Research
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).
Past research
Collaboration in machinery rings
This project explored machinery rings as a form of agricultural cooperative, which have emerged and evolved into large collaborative institutions since they were introduced in Scotland in the late 1980s. This formed part of a wider investigation of transitions in agriculture being undertaken in the EU FP7 FarmPath (Farming Transitions: Pathways towards regional sustainability of agriculture in Europe) project (2011-2014) and RESAS Environmental Change: Land Use research theme (2011-2016).
Developing social capital and reciprocity in agritourism communities
This project explored various aspects of social capital development and capital conversion towards understanding the role of social learning groups in supporting small businesses and the people behind them. This formed part of the RESAS Environmental Change: Economic Adaptation research theme (2011-2016).
Developing and applying a framework for agritourism
My PhD project first sought to enhance conceptual understanding of agritourism through development of a theoretical typology, which I then applied in Scotland to explore what drives different types of agritourism and how that can help to understand the public and private benefits generated. This project was funded by The Macaulay Development Trust (2008-2011).
Exploring economic and legislative aspects of deer management
This project included investigation of collaborative practices, venison production, and legislation to better understand the drivers and barriers affecting deer management in the UK. This research was undertaken as part of the RELU Collaborative frameworks in land management project (2006-2009).
Publications
Journals
- Sutherland, L-A.; Burton, R.J.F.; Adamson-Fiskovica, A.; Hardy, C.; Elzen, B.; Debruyne, L.; Flanigan, S. (2021) The Inclusivity of On-farm Demonstration: gender, age and geographical factors, The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 27, 591-613
- Adamsone-Fiskovica, A.; Grivins, M.; Burton, R.J.F.; Elzen, B.; Flanigan, S.; Frick, R; Hardy, C. (2021) Disentangling critical success factors and principles of on-farm agricultural demonstration events., The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 27, 639-656
- Lamie, R.D.; Chase, L.; Chiodo, E.; Dickes, L. Flanigan, S.; Schmidt, C.; Streifeneder, T. (2021) Agritourism around the globe: Definitions, authenticity, and potential controversy, Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 10(2), 573-577
- Flanigan, S.; Sutherland, L-A. (2016) Buying access to social capital? From collaboration to service provision in an agricultural co-operative., Sociologia Ruralis, 56, 471-490.
- Flanigan, S.; Blackstock, K.L.; Hunter, C. (2015) Generating public and private benefits through understanding what drives different types of agritourism., Journal of Rural Studies, 41, 129-141.
- Flanigan, S.; Blackstock, K.L.; Hunter, C. (2014) Agritourism from the perspective of providers and visitors: a typology-based investigation., Tourism Management, 40, 394-405.
- Phillip, S.; Hunter, C.; Blackstock, K.L. (2010) A typology for defining agritourism., Tourism Management, 31, 754-758.
- MacMillan, D.C.; Phillip, S. (2010) Can economic incentives resolve conservation conflict: The case of wild deer management and habitat conservation in the Scottish Highlands., Human Ecology, 38, 485-493.
- Phillip, S.; Dandy, N.; Gill, R.; MacMillan, D.C. (2009) Is legislation a barrier to the sustainable management of game species? A case study of wild deer in Britain., Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 52, 993-1012.
- MacMillan, D.C.; Phillip, S. (2008) Consumptive and non-consumptive values of wild mammals in Britain., Mammal Review, 38, 189-204.
- Phillip, S.; MacMillan, D.C. (2008) Car park charging in the Cairngorms National Park., Scottish Geographical Journal, 122, 204-222.
Books / chapters
- Schiller, S.; Gonzalez, C.; Flanigan, S. (2015) More than just a factor in transition processes? The role of collaboration in agriculture., In: Sutherland, L-A., Darnhofer, I., Wilson G. A. & Zagata, L. (eds.). Transition Pathways towards Sustainability in Agriculture: Case Studies from Europe. CABI, Wallingford, Chapter 6, pp83-96.
Technical / contract reports
- Blackstock, K.; Flanigan, S.; Creaney, R.; Matthews, K.; Hopkins, J.; Miller, D.; Chabdu, A.; Bacigalupo, A.; Thompson, C. (2022) D43 Participatory value chain analysis: Report on the structure and valorisation of 23 mountain value chains across Europe, including evaluation of telecoupling, assemblage, and enabling institutions and infrastructure, MOVING external website and on Hutton MOVING webpage.
