of livestock farming practices, as they affect livelyhoods, the environment, culture and potentially local food sources. They will be engaged through interviews, workshops, food sourcing survey and stories told about the cultural values associated with local livestock. Public events such as Open Farm Sunday and Countryside Days at county shows are also targets for communication with publics. A project website and the use of social media will enable stakeholders and publics stay abreast of project developments and progress. Benefits include being able to contribute to an understanding of the impacts that activity to increase resilience of beef cattle and sheep farmers may have on others, the values that local communities hold and ideas about desirable futures and how to get there.
Key beneficiaries of this research are individual farmers, environmental and food-related organisations, policy makers and local organisations promoting the wellbeing of the area. More specifically we have support from local enterprise agencies (York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Enterprise Partnership, and Highlands and Islands Enterprise have both indicated this project is aligned with their strategic objectives). This research will benefit these organisations by providing knowledge useful for strategy development, with full exploration of different responses to increasing resilience of hill farms and the interactions of these responses with other activities (both intended and unintended consequences, and trade-offs among consequences).
Our approach is to treat farmer participants in this research as collaborators rather than research subjects. We have support from a number of farmer networks e.g. Yorkshire Agricultural Society, Yorkshire Farmers Network and Scottish Crofting Federation as well as existing farming networks via XLVets and SAC Consulting. The benefits to farmers of this project is a fuller understanding of the options for increasing resilience, and potential impact of adopting specific practices. The range of upland areas being covered in this project should provide knowledge that will allow farmers in specific situations to develop bespoke responses.
We will also interact with wider food system organisations with our existing extensive networks and new relationships established during the project, though interviews, workshops, participation in scenario planning and membership of the Advisory Committee. These links will reach beyond farming communities to food processors and retailers (e.g. supporting letter from Quality Meat Scotland provided) and environmental organisations, both agencies and non-governmental organisations (e.g. supporting letter from Scottish Natural Heritage provided). This research will benefit these organisations by providing a fuller understanding of the interactions in the food system, and resilience metrics that can be used in their strategy development.
The public in these areas also have an interest in the outcome of livestock farming practices, as they affect livelyhoods, the environment, culture and potentially local food sources. They will be engaged through interviews, workshops, food sourcing survey and stories told about the cultural values associated with local livestock. Public events such as Open Farm Sunday and Countryside Days at county shows are also targets for communication with publics. A project website and the use of social media will enable stakeholders and publics stay abreast of project developments and progress. Benefits include being able to contribute to an understanding of the impacts that activity to increase resilience of beef cattle and sheep farmers may have on others, the values that local communities hold and ideas about desirable futures and how to get there.
Organisations
Publications
Shrestha, S.S.
(2021)
An economic assessment of ecological practices in Scotland
Shrestha S
(2020)
Financial Impacts of Liver Fluke on Livestock Farms Under Climate Change-A Farm Level Assessment.
in Frontiers in veterinary science
Rivero M
(2021)
Key traits for ruminant livestock across diverse production systems in the context of climate change: perspectives from a global platform of research farms
in Reproduction, Fertility and Development
Rega C
(2022)
Uptake of Ecological Farming Practices by EU Farms: A Pan-European Typology
in EuroChoices
Miller D
(2022)
Creating Conditions for Harnessing the Potential of Transitions to Agroecology in Europe and Requirements for Policy
in EuroChoices
Lomba A
(2019)
Back to the future: rethinking socioecological systems underlying high nature value farmlands
in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment
Barnes A
(2023)
Identifying best practice in Less Favoured Area mixed livestock systems
in Agricultural Systems
Barnes A
(2022)
The role of family life-cycle events on persistent and transient inefficiencies in less favoured areas
in Journal of Agricultural Economics
Barnes A
(2022)
Farmer intentional pathways for net zero carbon: Exploring the lock-in effects of forestry and renewables
in Land Use Policy
Barnes A
(2022)
Finding the ecological farmer: A farmer typology to understand ecological practice adoption within Europe
in Current Research in Environmental Sustainability
Barnes A
(2022)
European Farmer Perspectives and their Adoption of Ecological Practices
in EuroChoices
Description | The findings from the project with regard to the economic fragility of upland systems and their importance from a biodiversity conservation perspective are being highlighted in discussions around the development of future agricultural and environmental support policies and frameworks in Scotland. These policy developments are still ongoing so there is no impact to report directly as yet, but the involvement of staff from the project on key advisory panels is ensuring the issues are being raised. |
