Scottish Government

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CONTENTS

Editorial
Focus
Research Programme Highlights
New Flexible Fund Projects
Completed Flexible Fund Projects
Core Programmes 2003-2004
What's New
Publications
Forthcoming Event

This is the first newsletter since I took over as Head of ABRG, so I am very pleased to introduce myself to all its readers. I have learned a lot in the 3 months that I have been in post. I have clearly come to ABRG at a significant time in the throes of a major strategic review. It is perhaps the best time to pick one's way slowly up the learning curve (is there any learning curve that is not of precipitous steepness?). It is interesting to note that despite the huge differences between science and previous areas that I have had responsibility for in the Executive, some of the underlying issues are the same. The challenge of finding resources and using them wisely, the need to be clear about priorities, the expectations and implications of change, and the commitment of those in the field. I have met many in our sponsored bodies and elsewhere and I am grateful for the informative help that they have given me. I look forward to meeting many more of you in the coming months.

Bob Irvine

Bob has been Head of ABRG since 5 January 2004. He was previously Head of Sport Arts and Culture in the Scottish Executive Education Department.

SEERAD Research Strategy Review

As many readers will be aware, the current SEERAD research strategy for Agricultural, Biological and Related Research is now coming to the end of its expected life span and we have been undertaking a review of the SEERAD research programme and its management to help us formulate the future strategy.

As part of the review process we have carried out a wide consultation on the future research needs and priorities for the SEERAD research programme. This involved six related review projects which fed into the main Strategy Review, along with an extensive written consultation exercise and a series of consultation meetings based on this. This has involved:

• Analysis of over 100 written responses to the consultation document.

• Meetings with each sponsored body.

• Five external Focus Group discussions in the areas of: Environment and Rural Communities; Sustainable Agriculture (Livestock); Sustainable Agriculture (Crops); Food, Nutrition and Human Health; and Bioindustries, with membership drawn widely from scientists, end-users, other funders, and Scottish Executive policy interests.

• Five meetings with policy groups in SEERAD and SEHD, to focus on future research needs and priorities relevant to Executive policy objectives.

• Received the final Visiting Group Reports on each of our sponsored body organisations, and held a meeting with all the Visiting Group Chairs.

• Pursued the reviews of: the sponsorship of the core programmes at the Institutes; management of superannuation funds; knowledge transfer and commercialisation; and the use of the Flexible Fund.

The Review was guided by a Strategy Review Advisory Group consisting of members with a variety of interests and experience from Scottish Executive policy areas, other funders and academia.

The consultation phase is mainly complete and discussions with major stakeholders on how to take forward the outcomes is currently under way. We hope to circulate a draft of the new Strategy for further comment during May 2004 (it will be posted on the ABRG website) with a view to publishing the final document in the summer.

This has been a major undertaking for ABRG over recent months and we are very grateful to all those who took time to assist with the consultation and for the patience and forbearance of our colleagues when other tasks were delayed!

RESEARCH ORGANISATION ASSESSMENT EXERCISE

In the fifth newsletter we set out the process applied in the ROAE - our major periodic peer review assessment of the SEERAD sponsored bodies. This process is now complete and the outcomes of the assessment have made a major input to the Strategy Review process. The main points arising from the Visiting Group findings overall are:

• On quality of science, on the whole, the organisations scored at "high national" or "international" ratings, with a significant number of the programmes within the institutes being at the international rating.

• All of the research organisations are mission-driven, with scientific remits focused on particular strategic end-use sectors, this being one of the key distinctions between strategically managed institutes and universities. For this reason the relevance of research is as important as its quality. The Visiting Groups' assessment was that, in general, all of the organisations' core research programmes were strongly or very strongly relevant to their relevant end-use sectors.

• The Visiting Groups confirmed that, again in general, each of the organisations provides a distinctive contribution to the UK science base, either by virtue of the particular facilities and infrastructure they have, or the areas of science being conducted, or the particular blends of multidisciplinary skills which they provide.

