SASA (Scottish Government) facts for kids
 Newly built headquarters in 2007 |
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| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1992 |
| Jurisdiction | Scottish Government |
| Parent department | Environment and Rural Affairs Department |
SASA is a special science team that works for the Scottish Government. It used to be called the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency. SASA gives scientific advice and help on many topics. These topics include farming and protecting the environment in Scotland.
SASA is located at Gogarbank Farm, which is on the edge of Edinburgh. Their buildings include a science laboratory, a glasshouse, and a farm for experiments. More than 100 scientists and other staff work at SASA. They are all civil servants, meaning they work for the government.
Contents
The Story of SASA
The story of SASA began a long time ago. In 1914, a place opened in Edinburgh to test seeds. This was the very first step towards what SASA is today.
Early Days and New Homes
In 1917, new rules for testing seeds came out. Because of this, the seed testing unit needed more space. It moved to a bigger building in 1918.
Then, in May 1925, the Seed Testing Station moved again. It went to new, specially built labs at a place called East Craigs in Edinburgh. A Plant Registration Station also moved there.
Changes Over Time
The government department that ran this agency changed its name in 1960. In 1961, the work at East Craigs was renamed "Agricultural Scientific Services."
In 1992, the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency (SASA) was officially created. It took over the important scientific work for the Scottish Office. Later, when devolution happened in Scotland, SASA became part of the Environment and Rural Affairs Department.
Moving to a Modern Base
By 2000, the buildings at East Craigs were getting old. They were not good enough for new science technologies. So, SASA started planning to move. They found a perfect spot on their own Gogarbank Farm.
SASA finally moved into its new, modern buildings in 2006. These new facilities help them do their important work better.
New Name, Same Great Work
In April 2008, SASA became a division within the Scottish Government. It was known as "Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture." But in March 2019, people decided to use the shorter name, SASA. The work they do and their facilities stayed exactly the same.
What SASA Does
SASA has many important jobs. They help keep Scotland's plants, food, and wildlife safe and healthy.
- Checking Seeds and Crops: They make sure that seeds and potatoes used for planting are of good quality. They also check new types of crops to ensure they are healthy and strong.
- Protecting Plants from Diseases: SASA works hard to keep farm and garden plants free from harmful diseases. This helps farmers grow healthy food.
- Stopping Plant Pests: They try to prevent serious plant pests from coming into Scotland. This protects crops from damage.
- Inspecting GM Crops: SASA acts as the Scottish Government's team for checking genetically modified crops. They make sure these crops are safe.
- Developing New Tests: Scientists at SASA create new and better ways to find pests and diseases. These tests help them act quickly.
- Saving Old Plant Varieties: They keep and protect many old and special types of potatoes, cereals, peas, and brassicas (like cabbage). This helps save plant history.
- Monitoring Pesticides: SASA checks how much pesticide is in the food people eat in Scotland. They also look at how pesticides are used across the country.
- Protecting Wildlife: They work to protect wild animals from being poisoned by accident or on purpose.
- Understanding Animal Conflicts: SASA studies animals like rabbits, foxes, and geese. These animals can sometimes cause problems for farms. SASA helps understand how to manage these situations.
