The Moredun Research Institute and Scotland's Rural College have announced a new research partnership.

SRUC and Moredun Research Institute form new research alliance

Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and the Moredun Research Institute have formed a new partnership they describe as ‘game-changing’ in advancing livestock health and welfare production.

The organisations already work closely together, providing research and veterinary disease surveillance services to the Scottish government. This new, stronger relationship is set to build on their expertise and capacity in animal health and welfare.

Over the coming months, the alliance will establish cross-disciplinary teams in areas such as biosecurity, food security and SMART farming. The teams will maximise opportunities to leverage new sources of investment and share facilities, equipment and resources.

SRUC chief executive Wayne Powell said that the move signals a change in the way that Scottish research institutes work and collaborate.

“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, create critical mass in selected areas of research where we have recognised strength or the potential to create a world-class presence and impact rapidly," he said.

“This is a timely opportunity that will enable both organisations to position ourselves to better support our existing stakeholders, customers and future investors both within Scotland and globally.”

Julie Fitzpatrick, scientific director of the Moredun Research Institute, added that the project aims to support rural and urban populations across Scotland.

“SRUC and Moredun scientists will lead the way in developing new technologies and establishing routes to bring these to practical and commercial reality,” she said. “Both organisations have extensive and longstanding links to farmers, landowners and others involved in the custodianship of Scotland’s environment and our combined aim will be to support rural and urban communities across the country through research, development and knowledge exchange.”

Earlier this year, the BVA participated in SRUC’s consultation on its new strategy and encouraged its plans to work with other centres. Welcoming the news, BVA Scottish branch president Melissa Donald said:

“We are keen to see how this new alliance supports more defined integration and methods of collaborative working in terms of the acquisition, analysis and sharing of surveillance data, as well as for coordinated surveillance activity. It is vital that this collaborative working and data sharing should also seek to be cross-border in nature, extending across the UK and European surveillance systems.”