First Year Of Impact | 2022 |
Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment |
Impact Types | Policy & public services |
Description | Davy McCracken is a member of the Advisory Board of Wildlife Estates Scotland |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
URL | https://www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk/wildlife-estates-scotland |
Description | Davy McCracken is a memer of the Academic Advisory Panel providing advice to the group developing new agricultural support policy for Scotland |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Description | Davy McCracken was elected President of the UK Heather Trust |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Description | Farmer-led Hill, Upland & Crofting group providing recommendations to Scottish Government on Future Policy |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
URL | https://pure.sruc.ac.uk/en/activities/addressing-upland-agricultural-and-environmental-challenges-in... |
Description | Member of Scottish Government Academic Advisory Panel providing advice to Farming and Food Production Future Policy Group |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
URL | https://www.gov.scot/groups/farming-and-food-production-group/ |
Description | Participation in an advisory committee on food and climate change |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
URL | https://royalsociety.org/-/media/policy/projects/climate-change-science-solutions/climate-science-so... |
Description | ERA-NAT SuSan (Sustainable Animal Production) |
Amount | € 1,243,000 (EUR) |
Funding ID | SCF0205 |
Organisation | Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2017 |
End | 05/2020 |
Title | Measuring resilience in farm business survey |
Description | Using individual farm data in Scotland and England developing a measure of economic resilience using multiple financial and biophysical criteria. Written in STATA to elicit five states, from vulnerable, sustainable, viable, resilient and robust. This is used for understanding future interventions into agricultural support. |
Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Increased invitations to speak on resilience at the individual farm level and informs current work on Brexit impacts in Scotland. |
URL | https://econpapers.repec.org/paper/agseaa162/271954.htm |
Description | "Landscape 2021 conference. The conference was hosted by the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) with support from the German Research Foundation (DFG) and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin." |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Presentation of poster titled: "Agroforestry suitability in Caquetá, Colombia: analysis of geo-climate variables, deforestation rate and land use". While being at the poster presentation virtual room recieved some questions and requests for further interactions from the audience. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/Pressemitteilungen/Auftaktveranstaltung_Landscape2021.aspx |
Description | 'Livestock and ecological approaches: Solutions for Scottish farms' |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | There is an increasing interest in the role that ecological approaches play in livestock systems. With the Scottish Government considering options for future support within farming this was an event focused on livestock farming and the role that ecological approaches could play in the future. We discussed ongoing policy options, solutions and tools available that may support monitoring of benefits from these approaches. Engagment with nature based NGOs and policy helped to develop the dialogue around resilience of the scottish sector. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/livestock-and-ecological-approaches-solutions-for-scottish-farms-tick... |
Description | A video fly-through of the upland part of the farms at the 2022 Highland Show |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Part of SRUC's display as the Highland Show featured a short fly-through of the upper parts of the farm with narration that explained how and why we have increased treee numbers, restored peatlands and what research is ongoing ot measure the benefits of doing so. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://youtu.be/JVRP4xMU7wU |
Description | Addressing upland agricultural and environmental challenges |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | October 2020, online: Presentation on Addressing upland agricultural and environmental challenges to delegates attending the CIEEM [Professional Body for Ecologists & Environmental Managers] Scottish conference focussed on Land use in Scotland: changes, challenges and solutions. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://pure.sruc.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/34256863/McCracken_CIEEM_27_October_2020.pdf |
