Global Agriculture and Food Systems

12/05/2026

Today is International Day of Plant Health.

Dr Alfy Gathorne-Hardy discusses how more diverse cropping systems could help reduce the impact of insect pests as the climate warms.

He explores how approaches such as intercropping may support biodiversity, improve natural pest control and reduce reliance on insecticides in future farming systems.

Read the full article: https://edin.ac/3RzvUXu

06/05/2026

Small, targeted food swaps could benefit both health and the environment.

Research using real-world shopping data suggests that replacing commonly consumed animal products, particularly processed meats, with plant-based alternatives can reduce environmental impacts while maintaining nutritional quality.

Read more:

Replacing specific animal products with the most consumed plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy can deliver environmental and health benefits for people, a study shows.

04/05/2026

Professor Lindsay Jaacks explores how the Poshan Tracker - a smartphone app used to monitor child growth and nutrition services - can better turn data into practical action by frontline workers in communities, in this op-ed for The Tribune India.

Read the full piece:

Poshan Tracker has the potential to translate routinely collected growth data into meaningful decisions at the last mile.

03/02/2026

Our researchers have explored how computer-based models can support policymaking on antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Their findings highlight the challenges of modelling AMR across human, animal and environmental systems, and set out what is needed to strengthen evidence for informed decision-making, focusing on a One Health approach.

Read the full blog:

Researchers explore the challenges and potential of computer-based models to guide informed decisions on antimicrobial resistance.

08/01/2026

Dog food’s carbon footprint can be higher than that of human food – with wet, raw and meat-rich foods associated with substantially higher greenhouse gas emissions than kibble.

The findings from a comparison of almost 1,000 foods highlight the need for clear labelling of dog food ingredients, to inform consumer choice as pet ownership continues to rise, say the experts behind the study.

Premium pet feeds can have a carbon footprint in excess of food consumed by people, a study shows.

31/12/2025

Happy Hogmanay to all, and Happy New Year when it comes, from everyone at Global Agriculture and Food Systems and the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.

25/12/2025

Happy Christmas from everyone at Global Agriculture and Food Systems and The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.
We hope you have a happy and peaceful day.

16/12/2025

A student-led, community-driven project addressing child and maternal malnutrition in northern Nigeria has been recognised with an award.

The initiative, developed by MSc Global Food Security and Nutrition student Saadatu Sulaiman, applies community-based research methods to design culturally relevant and sustainable dietary interventions. Early results indicate measurable improvements in health and wellbeing among participating children and women.

The project demonstrates how postgraduate research can inform evidence-based solutions that strengthen local food systems and empower communities.

Read the full news story: https://edin.ac/3KNWKbC

Find out more about study in Global Food Security and Nutrtition: https://edin.ac/4jpM9zD

Masters student wins award for her community-led project improving child and maternal nutrition in northern Nigeria.

10/12/2025

Postgraduate students have concluded a week of immersive learning in Kenya.

Some 18 students from programmes in Conservation Medicine, Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Global Food Security and Nutrition, and One Health collaborated across disciplines to critically evaluate global challenges.

Highlights from the week:

- Real-world One Health in Naivasha where students observed domestic, wildlife and human communities co-existing to contextualise key One Health challenges

- A game drive through Hell’s Gate National Park to learn about trade-offs between renewable energy development and ecosystems

- Peer mentor sessions exploring career pathways and showcasing interdisciplinary work.

Students who took part confirmed they’d had an incredible experience with “awesome” coming out on top of the word cloud.

This winter school offers students the opportunity to develop skills in an interdisciplinary way of working that is central to solving the world’s most pressing challenges.

To find out more about postgraduate study, visit: https://vet.ed.ac.uk/education/postgraduate/taught

03/12/2025

Global One Health and Food Security Residential School 2025

Postgraduate students are gathering in Kenya for a week of collaborative learning and real-world problem solving.

Some 18 students from our programmes in Conservation Medicine, Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Global Food Security and Nutrition, and One Health are joining staff from the School at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi. ILRI, one of our strategic partners, is excellently placed to host the events exploring One Health challenges.

Highlights from day one:

A keynote on how food system change can shape dynamic infectious disease risks

A University of Edinburgh alumnus showcase on ILRI’s antimicrobial resistance (AMR) research

An interactive afternoon unpacking the drivers of biodiversity loss and its links to human, animal and environmental health.

A Conservation Medicine student from India said

“From studying about the Rift Valley in vet school to visiting it in person with my conservation medicine peers and mentors, this has been a wonderful journey. Learning about the One Health approach has made me reshuffle some of my conservation priorities and given me a new perspective. I can’t want to dive deeper.”

A powerful start to an exciting week. We will follow their progress.

To find out more about postgraduate study at the School, visit: https://vet.ed.ac.uk/education/postgraduate/taught