SAC Research

Food Supply Chains Projects

Improving the quality of pork and pork products for the consumer: Development of an innovative, integrated and sustainable food production chain of high quality pork products matching consumer demand

Evidence for a vast amount of factors affecting pork quality is rapidly expanding. Review papers that aim to summarize the accumulated knowledge are generally narrative, presenting results and interpretations qualitatively and subjectively. The objective of this project is to integrate existing data and upcoming knowledge to produce a quantitative model that predicts technological and sensory pork quality, based on animal, production and slaughter information. A meta-analysis approach is adopted, which consists of the development of (i) a meta – database that stores quantitative information from existing research studies on pork quality, (ii) meta-analysis models that describe responses of different meat quality traits to a range of factors along the production chain, and (iii) an interactive website for scientists and industry to use the developed models for decision making and interpretation of their own data. The project is part of WP 6.1 of the EU FP6 project Q-Porkchains (http://www.q-porkchains.org).

Modelling greenhouse gas mitigation from the agriculture, land use, land use change and forestry sectors (ALULUCF)

To develop refine a model that maps optimal greenhouse gas mitigation patterns from the ALULUCF sector in the UK

Fungicide performance information for barley growers

To provide barley growers with information on fungicide performance in barley Specific objectives: i. To interpret data and produce dose response curves for the commonly-used fungicides for the control of powdery mildew, rhynchosporium, net blotch brown rust and ramularia in barley. ii. Input data into a central barley database and make analysed results available for advisory purposes via the dose curve generator.

Innovative and practical breeding tools for improved dairy products from more robust dairy cattle

The objective of ROBUSTMILK is to develop new practical technologies to allow breeders to refocus their selection to include milk quality and dairy cow robustness and to evaluate the consequences of selection for these traits taking cognisance of various milk production systems.

Using legumes to improve the nitrogen use efficiency of cropping systems. PhD Studentship.

Many successful low-input and organic systems rely on a fertility-building ley phase based on legumes such as clover. These plants are able to capture nitrogen (N) from the atmosphere and may be an alternative to the use of mineral N fertiliser. Given the recent rises in the costs associated with the use of artificial fertilisers there is increasing interest in applying these legume-based systems in a wider range of farming types. However, while it is often relatively easy to obtain large amounts of N this way, transferring it to the following crop can be difficult. One of the most important characteristics that affects the transfer is the biological activity in the soil, which in turn is largely influenced by the soil acidity (pH). This project is studying the effects of soil pH on the transfer of N from legumes to subsequent crops, with the overall aim of improving the N use efficiency of cropping systems.

The effect of TM-QTL and other QTLs on lean meat yield and meat quality in sheep and its evaluation using VISA

Objective1: Comprehensive validation of QTLs with potential to increase lean meat yield Objective 1.1: To evaluate the direct (lean meat yield) and indirect (growth, carcass composition, especially meat eating quality, animal health and animal welfare) effects of the TM-QTL, in a purebred terminal sire line of Texel sheep; Objective 1.2: To evaluate the direct and indirect effects (as in Objective 1.1) in crossbred lambs produced out of Mule ewes mated to Texel rams heterozygous for the TM-QTL; Objective 1.3: To evaluate the direct and some indirect effects in crossbred lambs produced out of Mule ewes inseminated with semen of New Zealand Poll Dorset rams (supplied by Innovis Genetics) carrying the LM-QTL; Objective 1.4: To evaluate the direct and some indirect effects in crossbred lambs produced out of Mule ewes inseminated with semen of New Zealand Texel rams (supplied by Innovis Genetics) carrying the MM-QTL; Objective 1.5: To evaluate direct effects in crossbred lambs out of Welsh Mountain ewes (lambs produced by Innovis Genetics) inseminated with semen of rams heterozygous for the TM-QTL and MM-QTL; Objective 1.6: To introgress both the TM-QTL and MM-QTL into purebred Inverdale-Texel sheep, and of TM-QTL into other Terminal Sire breeds (e.g. Suffolk and Charollais) using marker assisted backcrossing, with the aim of producing a small number of carrier rams for more widespread introduction of the QTL within these breeds. Objective 2: Test and calibrate a VISA-system for the objective evaluation of lamb carcasses Objective 2.1: to investigate the associations of observations using a VISA – system with: a) carcass composition measured by CT; b) carcass dissection results (dissection according to industry standard) and also the association between a) and b); Objective 2.2: to predict the relationships between VISA observations and eating quality traits, particularly tenderness and intramuscular fat; Objective 2.3: to use the TM-QTL as an example for a QTL affecting carcass and possibly meat quality and estimate its effect on VISA characteristics; Objective 2.4: to work towards the development of optimal sustainable breeding programmes to improve meat and carcass quality, which includes the estimation of genetic parameters for VISA characteristics.

WP1.5 Potato pathology LEE

This project forms part of the overall socio-economic work that cross-cuts Programme 1 of the Scottish Government RERAD funded work and seeks to develop our understanding of the supply chains for barley, potatoes, and soft fruit. Through this it will be possible to develop an understanding of emerging requirements for both domestic and international markets, recognising the different market segments (e.g. in the barley market we might consider distilling, brewing, malting barley export, feed) and what is required to be competitive in each. Through this analysis the implications of the business environment for the Scottish industry and varietal development will be fully identified. By enhancing our knowledge of both the supply chain needs and the wider publics view we will be able to better understand the future needs for the research undertaken within the MRPs.

WP1.7 Sustainable crop systems - synthesis, modelling and prediction socio-economics

This project forms part of the overall socio-economic work that cross-cuts Programme 1 of the Scottish Government RERAD funded work. This work focuses on assessing the economic implications of alternative crop rotations and forms part of the work assessing the resilience of cropping systems which is central to Workpackage 1.7 led by SCRI. Through farm surveys the relationship between farm practices (including rotational choice) and crop biodiversity will be analysed. In addition, modelling will be undertaken to assess how different crop rotations impact on the viability of the farming system.

WP1.3 Soft fruit genetics

Assessment of consumer acceptance etc of crop varieties with enhanced nutritional quality

WP3.8 Protection and enhancement of landscape and rural communities - rural development

Module 3: Sustainable Rural Development (RD) Objective 3: To define the factors that contribute to social and economic resilience in rural Scotland, and to develop an understanding of why different areas are more socially cohesive, and to evaluate the sustainability of new economic activities in rural areas. By the end of Year 5, we would expect to have a good understanding of how cohesion can be measured and how different policy changes affect the functioning and cohesiveness of communities in rural Scotland