Lord de Mauley visits Easter Bush Campus

Research to improve the health and welfare of animals, the livestock industry and food security were discussed when Lord de Mauley, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for natural environment and science, visited the University of Edinburgh's Easter Bush Campus.

Lord de Mauley spoke to researchers from The Roslin Institute, the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies (R(D)SVS) and Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) who are based at the Easter Bush Campus.

During the visit, Lord de Mauley highlighted the role of research in helping to reach the goal of the UK Government's Agri-Tech Strategy to make the UK a world leader in agricultural technology, innovation and sustainability.

Lord de Mauley was greeted on arrival by Professor Jonathan Seckl, the University's Vice Principal for Planning, Resources and Research Policy, before being introduced to Professor David Hume, director of The Roslin Institute, Professor David Argyle, Head of the R(D)SVS and Lord Jamie Lindsay, SRUC Chairman.

The Roslin Institute, which receives strategic funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, is sited alongside the University of Edinburgh's Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.

The visit offered an opportunity to highlight the close links The Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS have with SRUC.

SRUC has worked closely with the University of Edinburgh for many years and we are currently exploring ways to further strengthen this very important and productive relationship. We were pleasedto be able to share our vision with Lord de Mauley as the synergies between SRUC and the University will enable us to make an even greater contribution to sustainable farming and food security at both a national and an international level.

Research at The Roslin Institute is focussed on the health and welfare of animals, applications of basic animal sciences in human and veterinary medicine, the livestock industry and food security.

During the visit Lord de Mauley learned about the opportunities UK organisations such as The Roslin Institute and SRUC can play in addressing key issues such as global Food Security. Lord de Mauley was provided with an overview of one of The Roslin Institute's key assets, the National Avian Research Facility, which is based at the Easter Bush Campus. Aims for the facility include addressing the need for improved sustainability in poultry production in light of an increasing global population, developing vaccines against infections and benefiting human health through reducing food-borne diseases.

The Roslin Institute and SRUC play vital roles in the UK Government's Agri-Tech Strategy.  

I was fascinated to see funding being used to develop technology to feed cattle more efficiently while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which will greatly benefit farmers, consumers and the environment.  

The Roslin Institute is the UK's leading farm animal research institution and SRUC is a brilliant model for disseminating new technology to farmers across Britain and the world.

It is a pleasure to discuss with Lord de Mauley the opportunities for world leading UK agricultural research to develop at Easter Bush Campus.