Description | Addressing upland agricultural and environmental challenges in Scotland |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | September 2020, online: Presentation on Addressing upland agricultural and environmental challenges in Scotland at the online Environmental Platform Wales conference which had a focus on Resilience in the Welsh uplands. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | An online presentation on "Scottish agricultural policy: keeping conditional direct payments in the mix" |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Steven Thomson, Andrew Moxey and Davy McCracken will give an online presentation on "Scottish agricultural policy: keeping conditional direct payments in the mix" on Friday 21st January 2022 at the joint Defra and Agricultural Economics Society conference focussed on The Future of Farming Across the UK |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Barriers to agricultural productivity growth in Scotland |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | This was a talk presented as part of a change in Government agenda towards productivity and growth - The audience included international experts and included economists from USDA, OECD and major European universities. The presentation led to further enquiries from international agencies for follow up talks. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.aes.ac.uk/events_more.asp?eventID=162&page=1 |
Description | Burren Winterage Conference, Ireland |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Davy McCracken spoke about "The need for innovation in hill farming systems" at the Burren Winterage conference in the west of Ireland on 26th - 28th October. The focus of the event this year was "Community-inspired innovation for sustainable farming systems": |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://www.burrenwinterage.com/ |
Description | COP26 and the future of farming in the Scottish uplands (video). |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Preparation of video highlighting relevance of COP26 to the future of farming in the Scottish uplands |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohpLhhs4zMU |
Description | Cancelled due to Death of Monarch: Visit to the farms by members of the Scottish Parliament's Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Members of the Committee toured the lower part of the farms and engaged in discussions with Davy McCracken and John Holland about the wide range of research ongoig at the site. They were particularly interested in biodiversity and wider environmental considerations and how these could be incorporated into the new agricultural support policy being developd in Scotland. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Climate change in agriculture and rewilding [podcast] |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | June 2020, online: Interview and discussion on the topic of Climate change in agriculture and rewilding in a podcast recorded by the Farming for a Better Climate initiative |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://audioboom.com/posts/7598101-climate-change-in-agriculture-rewilding |
Description | Climate measures must not damage farm biodiversity |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | McCracken, D. 2021. Climate measures must not damage farm biodiversity. Press & Journal, 2nd October 2021 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-press-and-journal-inverness-highlands-and-islands/20211002/282389... |
Description | Delivering benefits for public on farms can be a win-win |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | McCracken, D. 2020 Delivering benefits for public on farms can be a win-win. Press & Journal, 14thDecember 2020 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.ruralbrexit.scot/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/McCracken-Dec-2020-Delivering-benefits-for-p... |
Description | Developing Young Workforce Rural Skills Day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | This day - aimed at secondary school pupils - was organised by Davy McCracken and John Robertson (Perth & Kinross DYW) under the Developing the Young Workforce Initiative. 35 pupils from two schools (Breadalbane and Crieff) attended Kirkton & Auchtertyre farms on 30th May 2019 between 1000 and 1400 and rotated around 10 'stands' featuring SRUC and external colleagues. Originally 100+ pupils were booked to attend by others schools pulled out (largely due to teacher shortages) in the week running up to the event. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Developing Young Workforce Rural Skills Day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | This day - aimed at secondary school pupils - was organised by Davy McCracken and John Robertson (Perth & Kinross DYW) under the Developing the Young Workforce Initiative. 75 pupils from three schools (Breadalbane, Crieff and Tarbet) attended Kirkton & Auchtertyre farms on 28th May between 1000 and 1400 and were rotated around 10 'stands' featuring SRUC and external colleagues. BBC Alba attended to film aspects of the event. More info at: https://www.sruc.ac.uk/news/article/2125/rural_skills_on_display_at_kirkton_andamp_auchtertyre |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.sruc.ac.uk/news/article/2125/rural_skills_on_display_at_kirkton_andamp_auchtertyre |
Description | Farming in the uplands: opportunities for carbon and biodiversity presentation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | In November 2021, Davy McCracken and John Holland gave a combined presentation on Farming in the uplands: opportunities for carbon and biodiversity at an online webinar focussed on Future Farm Resilience organised by SAC Consulting and Defra |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://pure.sruc.ac.uk/en/activities/farming-in-the-uplands-opportunities-for-carbon-and-farming |
