In a significant step towards shaping the future of agriculture, rural and environmental studies, Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) has launched a new PhD programme, according to a press release from the college.

The Doctor of Philosophy degrees, validated by the University of Edinburgh, will enable students to delve into pressing global issues such as food and nutrition security, one health and climate change.

The inaugural group of PhD students will tackle a wide range of topics including research into the impacts of larger litter size on the robustness and resilience of pigs, a genomic study examining life in the belly of a whale, and a project looking at the role UK pet owners can play in reducing the environmental footprint of their animals.

They will be based at SRUC campuses across Scotland, from Inverness and Aberdeen to Edinburgh, emphasising a nationwide approach to research.

Collaborations with industry partners are a key aspect of the projects, ensuring the research has real-world applications.

"Our new PhD programme is not just an academic endeavour but embodies SRUC’s pledge to nurture the next generation of researchers," said Eileen Wall, head of research at SRUC.

“By equipping them with the necessary tools, guidance and platform, we are keen to forge solutions for the pressing challenges of our era," she added.

The new PhD programme is an important part of SRUC’s journey towards becoming an enterprise university at the heart of a sustainable natural economy.