At The Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh today, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced more than £200 million through the 2022 to 2027 Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Strategic Research Programme.
The funding will be available to over 150 innovative projects which aim to boost food security in Scotland and address the biodiversity and climate crises.
The SNP Government is one of the largest funders of agri-environmental research in the UK and will provide funding with a focus on strategic environment, natural resources and agriculture research.
The programme will invest in varied innovative projects, including:
Greenhouse Gas Reductions for agriculture and livestock
Crops for vertical farms, which will help to produce a wide range of economically valuable crops
Vaccine research into animal diseases, including Bovine Respiratory Disease
The fund backs long-term research programmes and science facilities which directly support Scotland’s academic research base and allows research institutes to leverage additional funding from other funders.
At the show, the First Minister met with farmers, industry leaders and a variety of Scotland’s food and drink producers.
Ms Sturgeon said:
“The Scottish Government provides significant funding to our major research institutes to explore issues such as planet and animal health, and food security.
“They cover issues which are of central concern to the agriculture sector such as the resilience of livestock to climate change; how to reduce climate change emissions from farming and livestock; and the way in which anti-microbial resistance and pathogens spread into the food chain, and then into humans.
“The support confirms our determination, in a tough financial climate, to ensure that Scotland continues to make an important contribution to research on agriculture and the environment, contributing to the success and sustainability of our farming and food sectors.
“The Royal Highland Show celebrates the best in farming, food and the rural industry across Scotland and I am very pleased to visit this year to celebrate the show’s 200th anniversary.”
Kenneth Gibson MSP added:
“Particularly in a time of food insecurity and lost EU funding since Brexit, it is great to see the SNP Government step up and make such major investment in agricultural innovation.
“Scotland has an excellent reputation for being at the forefront of innovation and it is crucial that we do everything to speed up constructive solutions that can help with climate change, food insecurity and economic recovery at the same time.”
Details on eligibility and how to apply will be publicised at a later date.
ENDS
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