SAC Research

The Research Division has an extensive knowledge which continues to expand across a wide spectrum, vital to meet the many challenges faced by the rural sector.

Key Areas include:

• Food security
• Population growth
• Climate change
• Increase in energy costs and food availability

SAC’s Rural Policy Centre is based within Land Economy and Environment Research Group, aimed at providing impartial evidence to help inform the development of national and international rural policy.

The Animal Health Group's key research areas are in food security and increasing the sustainability and profitability of Scottish agriculture.

Our Crop and Soil Systems Group are currently focusing on the environmental consequences of different crop production.

In response to socio-demographic and environmental challenges, our Land Economy and Environment Research Group develops strategically.

Sustainable Livestock Systems make a difference using scientific knowledge to address and resolve problems as they arise.

SAC owns farms and research facilities which support our research, teaching and knowledge exchange/consultancy functions.

We manage four research farm centres (dairy, arable, beef and upland/hill sheep) to provide research, education and knowledge transfer resources.

There are commercial scale pig and poultry units with significant research interest at Bush and the Auchincruive campus in Ayr.

The Avian Science Research Centre (ASRC) provides the focus for SAC's avian-related research, technology transfer and education.