SAC Consulting: Perspectives (Spring 2023 | Issue 05)

FINDING NEW INNOVATIVE CARBON SOLUTIONS

IN THIS ISSUE

AGRECALC PRODUCTIVITY AND CARBON GAINS

SPRING EDITION 2023

Andrew Lacey

Davy McCracken

Keith Dawson

Carol McLaren

David Ross

Matt Herbst

Anna Sellars

Susannah Bolton

Brady Stevens & Ceri Ritchie

Sarah Buckingham

Scott Davies

Lorna Cole

The last few months have seen a number of important opportunities for SAC Consulting to bring global specialists to Scotland to share their expertise with local farmers and producers. January saw Nutritionist and Vet, Dr Jim Gibbs, visiting from New Zealand to deliver some on-farm events (with the Farm Advisory Service) to share his knowledge, having designed world-class grazing systems utilising fodder beet, and sharing practical application at farmer events in Tain, Ellon and Whauphill.

It’s fantastic to hear from the new Agrecalc CEO, Scott Davies as it becomes a new, independent business. We also learn from Senior Consultant, Anna Sellars, about the opportunities to be found in carbon markets.

SRUC Head of Department, Davy McCracken, explains why knowledge exchange is so important to the future of agriculture, and Regional Development Manager, David Ross, gives us his thoughts on the important farming topics and issues from a North East of Scotland perspective.

We have staff spotlights from new Senior Consultants, Lorna Cole and Sarah Buckingham sharing some of their experience as they build on their impressive careers with us, and SRUC Vice Principal of Enterprise and Knowledge Exchange, Susannah Bolton, explains the concept of an Enterprise University for the Natural Economy and what that really means.

Our interview feature is with Dr Keith Dawson, President of the Scottish Society of Crop Research, who farms in Ukraine, and gives us a global perspective on the impact of the Ukraine war on Scotland’s food supply chains. Hot on the heels of his appearance at the SACAPP conference in Dundee, he gives a really thought-provoking interview.

Head of Food and Enterprise, Ceri Ritchie, and Consultant, Brady Stevens explore nature related risks and opportunities for food businesses and we also hear from Environmental Consultant, Matt Herbst, as he digs into carbon management and developing new services for the environment team.

Following a strong presence at the recent FarmStrong Roadshow, which we were pleased to support, we have an important article from Carol McLaren of RSABI, as she shares her thoughts and experiences of managing mental health in our agricultural communities.

Finally, I’d like to say a huge thank you to our customers, our hard-working teams, and our partners as we work together to keep moving forward as an industry. I’d particularly like to thank our subscribers for sticking with us as we modernise and keep improving our services for them.

Providing expert advice, building trusted relationships, and supporting our local communities continues to be at the forefront of our work, and we look forward to more of the same as the year progresses.

Get in touch

andrew.lacey@sac.co.uk

Welcome to our 5th edition of Perspectives Magazine. It’s a fantastic platform to look ahead of to the future of agricultural, food and land-based businesses and to share some projects, news and opinions which get us all thinking.

ANDREW LACEY, VICE PRINCIPAL COMMERCIAL & HEAD OF SAC CONSULTING

Keith Dawson A conversation with

From researcher, to agronomist, to pioneering farmer, Dr Keith Dawson has worn many hats and developed a successful and varied career spanning six continents, advocating for new technologies and approaches to help UK and global agriculture to adapt and thrive in a changing world.

Keith began his career in farming as a researcher in agricultural environmental science, specialising in soil and crop issues. He was driven by a passion to bridge the gap between research and personal application, finding that too many studies were completed and left to gather dust on the shelf.

“I wanted to speed up the cycle of knowledge implementation. I can talk and understand researchers but can also communicate with farmers on the ground, which is something that is sometimes missing in academic research.”

With that in mind, Keith went on to pursue an expansive and illustrious career, which included various roles with SAC Consulting, overseeing early crop variety testing, working alongside agronomists, and developing new sustainable crop programmes for BASF and the CSC. He spent time as a private government consultant, as well as being appointed a director at BASIS and the Scottish Crop Institute and is the current chair of the Scottish Society of Crop Research.

In 2004, he teamed up with a Scottish farmer farming in Poland, Mark Laird, and founded several agricultural businesses which have grown substantially in size, making significant investment in agriculture in the west of Ukraine and co-founding Poland’s largest crop protection distributor.

“When we first started in Ukraine there was a huge amount of regeneration needed in the soils which had been neglected after Russia had created ‘collective farms’ and consolidating

smaller landholdings into bigger collective operations. Our approach was to target inputs with IFM over a lot of hectares and everyone thought we were crazy. I re-mortgaged my house to put capital into the business. We ploughed land that hadn’t been cropped for 15 years and it was some of the best land in Europe. With food security issues arising globally and local poverty, we all felt it was our moral imperative to get involved.

“In 2005, we were growing 90ha of potatoes and this grew to 200,000ha in 2018. We went from employing four local Ukrainians to providing jobs for 3.5k people which has had a ripple effect in building the economy in western Ukraine.