Description | Farming must be part of the climate change solution: what does the IPCC report mean for Scotland's producers |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | McCracken, D. 2021. Farming must be part of the climate change solution: what does the IPCC report mean for Scotland's producers. SRUC Rural Policy Centre Blog, 11th August 2021. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.sruc.ac.uk/all-news/farming-must-be-part-of-the-climate-change-solution/ |
Description | Futureproofing hill farming - x3 workshops |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Davy McCracken helped facilitate three one-day workshop organised by Davy in association with NFUS, Soil Association Scotland and the Rural Innovation Support Service. There were three of these meetings (in Dingwall - 19th February 2019, Lockerbie - 8th March 2019 and Pitlochry - 19th March 2019) each aimed at helping hill farmers identify and address local issues impacting on economic viability. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.ruralnetwork.scot/news-and-events/news/future-proof-your-hill-farm |
Description | Galloway Land Use workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Galloway Land Use workshop: Davy McCracken chaired and spoke at a Land Use Workshop in Castle Douglas on 19th June organised by the Rural Policy Centre. Other SRUC speakers were Steven Thomson, Bob Rees and Dave Roberts. Jane Atterton and Rob McMorran also helped guide workshops. Presentations and outputs are available here: https://www.sruc.ac.uk/info/120403/rpc_events/1962/future_land_use_in_the_south_of_scotland |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.sruc.ac.uk/info/120403/rpc_events/1962/future_land_use_in_the_south_of_scotland |
Description | High Nature Value (HNV) farming: a rich diversity of systems |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | November 2020, online: Presentation on High Nature Value (HNV) farming: a rich diversity of systems to delegates attending the Diversity session of the Wales Real Food & Farming Conference 2020 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2E6hPO1CF8 |
Description | Hill farming meetings x2 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Davy McCracken and Claire Morgan-Davies both spoke at two hill farming meetings (at Barr Farm, Sanquhar on Tuesday 26th November; at Dollarbank Farm, Dollar on Wednesday 4th December 2019) Both meetings were organised by SAC Consulting colleagues in Ayr and Lanark offices. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | International Mountain Day 2019 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | SRUC prepared a suite of videos recorded at Kirkton & Auchtertyre for release on social media on 11th December 2019 - International Mountain Day - to highlight the research, education and demonstration resources that SRUC has. The videos feature Davy McCracken, Jan Connell and Agriculture students from SRUC Riverside on a visit to the farms earlier in the winter. The three separate videos can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdmL4C3JN_A and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EDlAsmJigo and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ivDjrWIvRg |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Interview for BBC Alba An La news programme |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | MacKenzie, S., Campbell, E. & McCracken, D. 2023. SRUC's 10 year anniversary and how the research at Kirkton farm has and will change. BBC Alba An La news programme, 10th January 2023 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://twitter.com/i/status/1620031660992372736 |
Description | Interview for BBC Alba An La news programme - peatland |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | MacKenzie, S., Banks, J. & McCracken, D. 2023. Cùrsa measaidh nam monaidhean: Moorland assessment course BBC Alba An La news programme, 2nd February 2023 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnaidheachdan%2Ffbh%2F64504244%3Ffbclid%... |
Description | Interview for BBC Radio 4 Farming Today |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Baynes, R., Banks, J. & McCracken, D. 2023. Scotland's first course in peatland restoration. BBC Radio 4 Farming Today, 9th February 2023 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001hxc6 |
Description | Invited talk to the Royal Dublin Society as part of their policy targets to increase organic area |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | An invited talk at the Royal Dublin Society and their Climate-Smart Agriculture Series. The talk followed the EU secretary for Organics and the Irish Minister for Land and Biodiversity. This was a live-online event and around 600 farmers and stakeholders had signed up for the event. This raised the profile of organic farm conversion in Ireland, which has a target to increase organic land coverage. The debate covered numerous aspects and concerns of organic farming and the talk helped to understand the main barriers to adoption. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOtX7cf7ynU |
Description | Irish Uplands Forum |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Irish Uplands Forum: Davy McCracken will speak at the Irish Uplands Forum Conference entitled "Innovation and Partnerships in the Uplands" which will be held in the west of Ireland on 4th and 5th October. Davy will speak about "Delivering public goods from the Scottish uplands": |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Liverfluke and climate change are a toxic combination |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | An output from the project is the role of climate change affecting resilience in low income upland farmers. This is manifested through liverfluke and the blog draw industry attention to this and the consequent economic impacts. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://upland-resilience.org/liverfluke-and-climate-change-are-a-toxic-combination/ |