• The assessment of scientific leadership and forward strategic planning was more variable, however, with some organisations being very strong on both of these, some having a mixed assessment, and others having some weaknesses.

• On knowledge transfer and exploitation, the results were also variable with some institutes being very strong, but with others requiring to address their links with end-users and also the arrangements for commercialisation of research.

• The Visiting Group also found that overall the Sponsored Bodies had, on the whole, preformed well in addressing the key objectives in the SEERAD Strategy.

A meeting of all the Chairs of the seven Visiting Groups was convened to provide an overview. The Chairs: confirmed that the exercise had been conducted with a degree of rigour equivalent to the BBSRC; and concluded that the ABRG sponsored research organisations contained many unique strengths in the UK science base and are of an equivalent standard to research institutes elsewhere in the UK.

ABRG recognise the extensive effort that went into the preparations for the ROAE on behalf of all the sponsored bodies and congratulate them on a generally very positive outcome.

Genomics research has transformed the life sciences through the development of technologies that can capture and analyse the information within the genetic material of an organism. SEERAD recognises the importance of genomics and bioinformatics to the life sciences and their enormous potential for improving human health, the environment and agriculture. After a period of wide ranging consultation, in September 2001 ABRG produced the document "Genomics: A Strategy for SEERAD and its Sponsored Bodies". This focuses on how to take advantage of key opportunities offered by genomics and bioinformatics to Scottish life science research.

As part of the strategy a Genomics Task Force was formed, which consisted of representatives of SEERAD and each of the sponsored bodies. The Task Force has played a key role in keeping the sponsored bodies informed of what equipment, expertise and funding opportunities are available to their scientists. It has also served as a forum for the exchange of ideas and for building collaborations between scientists, essential to the process of scientific research and innovation. Its annual workshops on current topics within genomics research have been a notable success. Last year over 80 people attended a workshop on Microbial Genomics and Proteomics, with seminars provided by experts from each field and a poster session.

The lifetime of the Task Force has been characterised by the rapid uptake and exploitation of genomic technologies by the sponsored bodies. There have been some outstanding achievements by the sponsored bodies in developing research consortia that have delivered key objectives of the genomic strategy.

Microbial Genomics was identified as one scientific opportunity within the Genomics Strategy document. The Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI) and the Moredun Research Institute (MRI) have been involved in research consortiums that have successfully sequenced three microbial genomes. SCRI fully sequenced the genome of Erwinia carotovora sbsp. atroseptica (Eca), an important potato pathogen that causes blackleg in field crops and soft rots of stored tubers. This has allowed scientists to identify many important genes involved in disease development, knowledge that can be used to design effective methods to combat this pathogen.

MRI also distinguished itself through the complete sequencing of two microbial pathogens of livestock, Mannheimia haemolytica and Chlamydophila abortus. These pathogens have a major impact on the health and welfare of livestock. In addition, at the Rowett Research Institute (RRI) the genomic sequence of the microbe, Roseburia sp A2-138, which naturally resides within the human gut, is currently being completed.

At the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE), the genomics initiative is seen as an opportunity to undertake research on natural systems to understand complex phenotypes, and several projects are currently underway to exploit this opportunity, on plants of economically important families such as Leguminosae and Gesneriaceae.

Bioinformatics support is essential to the analysis and exploitation of genomic data. BioSS has developed its bioinformatics capability, improving its advisory and training function and benefiting all the sponsored bodies. Recently BioSS have released a test version of bioinformatics software called TOPALi which can detect rearrangements within the genome of an organism and has developed other bioinformatics analysis tools to analyse microarray data.

Researchers are now increasingly turning their attention to the new opportunities presented by the ability to compare the genomes of different organisms, determining gene function and dissect the basis of complex phenotypes. Many of the sponsored bodies have the capacity to undertake large-scale gene expression analysis using microarrays, high throughput phenotypic screening and advanced protein analysis. This is a significant advance in capability, achieved since the release of the Genomics Strategy document.

