DairyCo Commits £5m To Dairy R&D
UK - DairyCo has committed £5 million to be spent over the next five years on two new Research Partnerships which will deliver practical research to British dairy farmers.
28 June 2011
2 minute read
The ambitious plan of research and development will be conducted by a consortium of partners across Britain.
The research will focus on two main areas: The first, Soil, Forage and Grassland, will be led by the Scottish Agricultural College (partnering Harper Adams University College and Reading University).
The second, Health, Welfare and Nutrition, will be led by the University of Nottingham (partnering Harper Adams University College, Royal Veterinary College, Bristol University, Scottish Agricultural College, and University of Aberystwyth (IBERS)).
The results of the research will feed directly into DairyCo's own technical guides and knowledge transfer activities, as well as being promoted for wider use by other industry stakeholders.
"We recognise the importance of continuing technical development to maintaining an efficient, globally competitive and consumer-friendly dairy industry," says Ray Keatinge, head of research and development at DairyCo.
"The partnership approach will not only provide new information for dairy farmers, but will help build the UK industry's capacity to deliver more of this type of research in the future."
"By developing this kind of relationship with leading institutes we can access a wider range of expertise, much of it of international standing," explains Mr Keatinge.
"By investing DairyCo funding into new and existing research programmes the aim is to maximise the value of our spend, and open up opportunities for the researchers to access further funding from the UK Research Councils."
Dairy farmer Kevin Beaty, chair of the DairyCo Research Advisory Forum says: "The partnership approach delivers great value to the levy payer. What's more, through this forum, farmers have been involved in identifying and recommending the research priorities, so we can be confident the research fits with what is needed on-farm."
Dr Celia Caulcott, director for innovation and skills, at the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, said: "The dairy sector is a vital part of the food chain and I fully support this innovative approach DairyCo has taken to engage the UK's world-leading research base in generating new knowledge, expertise and advice for farmers. Increased global demand for dairy products is forecast to be a contributing factor in future food insecurity. The research being supported will contribute to the aim we are all working towards - sustainably produced, high quality and affordable food for everyone."
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