Description | McCracken, D. 2022. Does burning the heather do more harm than good? Press & Journal, 3rd December 2022 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | McCracken, D. 2022. Does burning the heather do more harm than good? Press & Journal, 3rd December 2022 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://pressreader.com/article/283034058601713 |
Description | McCracken, D. 2023. Knowledge flourishes across world for SRUC. Press & Journal, 31st January 2023 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | McCracken, D. 2023. Knowledge flourishes across world for SRUC. Press & Journal, 31st January 2023 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.pressreader.com/similar/282029036369734 |
Description | Monthly articles in farming pages of national newspaper (The Press & Journal) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | The webpages provide a brief overview of aspects of SRUC's upland research and demonstration work, primarily drawn from short articles aimed at farmers and land managers in the farming press by Davy McCracken, Head of the Hill & Mountain Research Centre. The articles are divided into four themes: Improving Upland Agricultural Productivity; Environmental Resilience; Policy; Science Education |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018,2019,2020 |
URL | https://www.ruralbrexit.scot/innovation-in-upland-livestock-systems-srucs-hill-mountain-research-cen... |
Description | Multiple visits to the SRUC farms where the rationale for the research was discussed [Sept 2022 - Feb 2023] |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | • Harper Adams connections: Nicola Lambe, John Holland and Davy McCracken hosted a visit to the farms by final year Agriculture students on Wednesday 22nd February 2023. These students undertake a tour of Scotland every year [this was their first since 2019] and end the tour at the farms to hear about and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing hill farming systems, and especially the role that technology can play in addressing those challenges. • Northern Ireland connections: Ewen Campbell, John Holland, Nicola Lambe, Claire Morgan-Davies, Ailsa Thomson and Davy McCracken hosted a five hour visit to the farms on Wednesday 15th February 2023 by two colleagues from CAFRE [College of Agriculture, Food & Rural Enterprise] and 14 progressive sheep farmers from Northern Ireland. This followed on from a visit in September 2022 by farmers on Northern Ireland's Sheep Improvement Programme and is also likely to result in a visit by students from CAFRE later in 2023. • SRUC student connections I: Nicola Lambe, Claire Morgan-Davies and John Holland hosted a visit to the farms on Monday 31st October 2022 by Honours students from SRUC Barony campus as part of a module on "Animals contribution to climate change" • SRUC student connections: John Holland and Davy McCracken hosted a visit to the farms on Tuesday 18th October 2022 by SRUC colleagues from Barony, Edinburgh and Aberdeen campuses and a group of Wildlife & Conservation Management students drawn from the three Faculties. • SRUC student connections: Ann McLaren hosted a visit to the farms on Monday 10th October 2022 by Craig Davidson and a group of agriculture students from SRUC Central Faculty. This is an annual visit to provide students with the opportunity to get hands-on practical experience of handling sheep, especially tups undergoing a health check in advance of their use for mating later in November. • SAC Consulting connections: John Holland, Nicola Lambe and Davy McCracken hosted a visit to the farms on Thursday 6th October 2022 by 35+ farmers and students interested in grazing management practices and who are attending the last in a series of workshops organised by Poppy Frater as part of her Graze Debate 2022 project • SRUC student connections: Ann McLaren, John Holland, Nicola Lambe and Davy McCracken hosted a visit to the farms on Monday 3rd to Wednesday 5th October 2022 by a group of HND Agriculture students from SRUC's Oatridge campus. The focus of their visit and discussions is on pasture management and they will stay in the wigwams for two nights. • Northern Ireland connections: Claire Morgan-Davies, John Holland and Davy McCracken hosted a visit to the farms on Wednesday 28th September 2022 by colleagues from Northern Ireland who are members of the Northern Ireland Sheep Programme (NISP) - this is a joint programme with DAERE, CAFRE, Irish farmers journal and Dunbia, and involves a group of progressive sheep farmers from hill, upland and lowland systems looking at all aspects of their system to improve efficiency & profitability. Their visit to the farms is the first of a three day programme of visits to farms in Scotland, access to some of which has been facilitated by Claire. • New Zealand connections: John Holland and Claire Morgan-Davies hosted a meeting to the farms on Friday 16th September 2022 by Tom Maxwell (Lecturer in Pasture Science at Lincoln University) and Bryan Thompson (who works in AgResearch's Invermay Farm Systems and Reproduction team) who is conducting a part-time PhD - with Tom as one of his supervisors - focussed on wearable digital technology as a tool to capture grazing/foraging behaviours of farmed red deer. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
