The loss of species and degradation of our natural environment is an existential threat to the planet that requires urgent, collaborative and transformative solutions. We are in a biodiversity crisis, with 1 in 9 Scottish species facing extinction and declines in numbers and ranges of many plants, birds and animals. There is a need for action and Scotland’s Biodiversity Strategy to 2045 sets out a clear ambition - For Scotland to be Nature Positive by 2030, and to have restored and regenerated biodiversity across the country by 2045.

We are joined by Professor Davy McCracken to discuss the newly published Scottish Biodiversity Strategy and delivery plans to 2045 and his involvement with it. We go through what is included in the strategy and what it means for farmers and land managers in Scotland going forward.

Host Harry Fisher, Producer Iain Boyd, Editor Kieron Sim, Executive Producers Kerry Hammond & Kirstyn Blackwood

Timestamps:

0:55 – 9:20 The Scottish Biodiversity Strategy, it’s purpose and history

9:21 – 20:41 Outcomes, goals and six main objectives within the strategy

20:42 – 36:24 What it means for the rural sector going forward

36:25 – 43:39 investment in nature, who is paying for it and shifting baselines

Related FAS resources:  

Biodiversity | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

FAS Sounds | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

Other Related Resources:

Scottish Biodiversity Strategy to 2045 - gov.scot

Davy McCracken | SRUC

Scotland's Biodiversity | NatureScot

Scotland - State of Nature

Join us as we tackle some of the most pressing challenges of our time—the biodiversity and climate crises—and explore the crucial role agriculture plays in addressing them. We delve into what these crises are, how they’re interconnected, and the efforts underway to combat them.

In this episode, we’re joined by Prof. Dave Reay and Séamus Murphy, who share their valuable perspectives on topics ranging from global agreements like COP to the lived realities of farming. Together, we examine what these issues mean for agriculture and rural communities, unpacking the concept of a just transition, and the adoption of nature-based solutions. We also dive into the role of markets and public-private mechanisms, offering actionable steps for farmers and land managers to make a difference.

Host Harry Fisher, Producer Iain Boyd, Editors Kieron Sim and Robbie Campbell, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond

Timestamps:

1:15 – 10:05 - Experiences of climate and biodiversity crisis

0:06 – 17:27 - Global agreements and COPs

17:28 – 33:05 - How to achieve targets and implications for agriculture

33:06 -46:26 - Just transition, biodiversity and nature based solutions

46:27 – end - Markets, mechanisms and next steps

Related FAS resources:

Climate Change resources for farmers from Farm Advisory Service

Biodiversity | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

Other Related Resources:

UN Climate Change Conference COP 29 Baku - https://unfccc.int/cop29

UN Biodiversity Conference COP 16 Columbia - https://www.cbd.int/conferences/2024

Just Transition Commission - https://www.justtransition.scot/

Prof. Dave Reay - https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/davereay/

Fungi, the often-overlooked kingdom of life, runs mostly undetected under out feet, forming intricate networks that support ecosystems in extraordinary ways. Mycorrhiza, a symbiotic relationship where fungi connect with plant roots, enables plants to absorb more water and nutrients in exchange for energy the plant obtains from sunlight.

Rhizocore Technologies specialise in producing locally-adapted mycorrhizal fungi to boost tree planting success. By working with native fungi, they’re accelerating woodland regeneration, improving forest productivity, and creating sustainable solutions to combat climate change.

In this episode, we’re joined by Toby Parkes, founder and CEO, and Franziska Scott, European Business Development Manager at Rhizocore Technologies. Together, we’ll explore the untapped potential of fungi in agriculture and forestry, the opportunities for shaping the future of sustainable land management and the vital role of fungi in fostering resilient, productive ecosystems.

Host Harry Fisher, Producer Iain Boyd, Editor Robbie Campbell, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond.

