The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Institutes work together to improve animal health
Research: Collaboration will lead to closer involvement with farmers
Two of Scotland’s core agricultural institutes have announced a new collaboration which will focus on improving the health of the nation’s livestock to support long-term food safety and security.
The Moredun Research Institute and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) already work together but the “working partnership”,
“Potential to create world class presence and impact”
which was announced yesterday, is intended to build on their complementary expertise and will lead to closer involvement with practical farmers.
The institutes will form regional farmer membership groups early next year which will help direct new practical research on animal health and welfare as well as new technology.
A programme of grassland research will also be introduced in 2018 which will focus on the productivity of grassland, especially in the north and west of Scotland.
SRUC chief executive Wayne Powell said the relationship with Moredun signalled a “step change” in the way that Scottish research institutes will work and collaborate in future.
“Underpinning this relationship is a fundamental shift in our approach to ‘doing business’ where we will seek to maximise opportunities to share facilities and expertise and create critical mass in selected areas of research where we have recognised strength or the potential to create world class presence and impact rapidly,” he said.
The Moredun’s chief executive, Julie Fitzpatrick, added that some of the grand challenges facing the industry – including food security, environmental protection and a “one health” approach linking health of humans, animals and the environment – required teams of scientists working together to focus on areas of maximum impact.
As part of their joint activities, the SAC Consulting veterinary team based on the Bush Estate, near Edinburgh, will relocate to a shared laboratory facility at Moredun next year.