November brought something different: space to look closely at how SCAF, as an Alliance, actually works - not in abstract terms, but through each event, discussion, and project, with this recurring question: 

What helps people collaborate most effectively?

At The Burn in Brechin, our third writing retreat offered one answer. Giving people concentrated time and minimal distractions still works. Alliance members used the 3.5 days to make real progress (drafting papers, shaping grant bids, finalising protocols). The value of this investment lies not solely in the outputs: the links we form are less tangible and measurable, but will hopefully translate into a strong network for future collaborations. The format we used seemed to work well, striking a balance between focus and exchange, featuring lightning talks to share goals, informal discussions that sparked new collaborations, and even a spontaneous joint paper exploring different perspectives on the Scottish food system. That might not have been quite possible at the first writing retreat, but with maturity in the Alliance, we have reached that inflexion point when things can happen. Time, structure, and shared space continue to yield tangible results, which is why we plan to host more of these events in the coming months.

 

The governance and steering meetings that followed took that same question of “what works” to a bigger scale. Both groups reflected on where SCAF adds most value to its members and how to demonstrate this impact more clearly. That reflection sits alongside our continuing evaluation survey, which gathers member feedback on what kind of support matters most (please participate here). The outcome is a sharper understanding of SCAF’s role: not to duplicate existing activity, but to connect what already works well across institutions, sectors, and disciplines.

The Open Day at the James Hutton Institute explored a different approach to engagement, focusing on active participation rather than passive listening. The presentations on vertical farming, alternative proteins, and the “how to interview better” session with Derek Stewart provided structure (and great Q&A sessions), and the “speed networking” session, hosted by the SCAF Early Career Network and facilitated by Rheinallt Jones and Phil Butlin, brought much enthusiasm. Debate-style prompts, ranging from farming subsidies to the future of alternative proteins, encouraged exchange among participants across various career stages. The tour of the Intelligent Growth Solutions vertical farm provided a fitting conclusion: clear examples of innovation that rely on collaboration across sectors.

We ended November with the announcement of the latest pump-priming awarded projects. The projects funded through these small grants demonstrate how well-networked ideas can progress quickly when the right people are connected early. We heard how well this worked for Saeko Yazaki and Ada Garcia (funded in the first round, on a project focusing on "Mottanai" (What a waste!) and Evie Nikokavoura, (funded in the second round, on a project on the relationship between aesthetic demand and food safety and nutritional quality in grapes). Catch up on the webinar here, if you missed it. The next phase of the pump priming endeavour involves following up on how teams from all four rounds grow and what conditions enable their success. We are continuing with our evaluation and we thank all team members who have already engaged, as it will shape SCAF's investment in supporting teams moving forward.

Throughout all of this, one conclusion stands out: successful collaboration does not rely on scale or novelty; it depends on compatibility. The formats that work best for SCAF are those that facilitate idea formation through direct contact, supported by enough structure to ensure those connections are productive. Understanding and refining that recipe is our task in the months ahead.

 

First published: 7 December 2025

<< Blog