Related FAS resources:

FAS Sounds Natural Capital - https://www.fas.scot/sounds/natural-capital/

FAS Environment - https://www.fas.scot/environment/

Technical note 721 – soil biodiversity and soil health https://www.fas.scot/publication/technical-note-tn721-soil-biodiversity-and-soil-health/

Farm woodlands - https://www.fas.scot/crops-soils/farm-woodlands/

Other Related Resources:

Rhizocore Technologies - https://www.rhizocore.com/

SPUN article - https://www.spun.earth/articles/carbon-paper

Timestamps:

2:18 – 14:47 – What is fungi and what does it do?

14:48 – 27:19 – Categorising and identifying types of fungi

27:20 – 43:39 – Woodlands and Rhizopellets

43:40 – END – Biodiversity, carbon and other natural capital benefits

We are joined by Jonathan Morley from Pivotal, to discuss the importance of robust, reliable and verifiable data and how digital biodiversity monitoring is part of this. Pivotal are a biodiversity monitoring and analytics company working with a range of Natural Capital managers, funds and organisations across the world, providing data from both the ground and remote sources. We discuss the range of technologies and methods available and the use cases for high-quality, verified biodiversity data, including linking nature investment to real world outcomes. Jonathan gives us valuable insight on how good business and nature are interlinked, the role of land managers and how to accurately evidence the biodiversity on your land.

Host Harry Fisher, Producer Iain Boyd, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond.

Timestamps:

2:25 – 11:07 methods and technology for gathering complex biodiversity data

11:08 – 16:49 benefits and improvements to digital data monitoring

16:50 – 35:36 how to collect high quality data, it’s uses and economic drivers

35:37 – end improving biodiversity and evidencing real world change

Related FAS resources:  

Emerging Biodiversity Markets In Scotland, A Source Of Alternative Funding | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

Investing in data for nature-based projects | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

Biodiversity Net Gain | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

Other Related Resources:

Pivotal

Measuring nature and biodiversity: A guide to high quality monitoring and analytics

In this episode we speak to Celine Delabre from NatureScot to inform listeners on the upcoming requirement to complete biodiversity audits as part of the Whole Farm Plan and how NatureScot’s farm biodiversity app can help to deliver these in the future. We discuss the important details that farmers requiring the audit need to know to help them complete it and find out more about the NatureScot app.

From 2025 a Whole Farm Plan will be a mandatory condition for accessing future funding. This will involve all farmers and crofters undertaking a number of audits and plans relevant to their agricultural activities. By 15 May 2025 farmers are being asked to prepare for the Whole Farm Plan by undertaking at least two baseline plans or audits including a carbon audit, soil analysis, an animal health and welfare plan, an integrated pest management plan and a biodiversity audit.

Host Harry Fisher, Producer Iain Boyd, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, Editor Kieron Sim.

Timestamps:

0:50 – 5:23 Intro to Whole Farm Plan and biodiversity audits

5:23 – 10:00 NatureScot biodiversity audit and ways to complete them

10:00 – 24:55 Story of the app being developed, data it uses and how it works

24:55 – end What NatureScot is learning from the audit, future plans and advice

Related FAS Resources

Natural Capital | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Preparing For The Future Whole Farm Plan | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Preparing For The Future Biodiversity Audits | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Other Related Resources

Biodiversity Audit | NatureScot

Whole Farm Plan (ruralpayments.org)

The Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) is a charitable organisation that looks to bring farming, the working countryside, and Scotland’s Natural Capital to life for young people. The trust aims to connect Scotland’s youth to the countryside, and give insight into food, farming and countryside management in Scotland. The trust achieves this through a number of key activities, such as farm visits and providing educational resource materials for schools, along with much more.

Ensuring younger generations from both rural and urban communities are aware and understand where and how food is produced, and the countryside is managed, is vitally important in ensuring a thriving rural sector, and appreciation for Scotland’s Natural Capital and its conservation.

Today we are joined by Katrina Barclay from RHET to hear about what their organisation does and why.

Host Harry Fisher, Producer Iain Boyd, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, Editor Ross Mackenzie.

Timestamps:

1:30 – 5:30 What is RHET and the type work they do

5:34 –7:05 The role that Natural Capital has

7:05 – 33:29 Farming and learning outcomes, benefits for children and the sector.

33:30 – 40:49 Incorporating land use change and sustainability issues.

40:50 - 50:15 How can teachers and farmers get involved

Related FAS Material:

Environment resources for farmers from Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

FAS Sounds | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

Other Related Materials:

The Royal Highland Education Trust | Royal Highland Education Trust (rhet.org.uk)

Food: The Facts | Royal Highland Education Trust (rhet.org.uk)

THE 17 GOALS | Sustainable Development (un.org)

Good Food Nation - Food and drink - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Loch Leven’s Larder is an enterprise with the farm to fork concept at its core, with the farm providing produce to the café and shop. Since 2005, the larder has put community and sustainability at the forefront of its operations, to provide the Loch Leven area a place to enjoy locally sourced healthy food in a relaxed atmosphere with views of the land that produced their food, and the Loch Leven landscape at large.

Loch Leven’s Larder looks to utilise the natural capital in their area in a way that enhances biodiversity, stimulates local economy, provide space for local community, while maintaining a healthy business that thrives through diversification. Today we are speaking with Robin Niven from Loch Leven’s Larder, to discuss their story and how understanding, utilising and enhancing natural capital has shaped there business and provides opportunities for the future.

Host Harry Fisher, Producer Iain Boyd, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond.

Timestamps:

1:25 – 4:09 The history and purpose of Loch Leven’s Larder

4:10 – 12:31 Local community importance and benefits

12:32 – 21:09 Why people visit, sustainable farming practices and looking after natural capital

21:10 – 29:09 Private sector funding and sustainability of food to plate

28:10 – 35:45 Advice for others looking to diversify and a thriving rural economy

Related FAS Material:

Rural Business resources for farmers from Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

Biodiversity | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)

FAS Sounds | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service

Other Related Materials:

Loch Leven's Larder- award-winning Kinross-shire Café, farm shop & gifts (lochlevenslarder.com)

Forth Rivers Trust leads the Leven LENs, a collaborative project that aims to match investors with local activities and projects, that preserve and enhance the Leven catchment’s natural assets. This strategy for long-term investment will deliver a healthy productive landscape, while benefitting the environment, boosting biodiversity and uplifting local communities.

We speak to Co-Director of Forth Rivers Trust, Amelia Heath about the Leven LENs project, the wider work of Forth Rivers Trust, their engagement within the Forth catchment and how they overcome the challenges they face.

Landscape Enterprise Networks (LENs) facilitate investment in nature-based solutions, that deliver productive, resilient landscapes alongside positive environmental outcomes. LENs, are a marketplace for land management measures that deliver ecosystem functions, creating a network of private and public stakeholders based on shared interests and collaboration.

Host Harry Fisher, Producer Iain Boyd, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond, Editor Ross Mackenzie

Timestamps:

1:20 – 9:59 Forth Rivers Trust, working with land mangers and pressures on the catchment

10:00 – 13:29 LENs, collaboration and the roles of different stakeholders.

13:30 – 20:29 Loch Leven LENs, funding and engaging local communities

20:30 – 27:54 Other Forth Rivers Trust projects and overcoming challenges

Related FAS resources:

FAS Water Management https://www.fas.scot/environment/water-management/

Landscape Scale Collaboration episode https://www.fas.scot/publication/natural-capital-landscape-scale-collaboration/

Landscape Scale Conservation https://www.fas.scot/article/landscape-scale-conservation/

Emerging Biodiversity Markets In Scotland, A Source Of Alternative Funding https://www.fas.scot/article/emerging-biodiversity-markets-in-scotland-a-source-of-alternative-funding/

Other Related Resources:

Forth Rivers Trust https://forthriverstrust.org/

Landscape Enterprise Networks LENs https://landscapeenterprisenetworks.com/

FIRNS - The Facility for Investment Ready Nature in Scotland https://www.nature.scot/funding-and-projects/firns-facility-investment-ready-nature-scotland

MERLIN https://project-merlin.eu/