vibrant communities

 Learning and Change Through Monitor Farms

This research explores principles underlying learning and change in relation to facilitated peer-to-peer learning opportunities, such as Monitor Farms. In this work we reflect on features associated with successful on-farm demonstration events by focussing on three key areas, which allow us to look in detail at how and why farmers might implement new innovations and practices. These are: conducting soil assessment as an example of best practice; working together in innovative ways; and opportunities associated with different host farms and farmers. This research has being undertaken as part of EU H2020 ‘PLAID’ project (Peer-to-peer Learning: Accessing Innovation through Demonstration) (2017-2019), the Scottish Government Environment, Agriculture and Food Strategic Research Programme (2016-21), and in association with EU H2020‘NEFERTITI’ project (Networking European Farms to Enhance Cross Fertilisation and Innovation Uptake Through demonstration) (2018-21).

Co-operation and Co-operatives in Scottish Agriculture

Co-operative enterprises are not well understood in Scotland or the wider UK, despite their long history as a business model founded in principles of co-operation and shared economic benefits. This project was commissioned by SAOS (the Scottish Agriculture Organisation Society) in association with SEFARI Gateway to improve understanding of the value of co-operatives in Scotland in terms of their contribution to the agriculture sector and related supply chains; and their potential to generate economic and social benefits for those involved and the communities they are based. The findings will contribute towards these organisations’ aims to support a more productive, sustainable, competitive, and market-oriented industry. The project is being undertaken as a collaborative fellowship with Caroline Whitfield at SRUC (2020-21).

Adding value through agritourism at Glensaugh Farm

This project is a scoping study (2020-21) which aims to accumulate understanding of what Glensaugh farm has to offer consumers, tourists and other visitors by building on its ‘story’, past, present and future. The aim is to add value to the Climate-Positive Farming Initiative – which itself marks a significant moment in the Glensaugh story – by accumulating knowledge, experiences, and ideas relating to sustainable and sensitive agritourism and other product development. A range of voices representing the farm, research, history, and local area are being included and we envisage that those involved will have ongoing vested interest in the outcomes, in terms of product development and/or collaborative relations.

In a second phase of the project (2021-22), research will be undertaken in the Scottish Government Environment, Agriculture and Food Strategic Research Programme to investigate the consumer perspective, including demand for different types of agritourism across Scotland. This work will support sectoral development in Scottish agritourism though new understanding of the products and markets that make the sector unique, and the ways that agritourism providers can add value through interaction with farmers, farming environments, processes, and produce.  

Mountain Valorization through Interconnectedness and Green Growth (MOVING)

MOVING aims to build capacities and co-develop policy frameworks across Europe for the establishment of new or upgraded and upscaled value chains, contributing to resilience and sustainability of mountain areas, valorising local assets, and delivering private and public goods. Working with partners across Europe in this Horizon 2020-funded project, I am part of the Hutton team responsible for delivery of Work Package 4 (Participatory appraisal of vulnerability and performance of value chains).