The Living Field theme at the Royal Highland Show, 25-28 June 2009, was 'Scotland's arable landscapes and their food webs'. See this page for information, photographs, visitors and comments.

The Living Field exhibit together with SCRI's timeline were housed in the SAC Pavilion. The Timeline tracks major developments in the evolution of SCRI in relation to events in science and society. The Living Field exhibit gave hands-on experience of constructing food chains and food webs through interactive software. Thanks go to our SAC colleagues for their welcome and hospitality.

On Thursday morning, 25 June, The Minister for Environment, Roseanna Cunningham, visited the Timeline and Living Field displays as part of her tour of the SAC Pavilion. 

We aim to make the food web demo available online through this website. Anyone wishing to find out more should contact Graham Begg or Gladys Wright. The following gives some of the scientific background to the exhibit.

Scotland's Living Field demonstration at the RHS

The Living Field project at SCRI is raising awareness of the importance of ecological food webs to the future of lowland rural landscapes. Its demonstrations on Scotland's Living Field show that food webs are needed for food security and rural livelihood and connect all people to the countryside.

A heritage

The agricultural landscapes of lowland Scotland are a heritage. They've evolved over thousands of years since the land was first opened for cropping. These landscapes are far from static even now - they grow more types of crop and are more diverse from region to region than they were a quarter of a century ago. 

They are a prime example  in Europe of an irregular, managed mosaic of fields, margins, hedgerows and woodland.

A problem

But will they continue to provide food and rural livelihood for future generations? Not without conscious effort to change.

Major surveys in 2007 and 2008 by SCRI andf SAC (funded by the Scottish Government) went deeper than any other survey of arable-grass landscapes. They indicate, in many areas, a reduced ability of soils to function and a serious decline in arable food webs.

These food webs link plants, insects and microbes into a single working system that allows crops to yield, keeps soil healthy and regulates the wider environmental 'footprint' of agriculture.

Repair and renovation

The first step is to promote the best of current practice to achieve in-field reserves for biodiversity, efficient use of resources and a low carbon footprint.

Long term solutions include the repair of soil and food webs, at the same time maintaining food security and the farming industry. Long term solutions will take a concerted effort by science, farming, food retailers, governments and the public.

Science based solutions for future arable fields are being tested at SCRI's long term Centre for Sustainable Cropping at Balruddery Farm.

SCRI promotes best current practice through its LEAF Innovation centre.