“We put bread on a lot of families’ tables during that period and developed an Eastern European leapfrog effect. We moved from horse drawn carts to GPS controlled tractors within a few years and introduced new genomics and varieties. It was a huge leap forward in Ukrainian agriculture by embracing new technology, particularly genetics.”

Keith paid tribute to some of the fantastic research being carried out by institutes like JHI and how crucial their work will be in finding solutions to climate pressures facing crops, in order improve domestic and global food resilience.

“I believe we can effectively feed 11bn without doing environmental damage, by using new technology effectively. There are huge benefits to be had from the right approach to plant breeding, such as gene editing technology, which can, for example, develop crops which perform more efficiently against drought and disease resistance. We are seeing climate related issues gather pace globally and having more tools in our toolkit to build resilience into our food systems, is going to be increasingly important.”

Having sold their original agricultural businesses in Ukraine in 2018, Keith and Mark set up Central Plains Group, three years ago, growing 900ha of fresh and starch potatoes near Lviv, in western Ukraine. As was the case for many people farming in the region, he explained that the Russian invasion had fostered a great sense of community and moral duty to continue farming and producing food for the nation.

“We made the decision in March 2022, in an act of faith and defiance, to plant 900ha of potatoes, not knowing whether we were going to be able to harvest them, because we felt it was our moral duty.”

He explained that one of the biggest challenges for all Ukrainian farmers has been Russia’s consistent targeting of key infrastructure including grain silos, railways, and ports, inflicting over $6.6bn of agricultural damage – rising to $34bn in indirect losses.

Commenting on the clean-up task ahead, to recover the land and rebuild the country, he reflected that poor mental health will be a lengthy and difficult legacy of the invasion.

“Rebuilding this country is going to take more than bricks and mortar, there are going to be terrible mental health and rehabilitation issues which are going to arise.

“There is a reason why Ukraine is called the breadbasket of Europe, with its fertile soils and high rainfall in the west of the country, which has predisposed it to much conflict over the years.

“The wider impacts on food production and supply, because of the Russian invasion, are still to be felt and will have implications for global hunger yet. This weaponising of gas and grain is having ramifications throughout the world but one positive thing that Russia has done, is unite a divided Europe and shone a light on the indomitability of the human spirit. It is amazing what we can achieve if we work together.”

A North East Perspective

Who’s making money... You?

By the time you are reading this, the Farm Business Survey data for the year ending May 2022 will have been released by Scottish Government and I can only imagine that it will show farm incomes being squeezed in many sectors. This is a response to the impact of higher inflation on the main agricultural inputs of fuel, fertiliser, feed and energy.

This theme has continued throughout 2022 and now, in the second quarter of 2023, recent data published by the Andersons Centre estimates agricultural inputs’ inflation (agflation) till the end of January to be 19% annually, while agricultural outputs have increased by around 11%. As a comparison, general economic inflation (CPI) and agricultural outputs and food prices (CPI food) are currently running at 11% and 17% respectively. Farming incomes are simply not growing in line with costs.

For many enterprises, the gross margins are actually pretty healthy - even with the increases in variable costs. It is the fixed costs of many businesses that are eroding profit. The costs of maintaining and replacing machinery and the overall price of just about everything is making many businesses financially unsustainable in the medium to long-term. We have to be mindful of the changes that are ongoing in the finance sector. Banks are being put under pressure to decarbonise

and de-risk their lending portfolios. What does this mean? In simple terms, businesses with a lower carbon footprint will get preferential rates of interest on borrowing. It also means that banks are viewing overdrafts and loans in a different way; restructuring debt to give businesses a smaller working overdraft and put more “hardcore” debt into long-term loans. With increasing interest rates this is making all types of finance more expensive.

It is easy to say that this is just a blip and that in another 6-12 months things will be fine, but with agricultural policy change looming in 2025, how can you begin to start making your business more resilient to whatever is coming?

I was reminded at a recent meeting that it is our variable costs that are fixed and that our fixed costs are the ones that we have control over and need to be variable. There is a need (in many cases) to not only question the enterprises on the farm, but also the ‘how’ and ‘why’ behind each system. Is the system becoming too complicated? Can it be simplified and can the costs be stripped out of it? Do I need that new bit of kit? Can I reduce the cultivations? Is my breed the right one for my farm? Is my agronomist working for me? Could I share my machinery and reduce costs?

In every region of Scotland, and across every sector of agriculture, businesses are feeling the financial pressures of increasing input costs undermining the ability to maintain margins, let alone make profits.

DAVID ROSS, NORTH EAST SCOTLAND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

This takes a shift in mindset to, not only start asking the questions, but to also start identifying problems and tackling them, rather than just ploughing on and hoping for the best.

One of the great things about our industry is that there is probably somebody, somewhere in Scotland, that has already made the change to their system and they are usually more than willing to share their experience. You only have to look at some of the successful monitor farm programmes over recent years and the flow of knowledge between different farmers.

In my mind, the industry is making money, but we need to be questioning why so much money is feeding other parts of the industry and is not being retained by the farmer? It is the farmer who has taken so much of the risk in buying the land and growing the crop or animal, so should you not get the most return?

