Neil Havis

Neil is a Senior Plant Pathologist at SRUC in the Agriculture, Horticulture and Engineering Sciences Department, based at King's Buildings, Edinburgh.
Neil's career began with crop production before moving on to plant pathology. While he has been involved in researching many different diseases of crops over his career, one that has been ever present over the last twenty years is Ramularia collo-cygni, that has a strange relationship with many grass hosts and in particular, barley.
Neil is interested in finding new ways to control diseases that attack our crops and threaten the food supplies that current and future generations will rely on. He continues to do research, supervise students and deliver lectures and classes to students and people undertaking BASIS courses.
Projects
A systematic framework for how to conduct risk/benefit analyses on emerging novel crops in Scotland would allow plant health risks and benefits to be considered before widespread uptake, and any mitigation strategies implemented at the earliest stage. Current and predicted examples of emerging crops in Scotland include hemp, rye, beet, flax, cover crops and novel legume and vegetable crops. Many of these examples are currently relatively low-input crops when it comes to the use of plant protection products but there may be parallels and lessons to be learnt from considering the uptake of crops, like oilseed rape or rye which are now well established in Scotland, but where pest and disease burdens have increased steadily from the point of introduction.
This project will create a systematic framework for the evaluation of plant health risks and benefits for emerging / novel crops in Scottish agriculture and will be suitable for use when considering the introduction of species in the natural environment, horticulture and forestry sectors.
Image Credit: HubertPhotographer from Pixabay
This project will: (i) Review the evidence (including the scientific and grey literature and existing data) to identify the plant health impacts of the proposed measures within agricultural reform, with reference to Scotland’s key crops and the likely uptake of measures; (ii) Identify potential regulatory options (statutory, basic or enhanced) that could pose an emerging risk for plant health and biosecurity in the context of likely uptake of measures; (iii) Hold a stakeholder workshop to co-design best practices guidance to mitigate plant health risk whilst delivering biodiversity, climate and wider environmental goals and (iv) raise awareness of plant health risks associated with the proposed measures and disseminate best practice guidance to mitigate risk.
Image by Freddy from Pixabay
Impact: Improved understanding of costs and benefits of pesticide use across Scottish sectors and an impact analysis for the most likely withdrawal scenarios such that key gaps can be identified and their impact quantified in order to inform pesticide policy.
Publications
The impact of agricultural policy reforms on plant health risks in Scotland: Guidance on maximizing plant health benefits
The project examines the potential impact Scotland’s upcoming agricultural reforms could have on plant health