Description | NSA Breakfast Club - Is shabby the new chic? An exploration of nature recovery on sheep farms (webinar) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Participation in National Sheep Association Breakfast Club webinar and presentation and discussion of nature recovery work on the farms |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.nationalsheep.org.uk/webinars/nsa-breakfast-club-is-shabby-the-new-chic-an-exploration-o... |
Description | Nature-based solutions presentation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | In December 2021 Davy McCracken gave a presentation on Nature based solutions at an online webinar focussed on Reflections on the Glasgow COP26 conference and negotiations organised by European Agricultural Research Initiative [EurAgri]; |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://pure.sruc.ac.uk/en/activities/nature-based-solutions |
Description | New flock technology is worth training support |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | McCracken, D. 2020 New flock technology is worth training support. Press & Journal, 26th September 2020. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.ruralbrexit.scot/downloads/new-flock-technology-is-worth-training-support/ |
Description | Ohio State University visit |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | 36 students from the Department of Animal Sciences at The Ohio State University visited SRUC's upland research and demonstration farms on the morning of 13th March 2019. Their course focuses on small ruminant production, research, animal welfare, agro-tourism, and animal health and they were on a Scotland-wide tour. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Organised workshop with academics discussion on the prospects for uptake of more ecological farming approaches |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Organized workshop on uptake of ecological approaches within farming against the EU farm to fork ambitions, speakers from a number of European countries presented to an international audience. Chaired by SRUC and one of the papers presented by SRUC. The workshop allowed debate from across Europe in terms of the creation of value chains which recognise ecological approaches, and the overall policy implications of switching to more ecological farming |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Participation in High Nature Value farmland webinar |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | McCracken, D. 2023. High Nature Value farmland: the wider European context (webinar). High Nature Value farmland: the key to a nature rich future in Scotland?, 31st January 2023 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uysRNH_48m8 |
Description | Paying for Change [Podcast] |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | December 2020, online: Interview and discussion on the topic of Paying for Change in a podcast recorded by the Changing Climate, Changing Food initiative |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://audioboom.com/posts/7751864-paying-for-change |
Description | Perthshire agricultural discussion group |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | The Hill & Mountain Research Centre hosted a visit to Kirkton & Auchtertyre farms on the morning of 23rd May 2018 by members of this discussion group who were on a fact-finding tour of the west Highlands. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Presentation and discussion to farmer workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | January 2023, Northumberland: Presentation and discussion on Improving biodiversity on a hill farm to attendees at workshop organised by SAC Consulting and Northumberland National Park focussed on Farming in Protected Landscapes |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Presentation of Results project findings at a stakeholder event organised by Andrew Barnes and focussed on "Livestock and ecological approaches: Solutions for Scottish farms" |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Davy McCracken, John Holland, Claire Morgan-Davies gave presentations on findings from the Results project on Monday 24th January at an in-person stakeholder event in central Edinburgh organised by Andrew Barnes focussed on "Livestock and ecological approaches: Solutions for Scottish farms". |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://pure.sruc.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/45026137/McCracken_Policy_and_Transitions_Jan_2022.pdf |
Description | Presentation to Defra staff |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Davy McCracken gave a presentation on" Challenges and opportunities in Scottish hill farming" to c. 50 colleagues in Defra in London on the afternoon of 16th November 2017 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Presentation to Defra staff |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Andrew Barnes provided a presentation on "Using the Farm Business Survey to understand economic resilience within farming" |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Presentation to policy on Clean Growth and development of agricultural policy |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | This was a discussion and presentation for lessons in how to learn lessons from the Defra project Clean growth for sustainable intensification' to member involved in the roll out of Scotland national test programme. Outlined findings and methodologies that would apply to develop Scottish agricultural policy and engage stakeholders. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Press article: Scottish soils research attracts global interest |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Topic formed the focus of the regular column in the Press & Journal authored by Davy McCracken and highlighted two international visits ot the farms - one by Deputy Minister of Agriculture from China and one by attendees at World Congress on Soil Science. In addition to questions and discussions on each visit, the article also sparked questions and discussions when shared on social media. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/business/farming/4626709/davy-mccracken-scottish-soils-research... |