Only you can change the way you do things and retain more of the income you generate. Is it time to seek out the farming peers or advisors you trust? Be open in your mindset to have those challenging conversations… and then have the tenacity to make the change.

Get

david.ross@sac.co.uk

in touch

“Banks are being put under pressure to decarbonise and de-risk their lending portfolios. What does this mean? In simple terms, businesses with a lower carbon footprint will get preferential rates of interest on borrowing.”

Exploring land-based

carbon investment

Agriculture and rural land use has been framed as a potential source of carbon assets, but is this really the right option for the types of businesses who are looking to invest in it?

For farmers and land managers, there may be potential for carbon as a new supplementary income stream, a way to add value to currently less productive land, and to meet supply chain compliance, such as through ‘insetting’ (i.e. carbon reduction projects that are funded, implemented and provide reductions attributed within the supply chain).

To ensure projects are financially viable – to operate as well as to invest in – current estimates indicate that their outcomes would need to be stacked; that is they must provide multiple outcomes, like carbon, biodiversity and other environmental benefits, each with their own income stream, to make the balance sheet add up. This flags risks of dependence on several income streams, and how conditions for these interact, such as additionality criteria. This should be a consideration (or concern) for the land manager, as well as the investor.

The transaction costs for getting carbon credits to the point of sale, can prove significant, especially for smaller scale projects (e.g. farm rather than landscape size), or those implementing new methods. These costs include monitoring, reporting and evaluation (MRV), as well as project management, legal and

other professional fees, much of which cannot yet be automated. Given the current methods available, and both the costs and complexity of rigorous MRV for soil carbon offsets, there seems greater potential for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investment in natural capital projects, than in the generation of carbon credits on a competitive global market, where the latter can be generated in developing countries far cheaper than in the UK.

Land-based business should also consider that selling of carbon and other natural capital assets could prevent future business opportunities and income, if those carbon markets were to collapse, increased or there was more stringent legislation or supply chain compliance. Both sellers and buyers of carbon and other natural capital credits should assess long term impacts on the carbon credentials, as well as income streams, under various potential scenarios, and projects should have plans to mitigate these risks. SAC Consulting offers advice and services to land-based businesses looking to assess their natural capital assets, management options and income opportunities.

It is important to understand these challenges, not only to urge caution for those interested in exploring selling or investing in carbon credits, but also in identifying alternative routes for investment in the land-based economy. Rather than looking to

Looking forward, net zero is becoming increasingly mainstreamed into global governance and business strategies, and it seems everyone is keen to understand how to turn carbon into a commodity, rather than a new financial and compliance burden.

ANNA SELLARS, SENIOR RURAL BUSINESS CONSULTANT

invest directly into farm businesses through investment in carbon credit creation projects, investors may find that some opportunities are more similar to conventional forms of investment, and the risk factors more centralised and manageable. These include supporting the development of emerging and fast-developing agri-tech, MRV equipment, and data-oriented software as a service (SAAS).

Through catalysing innovation, these would indirectly support land-based businesses to improve mitigation and sequestration activities (as well as optimise efficiency and long-term sustainability), both in practice and reporting, and reduce the transaction and implementation costs per unit of CO2 equivalent – an essential part of scaling the impact of carbon investment. Investors will want to keep an eye on proposed public-backed carbon price guarantees, which aim to de-risk and open up investment in carbon projects.

Another avenue is insetting of emissions in supply chains, allowing corporates with emissions targets to focus efforts

and investment in carbon reduction within their own supply chain; this enables them to focus on what they know, and to collaborate with stakeholders who have collective interests and are accountable for outcomes of carbon reduction programmes.

The carbon investment landscape is evolving at a rapid pace, with new soil carbon codes and standards on the horizon to improve MRV and reporting of projects, and greater knowledge, resources and training available, enabling the industry to push for transparency in carbon trading and methodologies underpinning it. If you are considering investing in carbon projects and are overwhelmed by the variety of information available, seek advice from specialists to help make the right decision to suit your business.

Get in touch

anna.sellars@sac.co.uk

Production of ecosystem services

Provides upfront capital investment for repayment and returns later

Investor

(Seller e.g. land manager, plus project developers and other stakeholders) (e.g. carbon credits)

Project team

Project development and delivery

Sale to buyer broker or market

Embracing nature-based opportunities

The UK has set a goal to halt nature decline (including biodiversity loss) by 2030 and work towards nature recovery by 2050. These targets are necessary because global production and consumption has pushed us outside of planetary boundaries: Ecosystem processes (such as biochemical flows, soils, and freshwater provision) underpin at least 55% of global annual GDP and the accumulated pressures on the natural environment put these ecosystems at risk of collapse.

Agriculture has been highlighted as both a contributor to these pressures, as well as a sector uniquely exposed to risks of compromised biodiversity and ecosystem services. On the other hand, agriculture and other landbased businesses can also play an essential, positive role in mitigation, adaption and supporting recovery. Given that nature-related risks are expected to range from severe to existential (e.g., pollinator and keystone species collapse), many progressive food & drink and diversified rural businesses are now going beyond compliance with environmental regulation, asking not just ‘what must I do’ but ‘what can I do’ to influence sustainable changes throughout their supply chains.

