The Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Strategic Research

RSA Fellows and guests are warmly invited to join us to discuss The Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture (ENRA) strategy with insights from Professor Tom McNeilly of the Moredun Institute.

The Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture (ENRA) Strategic Research Programme (SRP) is a major Scottish Government-funded initiative, investing roughly £47m annually (2022-2027) in research to support policy on climate change, sustainable farming, and biodiversity.

ENRA focuses on long-term, multi-disciplinary, and practical solutions for environmental and agricultural challenges, transitioning towards a 2027-2032 strategy that emphasizes "living labs" and rural community resilience.

The programme is delivered by key Scottish research institutions (e.g. SRUC, James Hutton Institute, Moredun Institute) and focuses on delivering evidence-based policy.

This meeting follows the discussion at the Moredun half day event a few months ago, the Strategy having also been raised at the Business Breakfast at the Union Show in July.

Key Aspects of the ENRA Research Strategy:

• 2022-2027 Focus Areas: The current portfolio covers plant and animal health, sustainable food systems, human impacts on the environment, natural resources, and rural futures.

• 2027-2032 Strategic Directions: The proposed strategy focuses on five core missions: sustainable/regenerative agriculture, climate-positive landscapes, nature restoration, thriving rural/island communities, and the circular economy.

• "Living Labs" Approach: The next phase will utilize real-world testing sites for collaboration between researchers, land managers, and communities to test and scale solutions.

ENRA key research themes include:

• Sustainable Agriculture & Food: Developing regenerative practices and food system security.

• Climate & Environment: Climate change mitigation, adaptation, and biodiversity protection.

• Rural & Economic Resilience: Strengthening rural and island economies.

• Plant/Animal Health & Biosecurity: Researching disease and risk.

To participate in this event, you will need to register for a ticket so that we can manage capacity. Our events are frequently oversubscribed so if you are subsequently unable to attend, please cancel your Eventbrite booking so we can make room for others on the Wait List.

Accessibility and Inclusivity

At the RSA, we strive to create an inclusive and supportive environment for all Fellows. We ask that you fill out the accessibility requirements box in your Eventbrite booking form in advance of our events to ensure that we can accommodate such requirements.

Join Circle and connect with others who attend this event

Join Circle, the RSA’s community platform, to stay up to date on the latest events and connect with Fellows across the world. To get started on Circle, you need to have an RSA account. If you already have an account, your account details will be the same for Circle.

Data and Personal Information

By registering for this event you consent to receiving communications about this event, both before and after, and you agree to the sharing of your name, organisation & title with the Fellow(s) and/or partner organisation(s) hosting this event. Attendees also agree to the sharing of their name and organisation with other delegates at the event so that they might contact you. If you do not wish this information to be shared, please let us know by emailing: [email protected].

Please note that filming/photography may take place at this event for promotional and archival purposes. If you would prefer not to be photographed, please let us know by contacting [email protected].

The information you provide when registering for an event will be retained by the RSA and will be used to record attendance at the event. To understand more about how the RSA uses your data, please see our Privacy Policy.

Please be aware that registrations will close two hours before the event is due to start.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

The Quaker Meeting House, Victoria Street, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

Get App