- Hopkins, J.; McKee, A.; Flanigan, S.; Barlagne, C.; Somervail, P. (2022) Scottish Farmers Intentions to Develop Agritourism ,
- Somervail, P.; Flanigan, S.; McKee, A.; Hopkins, J. (2022) Agritourism in Scotland a review of literature, current context, and trajectory ,
- Creaney, R.; Blackstock, K.; Hopkins, J.; Flanigan, S. (2022) First Stakeholder Advisory Group Meeting Report,
- Creaney, R.; Blackstock, K.; Hopkins, J.; Flanigan, S. (2021) First Stakeholder Advisory Group Meeting Report, MOVING, The James Hutton Institute, 12pp.
- Blackstock, K.; Flanigan, S.; (2021) List of selected value chains and relationship building., H2020 MOVING (D4.2)
- Flanigan, S.; Hardy, C. (2021) Learning and Change Through Monitor Farms – Summary report, The James Hutton Institute
- Flanigan, S.; Hardy, C. (2021) Learning and Change Through Monitor Farms – Final report, The James Hutton Institute
- Kuhfuss, L.; Piras, S.; Flanigan, S.; Hawes, C.; Begg, G. (2019) Pro-environmental practices among farmers at a landscape scale: why and how? An interdisciplinary review of the literature., Report for RESAS (143b, deliverable D6), Interdisciplinary Review of Existing Landscape Scale Interventions Delivering multiple Benefits, 37pp.
- Sutherland, L-A.; Flanigan, S.; Brinks, H.; Kleshcheva, E.; Micheloni, C. (2018) WP3 Synthesis Report with supra-regional summaries., PLAID, EU Deliverable Report 3.4, Month 19, 32pp.
- Flanigan, S.; Matthews, K.B. (2013) Planning to succeed agritourism (2011-2014). Mid-programme evaluation., Report to Scottish Enterprise, June 2013.
- Matthews, K.B.; Artz, R.R.E.; Birch, A.N.E.; Blackstock, K.L.; Brooker, R.; Brown, I.; Cummins, R.; Flanigan, S.; Hallet, P.; Irvine, R.J.; Kenyon, W.; Pakeman, R.J., Prager, K.; Slee, B.; Squire, G.; Stutter, M.; Sutherland, L.; Thomson, K.; Towers, W.; Vinten, A.J.A. (2012) Developing agri-environmental measures for the next Scottish Rural Development Programme: a summary of relevant research findings from the James Hutton Institute., Report to the Scottish Government, Natural Resources Division, SRDP Technical Working Group (Agri-Environment), 11pp, 25 June 2012.
- Flanigan, S.; Holstead, K.L. (2012) Results of focus group discussions to explore members’ perceptions of machinery rings in relation to change, collaboration and sustainability., Report to Borders Machinery Ring (BMR): Summary of findings for machinery ring stakeholders.
- Flanigan, S.; Holstead, K.L. (2012) Results of focus group discussions to explore members’ perceptions of machinery rings in relation to change, collaboration and sustainability, Report to Ringlink: Summary of findings for machinery ring stakeholders.
- Flanigan, S. (2012) Planning to succeed agritourism: Participants circumstances and expectations in year 1., Report to Scottish Enterprise, The Collection Limited and Planning to Succeed Group.
Conference papers
- Creaney, R.; Blackstock, K.; Flanigan, S.; Miller, D.; Matthews, K. (2022) Engaging young people in mountain areas and value chains, ODT Forum 2022, 19-21 October 2022, Jura, Switzerland.
- Creaney, R.; Blackstock, K.; Flanigan, S.; Hopkins, J.; Miller, D.; Matthews, K. (2022) Idealising the Rural: The Role of Scottish Mountains in Promoting the Scottish Whisky Brand, Rural Imaginations Conference, 24-26 August 2022, Amsterdam.
- Flanigan, S.; Blackstock, K.; Creaney, R.; Hopkins, J.; Matthews, K.; Miller, D. (2022) Assembling whisky production and consumption for rural resilinece A value chains case study in Speyside, Scotland, ODT Forum, 19-21 October 2022, Jura, Switzerland
- Flanigan, S.; Blackstock, K.; Creaney, R.; Hopkins, J.; Matthews, K.; Miller, D. (2022) Assembling whisky production and consumption for rural resilience A value chains case study in Speyside, Scotland, ESRS Scottish Satellite Event, 20-23 June 2022, Birnam
- Flanigan, S. (2021) Working together towards good farming, RGS-IBG International Conference (Beyond the Borderlands – exploring sustainable rural futures session)
- Kuhfuss, L.; Piras, S.; Flanigan, S.; Hawes, C.; Begg, G. (2021) How to promote the collective uptake of agri-environmental schemes by farmers? A literature review., Landscape 2021 Conference: Diversity for Sustainable and Resilient Agriculture, 20-22 September 2021, online presentation.
- Flanigan, S.; Whitfield, C. (2021) Co-operation and co-operatives in Scottish agriculture: Research overview and interim observations., SAOS Conference 2021, “SAOS’s A-Z for a Bright Future”, 28 January 2021. (Online).
- Flanigan, S. (2020) Adding value to climate-positive farming through interaction with consumers, tourists and other visitors., James Hutton Institute Annual Research Symposium, 25-27 November 2020. (Online).
- Flanigan, S; Matthews, K.B. (2015) Reciprocity in an agritourism community of practice., Trans-Atlantic Rural Research Network (TARRN) Annual Meeting, Penn State University, USA, 18-19 May 2015.
- Sutherland, L.A.; Flanigan, S.; McKee, A.; Holstead, K.L. (2013) FarmPath Consortium Meeting., Evora, Portugal, 13-16 March 2013.
- Sutherland, L.A.; Flanigan, S. (2011) Transdisciplinarity in practice: experiences in the FarmPath project., The XXIV European Society for Rural Sociology Congress, “Inequality and Diversity in European Rural Areas”, Chania, Greece, 22-25 August 2011.
- Flanigan, S.; Blackstock, K.L.; Hunter, C. (2011) Exploring private and public benefits associated with different types of agritourism., The XXIV European Society for Rural Sociology Congress, “Inequality and Diversity in European Rural Areas”, Chania, Greece, 22-25 August 2011.
- Phillip, S.; Blackstock, K.L.; Hunter, C.J. (2009) What is agritourism? Perspectives from five types of agritourism provider., ESRS Congress, WG 1.6: Tourism in a Rural Setting: Opportunities and Challenges, Vaasa, 17-21 August 2009.
- Phillip, S.; Blackstock, K.L.; Hunter, C.J. (2008) Developing a conceptual framework for sustainable agritourism in Scotland., Royal Geographical Society Annual Conference, London, 26-29 August 2008.
Conference posters / abstracts
- Flanigan, S.; Sutherland, L-A.; Hardy, C. (2019) Working together towards ‘good farming’: developing community, collaboration and ‘best’ practice through on-farm demonstration., Trans Atlantic Rural Researchers Network Meeting, Aberdeen, 3-5 April 2019.
- Flanigan, S. (2018) Case Study: Lothians Monitor Farm., IFSA (International Farming Systems Association) Symposium, Chania, 1-5 July 2018. (Poster)
- Flanigan, S.; Matthews, K. (2012) The role of social capital in driving rural growth and innovation: An evaluation of ‘Planning to Succeed’ – agritourism., SRUC Workshop: Rural Development for Scotland: Can the new SRDP deliver? Edinburgh, 1 November 2012.
- Flanigan, S. (2012) Regional sustainability transitions: Machinery rings in Scotland., Summary of Key Findings from FarmPath Machinery Rings Initiative Report.
- Flanigan, S.; Sutherland, L.A. (2011) Transdisciplinarity in practice: experiences in the “FarmPath” project., Network for Transdisciplinary Research (td-net) Conference, Bern, 6 September 2011.
- Phillip, S.; MacMillan, D.C. (2007) Is venison price a red herring in the debate about too many deer?, Annual Wildlife Society Conference, 14th, Tucson, Arizona, 26 September 2007.