These changes are also being driven by customer choices: Consumers are increasingly switched on to food’s footprint

and increasingly use food as a conduit to engage with their environments. Kantar identifies ‘eco-active’ consumers (those highly concerned about the environment) and eco-considerer consumers (those worried about the environment), with eco-actives representing 24% of GB shoppers and eco-considerers 41% of the FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) market, respectively. While several economic factors have meant eco-actives in Scotland have declined in the last year, Scotland is still ahead of the global trend and this group of consumers represents 23% of Scottish households and spends £2.7bn on FMCG in Scotland.

BRINGING NATURE IN-HOUSE

It is expected that nature and biodiversity will follow in the footsteps of carbon, with businesses encouraged (and potentially required) to measure and report on their impacts. There are now rigorous frameworks for businesses to assess their supply chain’s nature interactions, analogous to carbon audits. At SAC Consulting, we are monitoring the development of this space so that we can help our clients navigate the evolving landscape. Also, similar to carbon, businesses that accurately measure their nature impacts, and can speak confidently on their plans to mitigate these, can differentiate themselves from their competitors.

Elevating the nature crisis to the same priority as climate, has been a major theme of the past two COP summits, and was the focus of the UN biodiversity summit, COP15, in 2022.

BRADY STEVENS, RURAL BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS CONSULTANT CERI RITCHIE, HEAD OF FOOD & ENTERPRISE

Integrating a rigorous net zero and/or nature-positive plan with a business story, can re-define a brand. The idea of ‘provenance’ (or where a product comes from) often highlights how these goods link to the environment. This is a strategy being used by many Scottish food & drink and rural enterprise businesses already, as they place landscape and raw materials front-and-centre in their messaging.

Climate change has increased the interest in native and heritage raw materials, as well as ‘natural’ products. People are often looking to the past for reliable wisdom - earthfriendly farming, picking, preserving, pickling, fermenting –simple, healthier foods as well as often-overlooked meat products (e.g. dairy beef, rare breeds, and game). For enterprises targeting tourists, some of the top travel trends in 2023 include experiences like ‘biodiversity breaks’ –providing the opportunity to build on the nature focus of the experience.

Embracing these trends, and the triple bottom line of people, planet and profit, will enable businesses to raise the visibility of their values and ensure that these values have consumer appeal in an increasingly environmentally conscious marketplace. As nature-positive closes the gap on net zero in the economic landscape, implementing change is both an imperative as well as a business opportunity: Rigorous benchmarking and publishing nature-related target and disclosures can lead to certifications, new value propositions, and access to new consumers, investors and collaborators. Is there an opportunity to embrace some of these opportunities, and manoeuvre your business to become the flagship of a larger sustainability strategy?

brady.stevens@sac.co.uk

ceri.ritchie@sac.co.uk

“Consumers are increasingly switched on to food’s footprint and using food as a conduit to engage with their environments.”

Agrecalc Productivity and carbon gains

The next chapter in its evolution

SCOTT DAVIES, CEO AGRECALC

Firstly, let me introduce myself - my name is Scott Davies, and I am the new CEO for Agrecalc. You may have heard that our business is changing, and it is! We’re now an independent business, though SAC Consulting and SRUC remain key stakeholders, so let me explain a bit more about where we’ve come from and where we are going, and rest assured, Agrecalc will continue to deliver for its customers.

Agrecalc is still a leading resources efficiency calculation tool for assessing your carbon footprint which tracks the main sources of GhG (Greenhouse Gas) emissions and maximises your efficiencies towards a healthier, sustainable and more profitable operation, but it is now also at the core of an independent, productivity and emissions reduction business.

Agrecalc was developed within SRUC and used by SAC Consulting to help farmers, and the wider food production chain, to identify emissions produced by land, crops, livestock, soil, energy and waste. This makes it a valuable tool for any farm or food processing business.

We’re processing a registered farm base of over five-figures this year, with more than 20,000 carbon reports over the years since we launched. This made it clear that Agrecalc, as a calculation engine, had the potential to grow as an independent operation. It will continue to support its users, build on the current calculator’s successes, and work with partners to expand its capabilities. Therefore the formation of Agrecalc as a standalone business was created.

From my own point of view, I’m joining the already cracking team of specialists behind Agrecalc, bringing my own expertise to the business in commercialisation, business growth and software evolution, making sure we continue to offer a tool that keeps our partners ahead of the game when it comes to emissions and general efficiency monitoring and benchmarking.

With more than 25 years of working in software-based organisations, focusing on the improvement and delivery of likeminded platforms, the opportunity to join the Agrecalc family was hugely appealing. Not only is Agrecalc already viewed as a best-in-class tool, but to be part of something that is intrinsic to the improvement of our environment, whilst also delivering data metrics that increase business performance and profitability, was too good an opportunity to pass. I’m very proud to be part of its new story.

What does all this mean for our customers and partners?

