SCRI’s research focuses on processes that regulate the growth of plants and their responses to pests, pathogens and the environment. It includes genetics to breed crops with improved quality and nutritional value.

By understanding plants’ responses to pests and diseases and how they react to the soil, air and water around them, environmentally friendly and sustainable methods of protecting crops from the ravages of pests, diseases and weeds are developed.

The main customer for our research is the Scottish Government, although we undertake commissioned research for a wide range of government bodies and commercial organisations. Research is organised into four science programmes:

• Environment Plant Interactions
• Genetics
• Plant Pathology
• Plant Products and Food Quality.

There are also overarching themes under which we conduct research.

• Environmental/climate change
• Wealthier and Healthier
• Biodiversity
• Sustainability.

SCRI also hosts Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland (BioSS) and the Division of Plant Sciences of the University of Dundee.

Research is conducted on a wide range of plants but particularly the crop plants barley, potato, blackcurrant and raspberry.

SCRI’s research activities make a clear contribution to the economic wellbeing, quality of life and implementation of policy objectives in Scotland as well as delivering excellence through research outcomes impacting on, and being recognised by, the global scientific community.

Research will continue to evolve to meet the challenges of societal and policy concerns about sustainable land management, healthy and nutritious foods, plant products for non-food industries, biodiversity, and climate and other environmental changes.