Collaboration between researchers and the access to genomics equipment and expertise is essential if the opportunities presented by genomic science are to be realised. The Genomics Task Force through its role of information dissemination and facilitating dialogue between scientists will play a significant role in the future success of SEERAD's strategy for genomic science.

Dr Jamie Newbold has been awarded 150k from the Proof of Concept Fund to develop technology which has the potential to significantly reduce the amount of methane currently produced by sheep and cattle. Methane is an important greenhouse gas and The Kyoto Protocol requires the UK to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Within Scotland, agriculture is responsible for 51% of all methane emissions, with the majority (over 90%, 163 Gg/year) coming from sheep and cattle.

"Cows can lose around 10% of the energy in their diet by belching out methane. This loss is bad for the cow and bad for the environment", said Jamie. "Our previous research identified that organic sugars such as fumerate and a novel methane oxidising bacterium, are both potential feed additives which are capable of decreasing methane production in cattle and sheep".

The funding from Proof of Concept will enable Jamie and his colleagues to undertake further work such as finding practical ways of growing and storing methane oxidising bacteria and developing appropriate formulations of the organic sugars and studying the dose-response. This work is necessary before the commercialisation of these additives can be considered.

A joint study underway by SAC and the Macaulay Institute, in association with the Centre for Research into Environment and Health and FWAG, is assessing a range of measures to reduce the risk of pollution of bathing waters from livestock farms. Based on the results of the study, the team aims to design and install a range of pollution reduction measures on 48 farms in the sensitive catchments of Ettrick Bay (Bute), Cessnock (Ayrshire), Sandyhills (Dumfries) and the River Nairn where bathing waters have failed on a number of occasions to meet quality standards.

A water quality monitoring system has been established in these catchments to assess the effectiveness of the pollution reduction measures. As part of the study, the economic impact on farm businesses of the pollution reduction measures will also be assessed and cost-effective methods of treating farm slurries to reduce the risk of water pollution will be evaluated.

In the first part of this SEERAD-funded project, studies on faecal coliform loadings in drainage waters from livestock farms are being carried out.

A study carried out by SAC's Conservation and Rural Business Unit staff "Integrated Farm Business and Environmental Audits" has identified some of the barriers which prevent farmers shifting away from production based decisions to farming systems which integrate more environmentally sensitive methods of farming, encompassing waste and nutrient management. In the SEERAD-funded study five farms, representative of different farming systems in different regions of Scotland, were selected as case studies. The aim of the study was to find systems which created environmental benefit and improved financial results.

Results showed the primary reasons for farmers failing to move to integrated farming systems were; constraints relating to finance (especially fixed costs exceeding any incentive payments from environmental schemes), regional infrastructure, limited resources - especially labour and management time and ability, lack of awareness of options and incentives. In addition farmers considered that changes away from established farming methods involved risk.
In some intensive farming areas a major decapitalisation to a simpler farming policy had the potential to improve profits and allowed environmental gains. However, this required a huge change in the outlook of the farmer, as well as a new set of skills.

The results of the study will now be used to direct farm advisers in preparing environmental audits to guide farmers and farm businesses towards making decisions based on a more integrated approach to farming and the environment.

Twenty new projects began between April and December 2003:

Develop a satisfactory detection method for phytophthora fragariae var. rubi and phytophthora idaei in high health rubus mother plant stocks using water eluates from potted plants - SCRI

An integrated strategy for monitoring natural attenuation using chemical fingerprinting and molecular analysis - University of Essex

Evaluation of organic farming system research needs for Scotland - ADAS, SQW Limited

Environmental effect of woodchip corrals - Centre for Research into Environment and Health

EUREKA PROJECT: Reduction of water use in the EU malting industry - GBMA - The Malsters Association

Factors that influence Scottish Organic Farmers' and Growers' decisions on completion of OAS Agreement - DTZ Pieda Consultants

The incorporation of predicted climate impacts into Scottish biodiversity action plans - Centre for Ecology and Hydrology

An investigation of the costs and benefits of Natura - Jacobs Gibb

Factors affecting the prevalance of clones of Myzus Persicae in Scotland, particularly those with Aphicide resistance, and implications for virus control in seed potatoes - SCRI