As an independent business our aim is to invest in the Agrecalc precision software to keep the system relevant, up to date and a leader in the marketplace.

Our first task is the re-launch of the current successful system, making it easier to use, providing more data points for better, more precise results, and making the reporting output richer.

In addition, the new structure will make it easier to expand its capabilities, offering a roadmap of new features and important modules to cover specific areas. Additionally, we will be introducing new APIs, making the submission of data and bespoke reporting easier for larger or more complex organisations.

Already we see thousands of farms benefiting from using the tool and improving their business. We have broadened our long standing services to the large processing organisation Moy Park as part of their aim to reduce scope 3 emissions, they are now able to use real data across all of their metrics to benchmark and visualise data. This results in visibility of their real-time carbon footprint to enable crucial business decisions.

Whether you are looking to lower emissions, improve your business efficiency or benchmark your enterprise, we hope Agrecalc will be the tool of choice. Agrecalc will remain evidence based and indepedent - as both SRUC and SAC Consulting are. We will always safeguard the data you provide us – this is our promise to you.

Get in touch

scott.davies@agrecalc.com

“As an independent business our aim is to invest in the Agrecalc precision software to keep the system relevant, up to date and a leader in the marketplace.”

learning exchanges Leading

Knowledge Exchange is a major focus of my teams work at SRUC’s Kirkton & Auchtertyre upland research and demonstration farms, near Crianlarich. And it has been great to get back to holding in-person meetings over the last 12 months.

Student engagement is especially important to us. Earlier this year we were delighted to host visits by two groups of students to the farms.

The first was a group of final year agriculture students from Harper Adams University who undertake a tour of Scotland every February. On their one-day visit to us we highlighted how technology and sensors can also be used in remote, upland situations to monitor livestock health and welfare.

The second group were students from the wildlife and conservation management Master of Science programme that my SRUC colleagues deliver for the University of Glasgow. These students undertake most of their studies by distance-learning but spend three days with us each March to see, discuss and learn from our experience of integrating biodiversity into hill farming systems.

In December 2022, colleagues from Scotland’s Farm Advisory Service (FAS) filmed a piece for FAS TV on the range of biodiversity research we are conducting on the farms and why it is of relevance to the development of Scotland’s new programme of agricultural support.

In January this year, Ewen Campbell, our farm manager, and myself were interviewed for a piece on BBC Alba’s An La evening news programme.

This highlighted how our research has developed over the past 10 years and why the use of technology will continue to be a major focus for us in the future.

Our research also has international relevance. For example, in November 2022, Claire Morgan-Davies and Ann McLaren took a small group of UK sheep farmers to an international workshop in Turkey, involving several farm visits. This was organised as part of the EuroSheep project, which focuses on exchanging knowledge between farmers on best practice approaches to improve flock health and nutrition and hence farm profitability.

Research can be most impactful when it is shared, by discussing what it means for on-the-ground management.

DAVY MCCRACKEN, HEAD OF HILL & MOUNTAIN RESEARCH CENTRE, SRUC

And this January, Claire and Ann attended a workshop in New Zealand as part of the EU-funded Sm@RT project, which aims to increase uptake and awareness of new technology in European sheep and goat systems.

They spent five days of their tour on the South Island visiting research centres and technology providers in Dunedin and Lincoln, discussing the main technological challenges and solutions facing extensive sheep systems.

In early February, we welcomed a group of progressive hill, upland and lowland sheep farmers from Northern Ireland to the farms. They are looking to improve the efficiency and profitability of their own systems through the Northern Ireland Sheep Programme, and were particularly keen to quiz us over what we are doing and why?

Looking ahead, a group of farmers from the Dartmoor Hill Farm project will spend a full day with us in late May and we have suggested other farms they could visit on their three-day fact-finding tour of Scotland.

I have learned over the years not to assume that someone looking at the same farm, or discussing the same issue, will see or perceive things exactly as you do.

Get in touch

davy.mccracken@sruc.ac.uk

“Face-to-face meetings, ideally in the great outdoors, are vital to help tease out differences and ensure that discussions can take place in a positive and meaningful way.”

mental health Positive changes in farming

Inevitably, there is considerable scope for tension and stress, particularly in uncertain times, with rising inputs and the costof-living challenges. When you then factor in the potential to be affected by loneliness, compounded by lockdown and long hours of physical work, it is perhaps not surprising that too many people in Scottish agriculture are affected by poor mental health.

However, there are some really encouraging green shoots of change, with conversations opening up about mental health and many initiatives taking place to help keep the momentum up.

RSABI has introduced a raft of steps to help farmers and crofters struggling with mental health and other difficulties. Last year we extended the hours of our free Helpline –0808 1234 555 – which is now open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Our service is friendly, confidential and professional and we’ve also introduced a live webchat function, which we think will particularly appeal to younger people.

The majority of our welfare team’s time is now spent on providing emotional and practical support. The sort of mental health problems we are seeing range from loneliness (we provide regular calls to those feeling isolated) and social

anxiety to panic attacks or depression. Importantly, the team will also take the time to look behind emotional problems to see if we can help further for example with financial advice or arranging a farm business review.