Description | Reducing our carbon footprint [podcast] |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | December 2020, online: Interview and discussion on the topic of Reducing our carbon footprint in a podcast recorded by the Changing Climate, Changing Food initiative. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://audioboom.com/posts/7741480-reducing-our-carbon-footprint |
Description | Regenerative agriculture matters but let's not forget about High Nature Value farming systems |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | McCracken, D. 2022. Regenerative agriculture matters but let's not forget about High Nature Value farming systems. Press & Journal, 19th January 2022 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/business/farming/3856683/davy-mccracken-regenerative-agricultur... |
Description | Rewilding the uplands: balancing production and conservation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | January 2021, online: Presentation and discussion on Rewilding the uplands: balancing production and conservation to attendees at an online workshop organised by Aberdeen Climate Action with a focus on Rewilding |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://pure.sruc.ac.uk/files/34436371/McCracken_Rewilding_Workshop_5_Jan_2021.pdf |
Description | Rural Futures conference, Edinburgh |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Davy McCracken provided a presentation on "Hill farming in Scotland: a fragile farming system?" to attendees at Teagasc-SRUC conference in Edinburgh focussed on "Rural Futures: Adaptation to challenges faced by Scotland's and Ireland's Rural Communities" |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.sruc.ac.uk/news/article/2036/change_dominates_discussion_at_sructeagasc_rural_futures_co... |
Description | ScotSheep |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | ScotSheep:: Hill & Mountain Research Centre staff ran the SRUC stand - together with colleagues from SAC Consulting, SRUC Education and SRUC Communications - at this event held in Ballantrae on Wednesday 30th May |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Scotland's natural economy: putting rural areas at the forefront of green recovery |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Preapration of a Rural Policy Centre Spotlight briefing |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.sruc.ac.uk/media/d24pphw0/rpc-policy-spotlight-scotland-s-natural-economy.pdf |
Description | Seminar to Defra statisticians on measuring resilence |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | A presentation on the use of farm business survey data for measuring resilience in agri food systems. An audience of around 40 attended consisting of statisticians, academics and consultants. This raised the agenda on resiliance thinking within the audience normally concerned with measurement of incomes and farm business management indicators. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Supporting agriculture in Scotland post-Brexit [Podcast] |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | January 2021, online: Interview and discussion on the topic of Supporting agriculture in Scotland post-Brexit in a podcast recorded by the Farm Advisory Service |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://audioboom.com/posts/7752715-supporting-agriculture-in-scotland-post-brexit |
Description | SusShep Project meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | SusShep Project meeting:: A project meeting of the partners involved in this ERA-Net funded project took place in Crianlarich on Tuesday 5th June and Claire Morgan-Davies of HMRC arranged for the collaborators to visit Kirkton & Auchtertyre farms on 6th June to hear about the range of research and demonstration ongoing at the farms |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Sustainabilityof livestock systems |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Claire Morgan-Davies and Davy McCracken ran a stakeholder-oriented workshop in Fort William on 22nd March 2018 to seek attendees views on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats facing livestock systems in the Highlands & Islands. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | The Thrill of the Hill: Research and Demonstration [Podcast] |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | January 2021, online: Interview and discussion on the topic of The Thrill of the Hill: Research and Demonstration in a podcast recorded by the Farm Advisory Service. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://audioboom.com/posts/7751837-the-thrill-of-the-hill-research-policy |
Description | The benefit of agri-environment management at Kirkton & Auchtertyre farms [Podcast] |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | April 2019, online: Interview and discussion on the topic of The benefit of agri-environment management at Kirkton & Auchtertyre farms in a podcast recorded by the Farm Advisory Service. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.fas.scot/publication/the-benefits-of-agri-environment-management-at-kirkton-auchtertyre-... |
