Dr Charles Bestwick

Biography

As Strategic Research Programme (SRP) Advisor (reporting to the Scottish Environment Food & Agriculture Research Institutes [SEFARI]’ Directors' Executive Committee), I am responsible for advising on and promoting cross-programme development within the ‘Food, Health & Wellbeing’, ‘Natural Assets, and ‘Sustainable Land Use’ research themes of the Scottish Government (SG: Rural Environment Science and Analytical Service Division) funded SRP. This necessitates working across the SRP’s diverse research portfolio and representation of the SRP to policy, government-agency, industry, third sector and public stakeholders. I have a strong interest in developing transdisciplinary approaches to promote the collective research capability of the SRP. As linked to this role, I am a member of the core-management team of the SEFARI ‘Gateway’ which provides Knowledge Exchange and Impact Management for the SRP and its partnership with the wider portfolio of SG-funded research.

My personal research interests are on cellular and organism response and adaptation to stressors. I currently focus on human dietary health and the identification of health benefits from consumption of crops and wild edible plant species, including characterization of the active natural product profiles and activities that may influence resistance to chronic health conditions at dietary achievable levels of consumption.