Our #KeepTalking campaign this winter focused on encouraging people to look out for each other (particularly during the long winter months), to take a break from working and to make time to reconnect with people they haven’t seen for a while.

We’re proud to be working with the Scottish Association of Young Farmers’ Clubs (SAYFC) to trial a Thrive Mental Wellbeing app for the first time in UK agriculture, which includes access to a live, in-app chat feature with qualified therapists available at the touch of a button.

Farm businesses are complex, often involving several generations working together, and are vulnerable to factors which farmers have little control over, such as weather and agricultural policy changes.

CAROL MCLAREN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, RSABI

We’ve also seen a very significant lift in the number of requests we receive for counselling which we can arrange free of charge and very quickly for someone who is feeling overwhelmed. This is set against a bigger picture of people having to wait for up to a year to start counselling once referred by their GP, such is the pressure on NHS waiting lists.

Last year, we developed a Mental Health First Aid training initiative with a company founded by former Royal Marines and, after a successful pilot phase, we are now rolling this out around the country.

There are many synergies between farming and marines –from working in tough weather and terrain, to the use of firearms, antisocial hours and dealing with public scrutiny. The former Royal Marine leading our courses has 37 years of service and experience to draw on, including sharing his own mental health journey.

The training is aimed at people working in the frontline with farmers – from assessors and agronomists to vets and auctioneers. We have also been pleased to welcome SAC Consultants to our training programme.

Collaboration is vital in the drive to improve mental health in Scottish agriculture, and we work closely with many excellent partners, such as the Rural Mental Health Forum, SAYFC ‘Are ewe ok?’ initiative and the Farm Safety Foundation’s Yellow Wellies ‘MindYourHead’ campaign.

A tour of Scotland by New Zealand dairy farmer Marc Gascoigne, hosted by Farmstrong Scotland, has also helped continue the momentum behind normalising conversations on mental health, with Marc sharing his own journey and the great techniques he successfully uses to keep mentally and physically fit.

For more information on the services and initiatives offered by RSABI please visit www.rsabi.org.uk. Open 24/7, our free Helpline (0808 1234 555) is friendly, professional and confidential. Please don’t hesitate.

Main photograph above is Archie MacKinnon, Head Shepherd at Auchnacloich, Glen Quaich with the Kilted Barber, Campbell Ewen, at Lynemore in front of Loch Freuchie, gearing up for the Scotsheep Trimathon.

Get in touch

Carol.McLaren@rsabi.org.uk

“We’re proud to be working with the Scottish Association of Young Farmers’ Clubs (SAYFC) to trial a Thrive Mental Wellbeing app for the first time in UK agriculture, which includes access to a live, in-app chat feature with qualified therapists available at the touch of a button.”

Finding new innovative carbon solutions

Businesses and landowners have a huge part to play in delivering on the net zero agenda, but this will mean taking steps to evaluate and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs).

The impacts of climate change have come into clear focus, with rising incidences of drought, wildfires, disease pressures on crops and extreme flooding. All issues that once might have seemed a distant concern, are now knocking on the UK’s door.

There is an urgent need to better quantify our net greenhouse gas contributions, to better plan, invest and respond with effective and meaningful changes that, not only contribute to CO2-e reductions, but also increase business efficiency, productivity, and profitability.

Carbon management is a key responsibility for all organisations, businesses, and landowners. In the past, carbon measurements have been focused on larger more visible actions such as switching from fossil fuel-based energy sources to renewable sources. However, there is now greater emphasis on identifying strategies to reduce or avoid emissions across all aspects of a business or supply chain.

STAGES OF CARBON MANAGEMENT

For carbon management services to be effective, they need to be tailored specifically to individual businesses or supply chains.

There are varying opportunities for carbon mitigation along each stage of the supply chain depending on a range of factors, including land use, power sources, size of operation, current carbon management efforts, international trade, and cultural traditions. These changes would need to happen across the entirety of a company’s supply chain, as well as examining and addressing any additional emissions that occur as indirect emissions. These indirect emissions have traditionally been the most difficult to address, but finding ways to minimise these emissions going forward will be essential.

Relying on past metrics is no longer an option, bespoke solutions that optimise each link in the supply chain will need to be developed. This involves identifying the right data needed to quantify mitigation potentials and then providing most appropriate strategies to deliver actions and solutions for carbon reduction targets.

To find these solutions, experts need to work with each stakeholder to evaluate the carbon mitigation and reduction potential, as well as understand what each group is (or is not) able to do. Targets like those used in the Science Based Targets initiatives (SBTi) are good starting goals for any company trying to lower their carbon footprint. Finding achievable solutions that meet carbon standards will be the most important part of building a net zero future.

Understanding, measuring, and reducing our carbon footprint is fast becoming the defining issue of the 21st century.

MATT HERBST, ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT

CARBON EVALUATION TOOLS

New and exciting technologies are increasingly being developed and improving our ability to evaluate the carbon mitigation and reduction potential of a business. For landbased organisations, one promising new tool is the potential for laser equipped drones to quickly evaluate the total above ground biomass and better allow farmers to quantify and sell their carbon via carbon markets.

