http://www.knowledgescotland.org/ A new opportunity for policy stakeholders and Government audiences en-gb Copyright 2012, www.knowledgescotland.org contact@www.knowledgescotland.org ccc@www.knowledgescotland.org Fri, 18 May 2012 09:40:20 +0100 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 40 http://www.knowledgescotland.org/resources/theme/logo_rss.gif http://www.knowledgescotland.org/ http://www.knowledgescotland.org/briefings.php?id=277 Machair is a distinctive type of coastal grassland restricted to about 25,000 ha in world-wide extent; 17,500 ha of this resource are in Scotland. Machair develops on calcareous sands deposited by onshore winds on exposed, western coasts, is comparatively plant species-rich and hosts a number of rare plant, invertebrate and bird species. It is a Priority Habitat within the UK Biodiversity Action Plan and included in Annex 1 of the EC Habitats Directive. id=277 Thu, 03 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.knowledgescotland.org/briefings.php?id=275 Bracken is well known as an agricultural, ecological and health problem with little in the way of redeeming features. It has long been the subject of control measures, but for the last three decades these have focussed on the aerial application of a herbicide called asulam (trade name Asulox) with later ground-based follow-up treatment of regrowth. Alternatives such as cutting are possible only on a small fraction of bracken areas where vehicle access is safe and practical. id=275 Wed, 02 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.knowledgescotland.org/briefings.php?id=274 Society today faces a number of challenges, such as climate change, that require individuals to collectively change their behaviour in ways that incur additional costs (financial and/or non-financial). Scientific research has a key role to play in supporting such behavioural change. id=274 Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.knowledgescotland.org/briefings.php?id=268 This brief outlines the results of a recently published discussion document on applying the concept of Sustainable Intensification to Scotland. id=268 Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.knowledgescotland.org/briefings.php?id=261 Increasingly, policy makers and the public are experiencing the problem of litter in our seas and on our beaches. Marine litter has a substantial impact on Scotland’s society, economy and marine environment - in 2010, a total of 53,162 items of litter were collected on a sample of Scottish beaches (along a length of only 22.3 km.) id=261 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.knowledgescotland.org/briefings.php?id=260 In recent years, collaborative and cross-sectoral approaches have been recommended as the most effective and equitable way to achieve better water quality in catchments. However, the realisation that such an approach is often the right thing to do does not mean that this is a simple and predictable process. id=260 Tue, 06 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.knowledgescotland.org/briefings.php?id=259 The risks from flooding can never be completely eliminated but the harm caused by floods can be greatly reduced or mitigated by effective flood warning systems. However, past experience in Scotland and other countries shows that in times of flooding, many people are not prepared or do not react appropriately. id=259 Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.knowledgescotland.org/briefings.php?id=258 A previous Knowledge Scotland Research Briefing (Identifying And Supporting High Nature Value Farming Systems, May 2009) has provided a background to the development of the European High Nature Value (HNV) farming systems concept. id=258 Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.knowledgescotland.org/briefings.php?id=255 Recent work at SAC, in collaboration with ADAS, has revealed that half of all oilseed rape fields in Scotland are infected with clubroot. id=255 Mon, 26 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.knowledgescotland.org/briefings.php?id=256 This briefing discusses the results of a research project which aimed to indicate how Scottish agriculture and the wider agri-food industry can improve its competitiveness through raising productivity at both the farm production and food chain level. id=256 Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.knowledgescotland.org/briefings.php?id=254 The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD), seen by many as a 'Sustainability Directive', strongly emphasises the need for closer ties between river basin management and land use planning. At the same time, European guidance on spatial planning promotes the idea of incorporating wider social and environmental objectives within planning decisions. id=254 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.knowledgescotland.org/briefings.php?id=253 The Scottish Government recognises water as a key resource that is "vital to life, to Scotland's economy and to our environment". However, over the years many activities have had adverse impacts on both water quantity and quality. id=253 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.knowledgescotland.org/briefings.php?id=230 Farmland is one of the dominant land covers in Europe, covering over 45% (173 million hectares) of the European Union's 27 Member States. This briefing draws on the findings from an EU-funded project which highlighted a range of measures that could be taken to ensure that farmland biodiversity concerns are addressed in the CAP at an appropriate scale to be effective. id=230 Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.knowledgescotland.org/briefings.php?id=231 This note discusses ways in which the market of ethical food can be expanded based on lessons extracted from several pieces of research carried out by SAC Food Marketing Research team. id=231 Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.knowledgescotland.org/briefings.php?id=229 Persistent, low-grade inflammation is associated with an impaired immune function. This is a key factor in the development of obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and dysfunction of the gut. Foods which comprise various protective nutrients and secondary non-nutrient compounds may improve immune function and the inflammatory process in laboratory studies. id=229 Wed, 08 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT