The third edition of a publication which summarises socio-economic research conducted at the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute and the Scottish Agricultural College has been launched today (Monday 20th April).

ABSORB, a collection of briefings on current socio-economic research projects, aims to increase awareness within the wider scientific and policy community of the research carried out at these organisations and facilitate greater partnership working between researchers at the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute and SAC.

Jill Dunglinson, Editor of ABSORB explains, “The ABSORB publication brings together the key findings of researchers from these leading organisations. Through creating a collaborative document, we aim to enhance and strengthen the understanding of some of the socio-economic research being carried out in Scotland including research commissioned by the Rural Social and Economic Research Team in the Scottish Government Rural and Environment Research and Analysis Directorate (RERAD).

“This edition of ABSORB focuses on the themes of ‘climate change’, ‘farming and food’ and ‘environmental values, attitudes and preferences’. The climate change chapter focuses on renewable energy, the management of greenhouse gases and community resilience to extreme weather events; the farming and food section provides an overview of research into barriers to new entrants to farming, crofting and food system sustainability; whilst the environmental values, attitudes and preference section of the publication looks at public attitudes to environmental management and preferences of rural landscapes.”

Copies of the publication are available, free of charge, by contacting Jill Dunglinson on 01224 395000 or j.dunglinson@macaulay.ac.uk. It can also be viewed on the Institute’s Website.