Review of contribution to climate change (through greenhouse gas emissions) of fertiliser use in Scotland on different soil types and through different application methods - University of Edinburgh

Rural Planning Typologies Research - Land Use Consultants

Energy from crops, timbers and agricultural residue - MLURI

Challenges in creating local agri-environment co-operation action amongst farmers and other stakeholders - MLURI

Provision of a screening tool to identify and characterise diffuse pollution pressures and impacts: phase II - QSR - Sniffer

Management strategies and mitigation measures required to deliver WFD for impoundments - QSR - Sniffer

Ralstonia solanacearum contamination of Scottish rivers: Identifying the risks to high-grade seed production - SASA

The implications of CAP reform in Scotland - Pre-consultation analysis - SAC Commercial Ltd

Capercaillie LIFE - Highland Birchwoods

The creation of species-rich grassland - SNH

Genetic selection for improved pre-weaning survival of piglets - University of Newcastle

Nineteen projects ended between April and December 2003:

Potential targets for biologically based novel methods of control of the sheep scab mite by study of its basic biology and endocrinology - Central Science Laboratory

The acute phase protein response in an experimental model of staphylococcus aureus mastitis in dairy cows - HRI

Reduction of risk associated with contamination of raw milk by Mycobacterium avium ssp. Paratuberculosis - LINK

An investigation of the costs and benefits of Natura - Jacob Gibb

Public perceptions of food and farming - Market Research Ltd

The nutritional basis of the periparturient relaxation of immunity to gastrointestinal parasites - MRI

Efficacy studies on a plant virus-based expression system and on alternative delivery routes for peptides and proteins with pharmaceutical, therapeutic and related uses for improving animal health, nutrition and welfare - MRI, HRI, RRI, SCRI

Genomic sequencing and proteomic analysis of the potato pathogen Erwinia carotovora subsp. Atroseptica (Eca) and the animal pathogen - MRI, Sanger Centre, SCRI

QTL identification and utilisation in sheep sire referencing scheme - LINK

Developing effective suckler cow replacement strategies - LINK

Ettrick Bay: Assessing the impact of agricultural advice on bathing quality - SAC

The implications of CAP reform in Scotland - Pre-consultation analysis - SAC Commercial Limited

Development of Rubus genotypes with transgenic resistance to raspberry bushy dwarf virus - SCRI

Significance and mechanisms of landscape-scale gene flow - SCRI

Phytophthora diseases of soft fruit: Determining their prevalence and the "source" of new outbreaks in Scotland - SCRI

Develop a satisfactory detection method for phytophthora fragariae var. rubi and phytophthora idaei in high health rubus mother plant stocks using water eluates from potted plants - SCRI

Economic impact of foot and mouth outbreak in Scotland - University of Strathclyde

Effects of foot and mouth disease on farming practice in the Solway in 2001, and the consequences for the Svalbard barnacle goose population in winter 2001-02 and subsequently - Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust

Factors that influence Scottish Organic Farmers' and Growers' decisions on completion of OAS Agreement - DTZ Pieda Consultants

BIOSS - ONE NEW PROJECT

1. Research, consultancy and training in biomathematics and statistics in support of SEERAD-sponsored R&D.

HANNAH RESEARCH INSTITUTE (HRI) - NINE NEW PROJECTS

1. Fatty acid metabolism in the liver.

2. Molecular characterisation of genes and gene-products involved in fatty acid metabolism.

3. Seeking a mechanistic explanation for the protective effect of lactation against a mammary cancer.

4. The role of amino acid transport in mammary epithelial cell survival: importance of system L in normal and cancerous human mammary epithelial cells.

5. Potassium and chloride transport in normal and tumorigenic mammary epithelial cells.

6. Mechanism and consequences of ectopic lipid accretion: contribution of de novo synthesis and oxidative rates.

7. Control of cell fate in the mammary gland; cytokine: growth factor interactions.

8. Adipose tissue: mammary gland interactions; implications of maternal obesity for mammary gland function, cancer risk and neonatal development.

9. The role of proteases involved in extracellular matrix modelling in the determination of cell death or tumorigenesis.

MACAULAY INSTITUTE (MLURI) - SEVEN NEW PROJECTS

1. Farmers' resistance to land-use change in Scotland.

2. Assessing the impact of environmental change on aquatic ecosystems.

3. Understanding the ecophysiology of nitrogen storage and remobilization by trees for ecosystem management.

4. Environmental interactions between alluvial soils, riparian zones and aquatic ecosystems.

5. Characterising the impact of rhizodeposition from contrasting plant species of marginal lands on microbial C-utilisation and community diversity.

6. Spatially explicit, agent-based simulations of land use change: exploiting and enhancing the FEARLUS modelling system.

7. The potential use of domestic ruminants as part of an integrated system for the control of bracken.

MOREDUN RESEARCH INSTITUTE (MRI) - SIX NEW PROJECTS

1. Mucosal immunity to gastrointestinal nematode parasites.

2. Host responses to sheep scab.

3. Foetal mortality in sheep and cattle; the role of infections.

4. Towards a vaccine for Haemonchus contortus, an important nemotade parasite of sheep.

5. Genetics and molecular pathogenesis of malignant catarrhal fever viruses.

6. Intestinal cell membrane proteins from non blood-feeding parasitic nematodes as protective antigens for ruminants.

ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN EDINBURGH (RBGE) - FOUR NEW PROJECTS

1. Biotic survey of the Gaoligong Shan, China.

2. Morphological and molecular studies in Marchantiales.

3. Action for lower plants in Scotland 2.

4. Flora of Nepal.

ROWETT RESEARCH INSTITUTE (RRI) - ONE NEW PROJECT

1. The role of ciliate protozoa in biohydrogenation in the rumen.

SCOTTISH AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE (SAC) - SIXTEEN NEW PROJECTS

1. Rural development implications of changing agricultural employment patterns.

2. Measuring farmer preferences and willingness to accept in land management contract design.

3. Cost-effective structure and sustainable product quality output in the Scottish beef sector.

4. Impact of vegetation structure and spatial heterogeneity on invertebrate biodiversity within upland landscapes.

5. Implementation and evaluation of mitigation strategies for pollution control at a farm scale (PEPFAA into Practice).

6. Development of methods to optimise design of woodchip corrals to minimise the pollution risk relative to other methods of overwintering livestock.

7. Conceptual and practical issues involved in incorporating behavioural adaptation and welfare in the CRF dairy systems research.

8. Conclusion of work relating to development of pecking behaviour in domestic fowls.

9. Sustainable genetic improvement of farmed livestock - optimal use of molecular genetic technologies in conservation and selection programmes.

10. Biosecurity and Ruminant Genetics - gamete conservation in disease-free conditions (pestivirus case study).

11. Development of an experimental model of post-weaning colibacillosis in pigs.

12. Consequences of manipulating the antioxidant status of the maternal diet for embryonic and early post natal chick health.

13. Impact of gut status on chick health.

14. Resistance to Rhizoctonia solani in stems and stolons of potato: mechanisms and opportunities for improved control.

15. Development of a conceptual model of barley grain quality.

16. Meat quality - carcass shape and eating quality in two divergent breeds of sheep: Texel and Scottish Blackface.

SCOTTISH CROP RESEARCH INSTITUTE (SCRI) - SEVENTEEN NEW PROJECTS

1. Developing physiologically based models linking genetic variation among individuals to the sustainability of biodiversity at the scale of the community.

2. Understanding the role and function of virus proteins in the establishment of systemic infection.

3. Exploitation of barley mutant populations.

4. Defining stability of host-pathogen dynamics of fungal leaf blights in heterogeneous barley and other graminaceous canopy structures.

5. Biophysical and physiological interactions at the root-soil interface.

6. Interpretation and application of indicators of arable ecosystem sustainability.

7. Molecular mechanisms in alternative splicing.

8. Population biology, molecular evolution and epidemiology of potato late blight (Phytophthora infestans).

9. An integrated and quantitative approach to the exploitation of sequence data from plant genomes.

10. The bioavailability and bioefficacy of soft fruit antioxidants.

11. Exploration and exploitation of phytochemical diversity in the Commonwealth Potato Collection through metabolite profiling.

12. Characterisation of novel genes from the Erwinia carotovora subsp. atroseptica genome sequence and their effects on corresponding response genes in potato.

13. Nuclear dynamics and small novel RNAs in the regulation of plant gene expression.

14. Gene based marker development for exploitation in barley.

15. Quantifying the role of environmental pertubation and plant genotypes in creating resilient and sustainable agroecosystems.

16. Interpretation of microbial functional interactions in the carbon and nitrogen cycles for the effective management of sustainable arable ecosystems.

17. Connecting barley genotypes to phenotype with focus on grain quality traits.

MOREDUN APPOINTS NEW CHIEF

The Moredun Foundation and Moredun Research Institute are delighted to announce that Professor Julie Fitzpatrick, Professor in Farm Animal Medicine at Glasgow Vet School, has accepted the position of Chief Executive and Scientific Director of the Moredun Group.

Professor Fitzpatrick has a distinguished career in veterinary research. Graduating from Glasgow Vet School in 1982 she spent five years in mixed practice before gaining a PhD at the University of Bristol. In 1993 she returned to Glasgow Vet School as a lecturer before becoming Head of the Division of Farm Animal Medicine and Production in 1998. In 1999 Glasgow appointed her Professor in Farm Animal Medicine and earlier this year the RCVS Trust awarded her with the G Norman Hall Medal for research into animal diseases. Professor Fitzpatrick's research interests include farm animal health and welfare, mastitis, food safety and quality.

Professor Sir James Armour, Chairman of the Moredun Foundation commented "Professor Fitzpatrick brings with her a wide range of skills which can only benefit the Moredun Group in the forthcoming years".

John Ross, Chairman of Moredun Research Institute was very pleased that Professor Fitzpatrick had accepted the post. He said "I am confident that the high scientific standards set by MRI and recognised internationally will be maintained and enhanced by this appointment".

Professor Fitzpatrick will take up her new post in June 2004. She succeeds Professor Quintin McKellar who is moving to take up the post of Principal of the Royal Veterinary College, London, in the summer.

RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS SCOOP 2.3M TO HELP COMMERCIALISE SCIENCE

A consortium led by the Moredun Research Institute and comprising the Institute of Animal Health, the Roslin Institute, the Rowett Research Institute and the Scottish Agriculture College has been awarded 1.5 million in the latest round of the Office of Science and Technology's Public Sector Research Exploitation (PSRE) competition.

The Genomia Fund will provide seed fund support for proof of concept and business development proposals targeting the important developments in food production and advances in bio-medical technologies arising from the five member institutes.

Moredun was also a partner in a second consortium which has been awarded 800,000 by the same PSRE competition. The Genecom partnership involves Moredun, Roslin and the Institute of Animal Health and will help partners to share their experience and intellectual property and develop new and innovative business and commercial opportunities from their research.

Professor Quintin McKellar, Moredun Director is confident that these awards will help bridge the often reported gap in UK commercialisation activities. "Both the Genomia Fund and Genecom Partnership will enable us to exploit new technologies and intellectual property and develop commercially realisable opportunities. This will undoubtedly focus attention on the commercial potential of Scottish and UK science".

LANDMARK FOR DAIRY RESEARCH: SAC OPENS CENTRE AT DUMFRIES

SAC has officially opened its Dairy Research Centre at Crichton Royal Dumfries where SEERAD-supported developments have enabled the integration of all SAC's dairy cattle research at one site. The overall aim of the Centre is to develop and then test sustainable breeding and management systems for dairy cattle, with particular emphasis on improving the health and welfare of the animals. Research at the new centre will provide a much more solid scientific basis for the development of future breeding and management schemes that have measurable benefits for cow health and welfare and for the environment.

Concentration of SAC's dairy research in the heart of the Scottish dairy industry will enable SAC researchers to work closely with the industry to help identify needs and evolve a research and development programme to meet these needs.
It will also enhance SAC's ability to deliver more effective advisory and consultancy services to the dairy farming industry.

SAC EXPANDS ORGANIC DEMONSTRATION FARM NETWORK

Two new farms, a mixed farm and a dairy farm, were added to SAC's network of commercial demonstration organic farms in Scotland in early 2003. Funded by SEERAD as part of its support for organic farming in Scotland, the aim of the network is to demonstrate the feasibility and practicalities of organic farming through farm walks and seminars linked with working farms.

The two most recent farms to join the network are Godscroft near Duns in Berwickshire and East Mains, Kirkinner, Newton Stewart. Godscroft is a 715ha mixed farm with cereals, swedes, beef and sheep, farmed by Duncan Shell, and East Mains, Kirkinner is a 180ha dairy farm farmed by Ian Robinson. They join three other farms which were integrated into the network in 2002; Weston Farm, Dunsyre, Lanarkshire, an upland beef and sheep unit run by Carey Coombs
(a member of Soil Association Scotland steering group); Kincraigie, Blair Atholl, which is an
all-sheep hill farm run by Mr Innes Smith; and Blackruthven, Perth, a lowground cropping farm run by Hugh Grierson.

LOOKING DEEPER

In April 2003, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh took delivery of a brand new scanning electron microscope (SEM) purchased with the help of a supplementary capital grant from RBGE's funding body, SEERAD. The new SEM, a state-of-the-art LEO Supra, is one of the first of its model in use in the country. It employs field emission technology instead of the normal tungsten system used by the Garden's previous SEM; and captures images digitally without the need for film.

Electron microscopist Frieda Christie is delighted with the improved performance the new SEM provides: "It gives us images at a much higher resolution, and with greater depth of field. This means we're able to capture amazing detail, be it of diatoms, pollen, seed or flower structures".

RBGE AWARDED TWO NEW DARWIN PROJECTS IN THE HIMALAYA

The Garden's ongoing interest in the flora of the Himalaya received a boost in April 2003 with the awarding of grants by the Darwin Initiative to support two three-year projects by RBGE staff in Nepal and Bhutan respectively.

The first project, "Building capacity for plant biodiversity, inventory and conservation in Nepal", is led by Regius Keeper Stephen Blackmore and botanist Mark Watson, and received 112,150 in funding. "This project builds on RBGE's past expeditions to Nepal and research in Bhutan; however, the focus of the new project is people" says Stephen Blackmore. "RBGE will provide hands-on training in Nepal for 18 local botanists in plant collection and field recording techniques, as well as the curation of herbarium specimens. The project will provide the 'mountain kingdom' with its own highly skilled scientists to do biodiversity assessments and conservation planning. It will also facilitate their participation in the long-term Flora of Nepal project to document all the plant species found there".

David Rae, RBGE's Director of Horticulture, leads the second project, "Horticultural training and facilities development for the national botanic garden in Thimphu, Bhutan" which has been awarded funding to the value of 124,000. "This is a practical project following on from the Garden's work on the Flora of Bhutan over the last 27 years" he says.

"With this project we hope to help Bhutan build its capacity for conservation and education on a practical level" David continues. "RBGE horticulturists will work shoulder to shoulder with Bhutanese counterparts at the newly established botanic garden at Thimphu to build a nursery, among other things". Apart from improving facilities, RBGE will help build skills. "Over the next three years we'll host training programmes and workshops for Bhutanese horticulture and education staff, as well as arrange staff exchanges between Scotland and Bhutan".

The UK-based Darwin Initiative is a small grants programme supporting biodiversity and conservation work in less developed countries. RBGE is currently home to five Darwin Initiative projects.

The "Strategy for Agricultural, Biological and Related Research 1999-2003 Fourth Annual Report" was published in January 2004.

