SAC Research

SAC’s rural sustainability research directly addresses rural sustainability as a concept or practice, and/or contributes to increased understanding of what a sustainable rural area might look like. Given that “rural” is made up of land-based industries as well as wider economic activity, our research encompasses the broad range of land-uses, demographic change, development policies and infrastructure.

Themes addressed within the theme of rural sustainability include:

• Development of methodologies for valuing non-market goods and services
• Development of indicators and scenarios of sustainable rural futures
• Biodiversity interactions with economic activity, including the range of drivers and impacts on the economics, social science and applied ecology of the land-based sector – within increasing concern for sustainable use of rural natural resources
• Agri-food marketing issues, ranging from the farm to the consumer, supply chains, and local and locality foods
• The institutional, social and infrastructural needs of rural society, particularly:
• Rural as a component of regional development policy and practice
• Effective governance and capacity for sustainability, at local level and amongst institutions
• Culture within sustainable communities, and the importance of minority culture and language
• Population and land use changes within rural areas, particularly those near urban settlements

Our research is carried out for, and often with, the “end users” and much of our work is “participatory”, involving people on the ground and in the range of organisations charged with development of rural areas and related policies. Close dialogue is maintained at all levels with those delivering policy and practice within rural areas, as our work is carried out on a range of scales. As a result, knowledge exchange takes place throughout the research process.  This means that our research is responsive and useful, allowing us to anticipate future policy and practice needs.

Thus policies designed for, and affecting, rural areas are the focus of research for many working in these areas. Also, many researchers are linked closely with SAC’s Rural Policy Centre which focuses on the analysis, interpretation and evaluation of such agricultural, rural and wider national and regional policies.

SAC’s researchers are fortunate to have the opportunity to work with SAC consultants, who bring extensive in-depth knowledge and experience of rural Scotland. A network of 23 SAC consultancy offices means we have national coverage and build this expertise into our research.

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