Healthy people and a healthy planet, through regenerative and ethical food and land use systems.
The vision and mission of the Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems
Our Vision is: Sustainable development in global agriculture and rural land-based and aquatic economies. Our Mission is: To provide world-leading research, innovation, education, training and consulting, in support of global food and environmental security, sustainable rural development, and animal and human wellbeing. A
09/06/2026
People in Scotland eat out regularly, and often reach for convenient foods that are high in calories, fat, salt and sugar, a study has found.
Scotland’s food and drink sector should be supported to improve the offer of healthier options that are tasty, quick and convenient, researchers say.
Food Standards Scotland
https://edin.ac/4eg0nlh
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:
Targeted food swaps boost health and cut emissions | Global Agriculture and Food Systems | The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies 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:
Why Poshan Tracker’s promise needs better ex*****on - The Tribune 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:
Modelling antimicrobial resistance for policymaking | Global Agriculture and Food Systems | The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies 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.
Dog food can have greater impact than human diets | Global Agriculture and Food Systems | The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies 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
Student drives community-led solutions to malnutrition | Global Agriculture and Food Systems | The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies 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
