SEFARI: leading ideas for better lives

"SEFARI is developing ways to align the right research and expertise with those who need it – whether policy, business or individuals"

Businesses, charities, communities and policy-makers will benefit from easier access to environmental and agricultural research carried out in Scotland, thanks to a collective launched today.

The collective – called Scottish Environment, Food and Agriculture Research Institutes (SEFARI) – will work across 6 of Scotland’s research institutes to improve the availability of information on, and connections between, areas such as the environment, land, food, agriculture and rural communities.

SEFARI will make the links between researchers and information users through innovative events, conferences and key conversations to promote and utilise research findings. 

Examples of relevant work include the latest information on how improving animal health can result in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from livestock; the role peatland plays in releasing stored carbon into the atmosphere; and understanding the trade-offs and challenges in achieving both a healthy diet, and less greenhouse gas emissions. 

From the perspective of Castlelaw Hill Fort, Ms Cunningham said: “SEFARI is developing ways to align the right research and expertise with those who need it – whether policy, business or individuals – this a powerful change that can offer insight and value to a range of people.

“I am proud that Scotland has our own world-leading research capacity and I look forward to seeing increasing impact from Scottish Government investment in research, delivering clear results on complex issues such as climate change and food security, and economic returns for the country”. 

Professor Peter Morgan, Executive Chairman of SEFARI stated: “There is immense strength in this collective of research expertise, and with SEFARI we have made moves to ensure this is further enhanced. Our belief is that this collective can deliver Leading Ideas for Better Lives which means that our research can make a material positive difference to the lives of people in Scotland and beyond”.

Graeme Cook, Director of SEFARI’s Knowledge Exchange and Impact activities said: “There is great strength in publicly funded research in Scotland, but SEFARI has a critical role in ensuring that this research is better used where and when it can have the greatest impact. This might be with policy makers, businesses or relating to individual choices and we are committed to working in partnership, at home and elsewhere, to deliver these aims”.

Notes to editors

SEFARI stands for Scottish Environment, Food and Agriculture Research Institutes.

The Cabinet Secretary was accompanied by experts from SEFARI, who helped interpret the landscape from Castlelaw Hill Fort (a Historic Environment Scotland property), particularly relating to climate change – a key Scottish Government priority.

The Scottish Government funds the five-year £250m Strategic Research Programme across food, land, agriculture and environment. This research spans a vast array, including plant and animal health, ecology, farming practice, soils, crops, biodiversity, water management, resilience of communities, nutrition and individual food choices.

SEFARI comprises:

• Moredun Research Institute;
• Scotland’s Rural College;
• The James Hutton Institute;
• Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh;
• Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland; and
• The Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen.

The SEFARI Centre for Knowledge Exchange & Impact is the vehicle through which enhanced Knowledge Exchange and Impact is delivered.