Description | The future of the uplands |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Davy McCracken gave a presentation (co-authored by Steven Thomson of LEES) on The uplands of Scotland: where are we and where are we going at a two-day workshop on The Future of the Uplands organised by Bangor University in Birmingham on 8th-9th May 2018. Organisation of the event was part-funded by the Welsh National Research Network for Low Carbon Energy and the Environment. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | University of Montana |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | University of Montana: Davy McCracken and John Holland hosted a visit to Kirkton & Auchtertyre farms on the morning of Tuesday 15th May by 40+ students from University of Montana, on a fact-finding visit to SRUC facilitated by Cesar Revoredo of LEES [they spent Monday 14th at SRUC Edinburgh. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Upland Conversation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Davy McCracken spoke at this event held at Martin Kennedy's (NFUS vice-chair) farm in Perthshire on 21st March. This was the first of seven events organised by the Heather Trust across the UK seeking to get discussions going about the future of upland land management. Davy sponsored this first event as per the wider series of workshops with a focus on fragility of hill farming. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/business/farming/farming-news/855080/common-voice-needed-for-hill-fa... |
Description | Upland environmental challenges |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | In October 2021, Davy McCracken gave a presentation on Upland environmental challenges at a roundtable organised by Spire Global and SRUC focussed on Climate change and the need for environmental monitoring; |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://pure.sruc.ac.uk/en/activities/upland-environmental-challenges |
Description | Visit to the farms by attendees at the World Congress on Soil Science |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | A separate newspapaer article provides an overview of this engagement: https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/business/farming/4626709/davy-mccracken-scottish-soils-research-attracts-global-interest/ |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/business/farming/4626709/davy-mccracken-scottish-soils-research... |
Description | Visit to the farms by the Deputy Minister for Agriculture from the People's Republic of China |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | A separate newspaper article included in this list of engagements provides further information: https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/business/farming/4626709/davy-mccracken-scottish-soils-research-attracts-global-interest/ |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/business/farming/4626709/davy-mccracken-scottish-soils-research... |
Description | We have a biodiversity crisis and just seven years to fix it |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | McCracken, D. 2023. We have a biodiversity crisis and only seven years to fix it. The Courier & Advertiser, 25th February 2023 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.muckrack.com/portfolio/items/18587515/McCracken_Feb_2023_The_Courier.... |
Description | Wedinar for upland farmers: The role of upland farming in food system resilience - economic analysis and discussion |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | An evening workishop with upland farmers from the regions affected by the projects - North Yorkshire and Scotland. The results were presented and discussed with farmers in term so real world findigs and constraints to enabling greater economic resiliance. This created a community engaged in the process and informed furthe analysis of future scenarios |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Why are some upland farms more financially resilient than others? |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | This was a blog on the financial viability of upland farms with a view to identifying characteristics of disadvantage that make farms more or less vulnerable. The findings identified the viability of upland farmers and opened the debate to why some farms, even in challenged environments, are still more viable than others. This led to discussion with the Scottish Government towards the importance of rural remoteness in dictating access to technology and information to support efficiency. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | http://upland-resilience.org/why-are-some-upland-farms-more-financially-resilient-than-others/ |
Description | Workshops for participating farmers to feedback results x2 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | Two online evening workshops arranged to feedback initial findings from the RESULTS projects to participating farmers and crofters and answer questions from them on these. Held by zoom 1st Feb and 3rd Feb 2021 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Workshops in London |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Workshops in London: Davy McCracken, Jane Atterton, Steven Thomson and Wayne Powell spoke at an event in the Lords on the morning of 4th July and at a longer workshop in Defra that afternoon. Both events were brokered by SRUC to help raise awareness of challenges and opportunities facing agriculture, the environment and communities in Scotland and how these are similar or different from elsewhere in the UK. More information here: https://www.sruc.ac.uk/news/article/2190/post-brexit_discussions_in_london |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |