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Carbon Management Takes Centre Stage at SAC

SAC News Release Ref. No: 11N61
Published: 24 May 2011

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In response to the increasing importance Governments place on policies linked to climate change, SAC has established a new Carbon Management Centre to co-ordinate and grow the research, teaching and consultancy it is already doing in this area. SAC is recruiting staff for new, high level, research posts linked to the work of the Centre.

Across its three divisions SAC combines a range of skills related to the development of low carbon agriculture and food production. SAC will make greater, more integrated, use of these skills and work as an integral part of the Scottish Government’s new Centre of Expertise on Climate Change to deliver high level policy advice to government and help industry partners adapt to new approaches and ways of working. 

Virtually all greenhouse gas emissions are now being expressed in “carbon equivalents” so Carbon Management represents more than carbon dioxide. The methane linked to the livestock sector, or the nitrous oxide associated with fertiliser use, also fit the description. They are already very much part of SAC’s research and consultancy work.

According to Dr Bob Rees, who l heads up the new SAC Carbon management Centre,

“The UK and Scottish Governments have set ambitious, legally-binding targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% in 40 years. Agriculture, which as a whole, is responsible for around 20%, will have to play its part. Already farmers are using SAC advice to improve their management of fertilisers, slurry’s and manures. This change in behaviour is saving them money and cutting emissions.”

SAC’s vision for the new Carbon Management Centre is to be internationally recognised in research and advice for key clients, including policy makers, retailers and farmers. They will need better predictions of what climate change will mean for them and guidance on how best to adapt and cope with the extreme events it might bring.

“Whatever the impacts and adaptation choices, there is an obligation on everyone to reduce emissions”, says Bob Rees. “This mitigation must be technically and economically efficient as well as fair. These three themes, impact, adaptation and mitigation set a clear direction for the SAC Carbon Management Centre.”

While one role of the Carbon Management Centre will be to co ordinate existing activity - about a third of new research contracts won each year in SAC’s £17m research portfolio are carbon related - SAC will create new research posts. These include a Professor of Behavioural Change and several PhD studentships. Through the CMC there will be globally recognised teaching in low carbon farming and land management.  

Dr Rees believes there is a lot to do.

“SAC is supported by three legs, teaching, research and advice. That tradition continues and the CMC will ensure that all the three strands work together to meet the challenges. For instance 80% of the world’s available land can’t grow crops but can support livestock. So simplistic attitudes to reducing ruminant methane production are not the answer. We need systems  that make the most efficient use of key resources, including livestock production from grassland.”

“Similarly, one study shows that as little as 4% of the nitrogen produced for food production ends up in the final product. The rest escapes to the environment and contributes to net greenhouse gas emissions (expressed in C equivalents). So we have real targets for improving nitrogen efficiency that appropriate research, consultancy and education can help us reach.”

In the coming months staff at the CMC will be working to have SAC’s Carbon Calculator validated for wider industry use. There will be undergraduate and post graduate SAC courses at a range of levels explaining the links between farming and climate change, and preparing students to face important future challenges. A Low Carbon Farming Conference is being planned for Edinburgh later this year.

To contact Dr. Bob Rees phone 0131 535 4365, 07796 194269, email at bob.rees@sac.ac.uk

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News Release Contacts

SAC Contact

Dr Bob Rees
Senior Soil Scientist
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC, King's Buildings, West Mains Road,
Edinburgh
EH9 3JG
TelWork 0131 535 4365
Fax 0131 535 4144

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News Release Issued By

Mr Ken Rundle
Senior Communications Officer
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC, King's Buildings, West Mains Road,
Edinburgh
EH9 3JG
TelWork 0131 535 4196

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