The annual SEERAD "Programme of Agricultural, Biological and Related Research 2003-2004" was published in September 2003. It contains lists of approximately 370 SEERAD-funded projects current in 2003-04. Copies can be obtained from Dr Beverley Williams, Tel: 0131 244 3106, email: beverley.williams@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.

The " Flexible Fund Annual Report 2002-03" was published in December 2003.

All publications are available on the ABRG website - www.scotland.gov.uk/abrg

MACAULAY INSTITUTE

28th T B Macaulay Lecture

Tuesday 26 October 2004

Professor Brian Walker, CSIRO, Australia, Program Director of The Resilience Alliance, will give this lecture. Lecture title and abstract will appear on the Macaulay Institute website at www.macaulay.ac.uk.

SCOTTISH CROP RESEARCH INSTITUTE

SCRI Open Days

Friday 4 June 2004

Invited Guests; Guided tours and activities for school parties

Saturday 5 June 2004
10am-4pm for the general public

Enquiries for schools' event Sharon Neilson 01382 562731
S.Neilson@scri.sari.ac.uk

All other enquiries Sarah Stephens 01382 560000
S.Stephens@scri.sari.ac.uk

SABRI Lecture

Wednesday 23 June 2004

BONAR HALL, UNIVERSITY OF DUNDEE

Biotechnology, Organic Farming and Shaping our Agricultural Future

Lecture to be given by Professor M S Swaminathan, the father of the Green revolution in Asia.

All enquiries to Sarah Stephens 01382 560000
S.Stephens@scri.sari.ac.uk

Fruit for the Future

Thursday 15 July 2004

2pm-6pm

To be held at SCRI with organised tours of the fruit trials and a chance to talk to the research scientists.

All enquiries to Sarah Stephens 01382 560000
S.Stephens@scri.sari.ac.uk

Potatoes in Practice

Thursday 5 August 2004

10am-6pm

SCRI, GOURDIE FARM

A chance to see the SCRI, SAC and BPC potato trials. This year also commercial trials from the Potato industry (organised by CSC PotatoCare). An opportunity for farmers, advisors and all those in the Potato industry to view research, trials and new varieties on site, speak to the experts and view exhibits concerning current research.

All enquiries to Sarah Stephens 01382 560000
S.Stephens@scri.sari.ac.uk

In addition to these scheduled events, many of the Sponsored Bodies will attend agricultural shows and events throughout the UK. Further details can be found on individual websites (see Contact Details for website addresses).

Hannah Research Institute
Tel: +44 (0)1292 674000
Fax: +44 (0)1292 674004
www.hannah.ac.uk

Macaulay Institute
Tel: +44 (0)1224 498200
Fax: +44(0)1224 311556
www.macaulay.ac.uk

Moredun Research Institute
Tel: +44 (0)131 445 5111
Fax: +44 (0)131 445 6111
www.mri.sari.ac.uk

Rowett Research Institute
Tel: +44 (0)1224 712751
Fax: +44 (0)1224 715349
www.rowett.ac.uk

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Tel: +44 (0)131 552 7171
Fax: +44 (0)131 248 2901
www.rbge.org.uk

Scottish Agricultural College
Tel: +44 (0)131 535 4000
Fax: +44 (0)131 667 2601
www.sac.ac.uk

Scottish Crop Research Institute
Tel: +44 (0)1382 562731
Fax: +44 (0)1382 562426
www.scri.sari.ac.uk

Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland
Tel: +44 (0)131 650 4900
Fax: +44 (0)131 650 4901
www.bioss.sari.ac.uk

If there is an event, research topic or development which you would like to be included in a forthcoming edition of this newsletter, please contact Jean Gilchrist at the address below or: Tel: +44 (0)131 244 6428
E-mail: jean.gilchrist@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Agricultural and Biological Research Group
SEERAD
Room 431, Pentland House
47 Robb's Loan
Edinburgh EH14 1TY
Fax: +44 (0)131 244 6566
www.scotland.gov.uk/abrg