CHAIR

Marc J Metzger
Professor of Environment and Society, The University of Edinburgh

Useful, usable and used research and learning for a sustainable future.

Marc and his students work with public, NGO and private sector stakeholders to understand interactions between the environment and society, anticipate future changes and support the development of appropriate strategies and policies to cope with these challenges.

Marc’s interests include identifying nature-based solutions for global change impacts on ecosystems and society and understanding how people and society depend on and value benefits derived from nature and the environment..

SPEAKER

Pete Ianetta
Head of Ecological Food Systems within the Agroecology Group of the James Hutton Institute

Head of Ecological Food Systems (a sub-group of Agroecology), Pete Ianetta is plant-biologist and ecologist by training. He is now focused on delivering strategic and applied research to help implement sustainable agrifood- and feed-value chains. These interests are strongly focused on the multi-functional potential of legumes, including high protein grain crops such as pulses and forage types, such as clover. These interests extend to the development of novel-cropping, -processing and -marketing techniques. This research is strongly directed by the policy needs of the Scottish Government, and the European Commission. Pete is currently Principal Investigator for several  Reporting Deliverables supported by the Scottish Government's Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division (RESAS), including: novel crops and cropping systems; biodiversity and ecosystem functions; integrated pest management; alternative approaches to sustainable land management, and, integrated management systems. Pete is also coordinator of various teams for the European Commission such as Transition paths to sustainable legume based systems in Europe, Designing InnoVative plant teams for Ecosystem Resilience and agricultural Sustainability and TOMRES.

Bob Reid

Wildlife Limited

A town and country planner and Development director for Wildland Limited, the property company owned by Anders Holch Povlsen. Bob advised the Scottish Government on land reform and the housing crisis. He helped develop Scotland’s access rights, and chaired the Mountaineering Council of Scotland. He has served on the Countryside Commission Scotland's Advisory Panel on Access. Founder member Scottish Wildlife & Countryside.

Willie Mcghee

Forestry Policy Group

A member of the Forest Policy Group, Willie is a forester who has worked in community forestry and ecological restoration in Scotland since 1990. He works with the Highland Perthshire Communities Land Trust as Forest Manager for 1,000 acres of land at Dun Coillich and is a partner in a forestry ownership collective at Old Caberston in the Scottish Borders. He is a Director of the Common Ground Association, a community land body, working to protect and manage green space for the common good in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

 Dr Mads Fischer-Moller

Scotland's Rural College

Mads is approaching sustainable land use from a food policy perspective, based on a career as food policy advisor for the Nordic governments How can we align what we produce to what we ought to eat? What interventions can drive food consumption towards diets more beneficial for climate as well as human and soil health?

Bob Reese

Professor of Agriculture and Climate Change and Head of Carbon Management Centre, SRUC.

Bob's research focuses on greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient cycling. With over 100 research publications, I have extensive involvement in research across Europe, China, and South Asia. He recently coordinated Legume-Futures an EU Framework project on the role of legumes in farming systems. In the UK he played a leading role in Agricultural UK Greenhouse Gas Platform programme aimed at improving the reporting and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions from UK agriculture. He is a Specialty Chief Editor for the Journal Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems and Assistant Editor for the Journal Soil Use and Management. 

Nikki Yoxall

Grampian Graziers

Based at Howemill, in Aberdeenshire, Nikki and her husband produce beef from native and rare breed cattle, undertaking ecological restoration through their business Grampian Graziers. Using agro ecological methods such as mob grazing and agroforestry they employ a low input system, selling beef through direct sales. Nikki is currently undertaking an MSc in Sustainable Food and Natural Resources, researching the ecological benefits of mob grazing and is a Farmer Ambassador for the Soil Association.   

ARTISTIC CONTRIBUTIONS

Each of the six conversations will include four artistic contributions, from poets, musicians and video artists, bringing a cultural perspective to each event. Each of their pieces will be a different take on the changing rural landscape around them, the climate emergency and the unstable connections between the human and the natural worlds. Some will be provocative about the way forward, some reflective of the current situation, and others just a joyous celebration of nature.

The contributors tonight are:   

Su-a Lee Moon River

pantea & Kate Foster Mending the Blanket

Chris Powici Flanders Moss

Iain Fraser King O the Wood