Post-farm gate options, such as advanced carbon calculators and specialist evaluations, can help to limit potential emissions. SAC Consulting can help to identify areas of higher emissions and find innovative ways of reducing the carbon potential of each business.

REDUCING EMISSIONS AND FINDING SOLUTIONS

Whether your motivation is to manage carbon emissions to increase sequestration on your lands for better carbon market financing, lower overall emissions from your supply chain, or evaluate where you can meet science-based targets, there are many ways to help support and guide the work towards a lower carbon future.

Throughout the process, finding the right solution for your business is of the utmost importance. Engaging the support of carbon management experts can help to avoid unnecessary

pitfalls and maximise benefits through identifying strategies that will reduce emissions, whilst potentially improving efficiency and productivity. As carbon management becomes increasingly important for businesses, there is a need to implement solutions effectively if we are to achieve net zero targets and help to stop the effects of climate change. Better carbon management means better outcomes and ultimately a better world.

Get in touch

matthew.herbst@sac.co.uk

“One promising new tool is the potential for laser equipped drones to quickly evaluate the total above ground biomass and better allow farmers to quantify and sell their carbon via carbon markets.”

Nurturing entrepreneurial mindsets

What does this really mean and how does it affect our people?

Being an enterprise university means that we don’t just focus on learning and ideas – we are committed to turning those ideas into workable solutions and having a positive impact environmentally, socially and economically. That means that we work in quite a different way to more traditional academia, building connections and collaborations that cross disciplines and break down boundaries.

This approach is needed now, more than ever. Scotland’s Chief Entrepreneur, Mark Logan, said ‘Modern Scotland has no choice but to look forward and get on with things’ but the way forward for Scotland’s farmers and crofters and those industries dependent on natural capital, is still not clear.

Farmers and crofters that contributed to NFU Scotland’s 2023 Intentions Survey identified growing uncertainty over Scottish Government’s future agricultural policy as the greatest threat to their business. Evidence of nature-positive, net zero principles and practices, and the acceleration of innovation for the benefit of those communities, is a growing imperative.

BUILDING AN ENTERPRISE CULTURE

Enterprise is a mindset and creating a culture that supports ideas generation and promotes the development of entrepreneurial staff and students, is vital to achieving success. This means providing support and encouragement to do things that might be considered a bit ‘left field’ and providing opportunities to learn from others who have had the experience and know what it’s like to face hurdles and make mistakes.

Not everybody wants to start their own business but what’s important is to foster an environment that encourages creative thinking and the ability to contribute to sustainable solutions.

The SRUC Innovation Hub, led by Teresa Shutter, has developed the Orchard Programme, now in its fifth year, with successes already under its belt like Agrecalc, the farm carbon calculator and MI:RNA, an animal disease diagnostics company. As the name suggests, the Orchard nurtures individuals and groups to progress their innovations, providing signposting to in-house commercial acumen or external support and networks. Why is this so important? Through these innovations, brilliant ideas and new findings can be turned into products and services that bring state of the art solutions to today’s problems. But we mustn’t forget our past learnings. A core SRUC mission is to always stay relevant to the industry and fulfil our original purpose, which was to improve the productivity of Scotland’s land managers. We bring with us what is good, and add further skills and knowledge to support many, many enterprises across Scotland.

PLACE-BASED INITIATIVES

With six campuses, seven farms, 24 consultancy offices and over 7000 farmer subscribers, SRUC’s physical presence in Scotland, and beyond, is second-to-none. This allows us to interact with regional business and enterprise communities, supporting the response to regional challenges and emerging hot-spots of business interest.

SUSANNAH BOLTON, VICE PRINCIPAL – ENTERPRISE AND KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE, SRUC

Our connection deep into the natural economy and land-based industry is unique, and provides us not only with a great route to market for innovations, but also clear insight into the challenges and opportunities facing rural, food and farming businesses. It’s not just the livelihoods of the farmers and crofters, it’s whole communities and their well-being. An understanding of the distinctiveness of regions and their communities is essential if we are to achieve the ‘just transitions’ that we need.

MISSION-LED

The SRUC Challenge Centres focus on ‘Thriving Natural Capital’, ‘Responding to the Climate Emergency’ and ‘Safe and Improved Food’. These are the essential ingredients of a functioning natural economy and help build multidisciplinary answers to complex industry challenges, forging new relationships and partnerships with shared purpose.

Collaboration with partners in Europe, and more widely, has been made more challenging in recent years, but there is so much to learn and so much benefit to be gained from a vibrant international network that extra efforts must be made to ensure we have a strong international presence.

THE NEXT GENERATION OF ENTREPRENEURS

The most important job of a College or University is supporting the development of those that can make the biggest impact on our future. SRUC’s Enterprise Academy for the Rural and Natural Economy, works with our educators to support and thread sustainability and enterprise within our programmes and actively encourages our students to develop themselves and their ideas to deliver economic, societal, and environmental benefits.

What these programmes do, is give space to our students to think differently, provide opportunities to explore those ‘left field’ concepts and ideas and most importantly, go out into the world with an entrepreneurial mindset.

