Environment, agriculture and food - strategic research 2022-2027: overview

Contribution to Scotland's economic strategy

Scotland's economic strategy

Purpose: competitiveness

Investment

• invest in, and support the development of, high performing research institutes, with modern transparent and accountable governance arrangements
• invest in research that provides Scotland with the skills and knowledge that it needs to grow in a global economy
• invest in and support the development of a Scottish science base that is internationally competitive and improving its reputation and standing in the world
• helping to target SG’s investments to enhance our natural resources and maximise the growth of the food and drink sector
• developing tools and approaches which can assist community empowerment

Innovation

• take a leading role in developing a national strategy for rural and environmental research
• work to create a culture of enterprise and creativity in Scotland
• supporting cutting-edge research which supports one of our most important sectors, food and drink
• research supports the development of new products and processes which can not only strengthen the performance of the agri-food chain but have broader environmental and health benefits

Purpose: tackling inequality

Inclusive growth

• help create a more equal society by widening access to the knowledge and information created by our investment in research across Scotland
• promote collaboration between research organisations to raise attainment and skills within our economy
• evidence on equalities in rural Scotland has enabled clearer assessment of SG policies
• detailed socio-economic performance information has helped local decision-making on identifying and tackling key issues in rural Scotland
• research helps raise the performance of the agriculture sector, benefiting many rural communities.
• exploring the evidence on women in farming in order to promote greater participation in the sector
• supporting the redesign of the Common Agricultural Policy in Scotland, with around £500m p.a. going in to the rural economy, vital to sustaining fragile remote rural communities
• evidence to support the Land Reform Bill, including research on whether ownership leads to different social and economic outcomes for certain communities

Internationalisation

• we will promote Scotland to the rest of the world through supporting research organisations to export and collaborate overseas
• help to further develop a research base that promotes Scotland’s international reputation, attracts talent from across the world and is well connected internationally
• support the development of international connections that promote Scotland as a source of innovation and creativity
• we have successfully leveraged additional research funding to Scotland