Partnership between science and industry is key to economic success
More than 3.5 million pounds in research funding was announced today to link science and business and strengthen economic recovery in Scotland.
Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead made the announcement as he opened an innovative new research facility at the Scottish Agricultural College. The GreenCow facility, to which the Government contributed over 500,000 pounds, will help scientists identify the impacts of climate change on farming and determine how best to tackle them to maximise production and safeguard food security.
Richard Lochhead has granted research funding of:
Mr Lochhead announced the 3.5 million pounds for the first year of the new
initiatives when he opened the new GreenCow Research Facility for Greenhouse Gas Emissions at the Scottish Agricultural College, on the outskirts of Edinburgh.
He said:
"The Scottish Farming industry recognises the importance of research in providing a solid evidence base upon which any changes in agricultural practice can be made.
Background
The Strategic Partnership in Animal Science Excellence (SPASE) will be led by the Moredun Research Institute working with the Scottish Agricultural College, The James Hutton Institute , the University of Aberdeen's Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, the universities of Glasgow and Stirling and the Roslin Institute.
Research areas include understanding how disease limits the growth and performance of farmed animals, exploring options for potential new animal vaccines and reducing the potential for food poisoning from the consumption of meat.
The Strategic Partnership in Food and Drink is led by the Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health. It will work with The James Hutton and Moredun Research Institutes, the University of the Highlands and Islands and the universities of Aberdeen, Dundee and Glasgow. The partnership will provide the scientific evidence to support the promotion of healthy eating including the benefits of eating healthy food from Scotland. Industry will benefit from improved marketing and labeling.
This partnership will work with the newly created Scottish Food and Health Innovation Service, a partnership between Scottish Enterprise and Scotland Food & Drink.
The Centre of Expertise for Animal Disease is led by the Scottish Agricultural College with support from the Moredun and The James Hutton Research Institutes working with the universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow and the Roslin Institute.
They will build on the experience and skills developed in the current centre of expertise on Epidemiology, Population Health and Infectious Disease Control - also led by SAC. The centre will provide evidence-based advice on how farmers and government can manage livestock to reduce the likelihood of disease outbreaks and to minimise their impact.
The GreenCow research facility is co-funded by the Scottish Government, the European Regional Development Fund and SAC . The Scottish Government provided 511,000 pounds towards the cost of the new GreenCow facility in addition to 1.1 million pounds for the Beef Research Centre.
The facility will be used for climate change related research involving the study of greenhouse gas emissions from livestock, including methane.
High tech feeding analysis systems have been installed in the animal pens and six special chambers have been constructed to house individual animals and to monitor and measure emissions. The data will advise policy on farming methods to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from livestock.
More than 3.5 million pounds in research funding was announced today to link science and business and strengthen economic recovery in Scotland.
Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead made the announcement as he opened an innovative new research facility at the Scottish Agricultural College. The GreenCow facility, to which the Government contributed over 500,000 pounds, will help scientists identify the impacts of climate change on farming and determine how best to tackle them to maximise production and safeguard food security.
Richard Lochhead has granted research funding of:
- 1 million pounds for a strategic partnership linking Food & Drink science with
- business in the sector,
- 1 million pounds to forge a strategic partnership in Animal Science Excellence,
- linking science and business in the animal health sector, and
- 1.5 million pounds to build on the successful partnership on Epidemiology, Population Health and Infectious Disease Control (EPIC), to provide a Centre of Expertise to advise policy in Animal Health and Welfare.
Mr Lochhead announced the 3.5 million pounds for the first year of the new
initiatives when he opened the new GreenCow Research Facility for Greenhouse Gas Emissions at the Scottish Agricultural College, on the outskirts of Edinburgh.
He said:
"The Scottish Farming industry recognises the importance of research in providing a solid evidence base upon which any changes in agricultural practice can be made.
Background
The Strategic Partnership in Animal Science Excellence (SPASE) will be led by the Moredun Research Institute working with the Scottish Agricultural College, The James Hutton Institute , the University of Aberdeen's Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, the universities of Glasgow and Stirling and the Roslin Institute.
Research areas include understanding how disease limits the growth and performance of farmed animals, exploring options for potential new animal vaccines and reducing the potential for food poisoning from the consumption of meat.
The Strategic Partnership in Food and Drink is led by the Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health. It will work with The James Hutton and Moredun Research Institutes, the University of the Highlands and Islands and the universities of Aberdeen, Dundee and Glasgow. The partnership will provide the scientific evidence to support the promotion of healthy eating including the benefits of eating healthy food from Scotland. Industry will benefit from improved marketing and labeling.
This partnership will work with the newly created Scottish Food and Health Innovation Service, a partnership between Scottish Enterprise and Scotland Food & Drink.
The Centre of Expertise for Animal Disease is led by the Scottish Agricultural College with support from the Moredun and The James Hutton Research Institutes working with the universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow and the Roslin Institute.
They will build on the experience and skills developed in the current centre of expertise on Epidemiology, Population Health and Infectious Disease Control - also led by SAC. The centre will provide evidence-based advice on how farmers and government can manage livestock to reduce the likelihood of disease outbreaks and to minimise their impact.
The GreenCow research facility is co-funded by the Scottish Government, the European Regional Development Fund and SAC . The Scottish Government provided 511,000 pounds towards the cost of the new GreenCow facility in addition to 1.1 million pounds for the Beef Research Centre.
The facility will be used for climate change related research involving the study of greenhouse gas emissions from livestock, including methane.
High tech feeding analysis systems have been installed in the animal pens and six special chambers have been constructed to house individual animals and to monitor and measure emissions. The data will advise policy on farming methods to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from livestock.
"We are blessed in having areas of scientific expertise that coincide with important sectors of the economy.
"Investment in science will help Scotland become more resilient to environmental change, optimise the use of our land and other valuable natural assets.
"We are working with the Scottish Funding Council and Scottish Enterprise to link our excellence in life sciences with the needs of industry and to support economic development.
"The 50 million pounds funding to the main research providers includes financial support for their input in two exciting strategic partnerships that combine their skills with expertise in the university sector.
"While the partnerships are science driven their focus is on providing outputs of value to industry and economic development.
"I am sure the farming industry will also be very pleased to learn of continued support for the successful centre on animal diseases which has been led by SAC."