Staff spotlight

Sarah Buckingham

SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT

My specialities

• Soil carbon sequestration potential

• Greenhouse gas mitigation and removal strategies

• Regenerative agriculture applications and nature-based solutions to achieving net zero targets

After toying with a few different career ideas, I decided to do a BSc (Hons) Environmental Science degree as it captured my interests in science and nature and I’ve never looked back! I really enjoyed working on my undergraduate dissertation, looking at the impact of soil phosphorus loss on water quality. This led me to undertake a PhD studentship, as I wanted to learn more about the complex relationships between land management and ecosystem services.

I undertook a PhD with CEH Lancaster and Lancaster University looking at soil carbon dynamics in different soils and land use types. It was a great project, where I was lucky enough to travel around the Lake District monitoring grassland, forest and peatland sites, every fortnight, for a year. I really enjoyed seeing how different all our sites looked throughout the seasons and meeting many characters along the way!

Following my PhD, I was appointed as a researcher with SRUC’s crop and soils team in 2010, where I worked on many projects in relation to understanding soil carbon dynamics and sequestration potential, as well as assessing the impacts of agricultural management practices on soil health and greenhouse gas emissions (such as regenerative agricultural practices and nature-based solutions). I was also involved with MSc teaching, initially taking on a few lectures, which soon progressed to leading courses and finally taking on the role of programme director for MSc Soils and Sustainability (2018 –2022). I also volunteer with the British Soil Science Society Scottish Soil Discussion Group, where we try to arrange a few

engagement and knowledge exchange events annually, which range from academic meetings, to school visits.

In November 2022 I transferred to SAC Consulting’s Environment Team and I began working in SAC Consulting. I have primarily been working on carbon management services - identifying greenhouse gas reduction and avoidance strategies in agricultural and food production systems. As we strive to achieve net zero targets during economically challenging times, it is vital to identify sustainable land management strategies that, not only contribute to climate change mitigation and ecosystem health, but also provide cost-effective improvements in terms of business efficiency and productivity. I’m looking forward to getting more involved with the many new and varied projects the Environment Team are involved with and I’m excited to see where this new role may take me.

As for the wider industry, If I was given one wish, it would be for more investment and for it to be available over longer time periods. There’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach for achieving net zero within agriculture and so long-term investments are needed to help develop bespoke strategies and to support the many different farm types we have in the agricultural sector.

Get in touch

sarah.buckingham@sac.co.uk

“When I was thinking about potential careers at school, it never occurred to me that I would end up working as a soil scientist and environmental consultant. I had no idea such jobs existed to be honest!”

Lorna Cole

SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT

My specialities

• Specialist knowledge of habitats, their biodiversity and appropriate management

• Agroecology, enhancing multi-functionality in farmland ecosystems

• Interactions between farm management and biodiversity

• Beneficial insects and the ecosystem services they provide

• Communicating to a broad range of different people

I started at SRUC over 25 years ago, looking at the interactions between farming and wildlife, and lecturing in Wildlife and Conservation Management.

Through conducting research at SRUC on working farms, I gained a sound understanding of a range of Scottish farming systems. This gave me an insight into the challenges farmers face, and how they tackle these challenges through innovation and hard work. I grew to understand the species that are present on farmland and their ecology. This has helped me determine the effectiveness and ease of implementation of agri-environment options. I have always enjoyed being out and about, and studying insect pollinators is lovely work as they can only be surveyed when it is warm and sunny!

Last October, I began working in SAC Consulting, as part of the environment team. I am really enjoying the new challenge, working more closely with landowners, and completing a diversity of tasks. I could be out surveying an estate one day, creating videos for the Farm Advisory Service the next, and report writing thereafter.

If I could do anyone else’s job at SAC Consulting, it would be Helen Bibby, a Senior Consultant based in our Oban office. She has a fantastic job, she gets to go out and about doing farmland surveys in some of the most wonderful locations in Scotland.

In Ayrshire we get excited if we see a small heath butterfly when we are doing our surveys, Helen gets to see rare and exciting species like the Marsh Fritillary butterfly and butterfly orchids. She also gets to sail to islands all around the west coast. I like Ayrshire, but it isn’t the same as these remote areas where you see otters and eagles everywhere!

As part of my work with the Farm Advisory Service (FAS), I had the opportunity to team up with the Scottish Wildlife Trust and some fantastic farmers to produce a video on promoting pollinators. The Trust are working with farmers, schools and local authorities all along the west coast, to create a nectar network. It was great to hear how the farming community are helping to connect habitat through our countryside and learn about the trials and tribulations of creating species-rich grasslands.

If I had one wish, which could better the industry, it would be for people to pause and reconnect with nature; to think about how crucial healthy ecosystems are to our future.

Get in touch

lorna.cole@sac.co.uk

“Growing up, I was always happiest immersed in nature - looking for bugs under stones, or rockpooling. My love of nature took me to Glasgow University to study Zoology, and then on to study my PhD in springtails - tiny primitive soil dwelling arthropods.”

SAC Consulting Offices