A NEW research hub should be created in Orkney to drive forward agricultural research by building closer links between communities, farmers and scientists, according to a new study.
The report, “Scoping a route to a locally driven approach to agricultural research in Orkney,” suggested steps should be taken including creating a local hub as a base for research activity. This would help to ensure a locally-driven approach to future research.
The study described the importance of agriculture and farming to the economy, culture and heritage in Orkney, as well as the challenge of increasing efficiency of food production while reducing impact on the environment and protecting nature.
It highlighted the strong history among Orcadians of successful innovation and concluded that connectivity and trust between researchers and islanders will help maximise the benefits from new research and increase uptake of useful technologies.
The main aims of the study were to explore new ways to improve connectivity and communication routes between researchers and those working in the agricultural and related industries to improve the focus and relevance of research topic, as well as how opportunities arising from new research and technology may be adopted successfully to bring maximum benefits locally to Orkney.
The study was conducted by Moredun Research Institute in collaboration with the Agronomy and Agricultural Institute, University of Highlands and Islands Orkney; Highlands and Islands Enterprise Orkney and Orkney Island Council and was commissioned by SEFARI Gateway through the Scottish Government Strategic Research Programme on Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources 2022-2027.
Professor Lee Innes, Moredun Research Institute said, “We were delighted to have the opportunity to work on this exciting new project as Moredun has strong links with Orkney through our collaborative work to improve livestock health and welfare. This project offers great potential to explore new ways of working to improve connections between researchers and islanders, widen collaborations and hopefully increase the local impact of new agricultural research”.
The project involved creating a directory of agricultural research in Orkney covering the last ten years, along with current projects involving work on soils, crops, livestock, wildlife, biodiversity, nature, conservation, food and drink.
A workshop was held in Kirkwall with local representation from livestock and arable farmers, Orkney Mart, NFUS, SAC consulting, local veterinary practices, Orkney Livestock Association, Rural Payments and Inspection Division, Island Centre for Net Zero and Developing the Young Workforce to get the islanders views on future research directions and how to improve local impact.
Topics discussed at the workshop included future research priorities for Orkney and knowledge gaps; the opportunities and challenges for place-based research; experience of previous research projects; how research might be better coordinated and communicated and the barriers and opportunities to help move research into practice.
Recommendations from the study included the potential to set up a more connected and coordinated approach to place-based agricultural research in Orkney involving researchers, farmers and others involved in the agricultural industries to work more closely together to ensure that the research is relevant and useful and to maximise opportunities for collaborative working.
Dr Henry Creissen, Director of Agronomy and Agriculture Institute, UHI Orkney said, “It has been a pleasure to contribute to this collaborative effort led by colleagues at Moredun and supported through SEFARI. The project highlights the value of locally informed research in Orkney and the importance of working closely with island communities to ensure scientific innovation delivers meaningful benefits where they are most needed.”
The creation of a research office or contact point on Orkney would help to coordinate research activity, communicate outputs, encourage collaboration, provide information, signposting and assisting with new funding opportunities. The new Orkney Agricultural Research Directory will be a valuable resource to communicate about current research, encourage collaboration, help to avoid duplication of effort and over engagement of the island communities.
To encourage moving research into practice and to de-risk testing out innovations it would be helpful to work with the Agronomy and Agricultural Institute on Orkney to set up demonstrations in their facilities and also by arrangements with local farms.
Regular communication about current research projects could be achieved through existing and well-established groups such as the Orkney Agricultural Discussion Group along with other specialist farming groups depending on the topic. Further public engagement could be done through local media and the annual Orkney International Science Festival.
There are also some excellent opportunities for education and training from supporting work in schools and Developing the Young Workforce through raising awareness of career opportunities in agriculture and related sciences.
Professor Charles Bestwick, Director of SEFARI Gateway said, “This Fellowship’s recommendations will strengthen the partnerships between research and communities. It is crucially important that communities have forums in which to shape their research needs and that research thereby delivers for those communities”.
The next steps for the project are to engage with researchers within SEFARI to co-construct some new research projects together with local stakeholders on Orkney that can be taken forward within the planned new Scottish Government Strategic Research Programme on Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources 2027-2032.
