‘ Update on funding Scottish Agricultural Science ’

1. ‘Update on fundingScottish Agricultural Science’ Professor Maggie Gill Chief Scientific Adviser Rural & Environment Research & Analysis Directorate

2. Structure • Overview of political changes in Scotland • Assessing ‘demand’ for research from policy colleagues • Enhancing the effectiveness of the ‘supply’ of research

3. Overview of political changes in Scotland in 2007 • Scottish Nationalist Party elected as minority government in May 2007 • Single purpose of government is: ‘to focus government and public services on creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all in Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic growth’ • Business units at departmental level (9 departments) disappeared to be replaced by business units at Directorate level (40 Directorates) • 5 Strategic Objectives to which all Directorates are expected to contribute

4. 5 Strategic Objectives of Scottish Government Wealthier and Fairer Smarter Greener Stronger and safer Healthier

5. Rural & Environment Research & Analysis Directorate Commissions policy relevant research: • Strategy for 2005-2011 commissioned research on Sustainable Agriculture, Land use and Environment, and Nutrition and Health • Work underway to identify themes for Strategy for 2011-2016 • Consultative process involving discussions with policy colleagues

6. Consultation with policy colleagues: Focus: What areas of policy development do you think will be particularly active in the coming years (2,5,10, 20 year time horizon)? Which are of high priority? Where will the main pressures for policy development come from (Scotland, UK, EU, Global)? Policy directorates/agencies included in these discussions: ‘Greener’, Rural Payments and Inspections, Planning, Public Health and Well Being, Enterprise Energy and Tourism, Transport, Housing and Regeneration, Natural Heritage (SNH), Environmental Protection (SEPA), Fisheries (FRS)

7. Potential themes for Research Strategy 2011-2016 • Local responses to environmental change • Sustainable communities • Tools to explore trade-offs between Strategic Objectives • National Capability

8. National capability –areas for development Five main areas are identified. It is likely that further areas will be added. Threat - driven capacity • Proteomics, Genomics and Bioinformatics; • Pathology; • Insect-borne diseases and vectors. Existing resources • Collections; • Monitoring programmes.

9. Supply of research and science to contribute to the evidence base for policy • Government intention to ‘simplify the landscape’ of organisations in Scotland • Merger of research institutes and universities (where there is a good fit for the research) e.g. Rowett Research Institute merging with University of Aberdeen to create Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health @ University of Aberdeen • Merger of Macaulay Institute and Scottish Crop Research Institute • Other initiatives to strengthen the ‘pipeline’ of 2-way Knowledge Exchange between academia and policy

10. Translation of policy context into scientific questions Higher Education in Scotland, UK and overseas P O L I C Y Centre of excellence Environmental regulation and conservation agencies Research Institute(s) Transient Think tanks Research providing science for application in policy