Agri-EPI Centre and CIEL host Dame Ottoline Leyser, Chief Executive of UKRI

Dame Ottoline Leyser, Chief Executive of UKRI (UK Research and Innovation) visited the Agri-EPI Northern Hub and Centre for Innovation Excellence in Livestock (CIEL)-supported LARIF (Large Animal Research and Imaging Facility) building.

UKRI support world-leading research and innovation to push the frontiers of human knowledge and generate social, cultural and economic impact is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

Dame Leyser met Dr Mark Young of CIEL and Dave Ross of Agri-EPI, who provided examples of work the Agritech Centres are doing to benefit sustainability and commercial impact, leveraging our networks including key academic partners.

Pictured are (left to right):
Prof. David Argyll, William Dick Chair of Veterinary Clinical Studies, University of Edinburgh
Prof. Dame Ottoline Leyser, Chief Executive, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
Professor Moira Whyte, Head of College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh
Dave Ross, CEO, Agri-EPI Centre
Prof. Jonathan Seckl, Senior Vice Principal, University of Edinburgh
Helen Dundas, Data Driven Innovation Sector Lead in Agritech, University of Edinburgh
Prof. Bruce Whitelaw, Interim Director, The Roslin Institute
Dr. Thomas Farrugia, CEO, Beta Bugs Ltd
Dr. Mark Young, Head of Innovation, CIEL

The visit was co-ordinated overall by the University of Edinburgh

The four Agri-Tech Centres of Agricultural Innovation - Agri-EPI Centre, Agrimetrics, CHAP and CIEL - are unique collaboration involving industry, government and science to drive greater efficiency, resilience and wealth across the agri-food sector.

A £90 million investment from the UK’s strategic innovation agency, Innovate UK, is enabling the four centres to harness leading UK research and expertise as well as build new infrastructure and innovation.

Agri-EPI has four agri-tech innovation ‘hubs’ located across the UK: the Northern hub in Midlothian Science Zone, the Midlands hub in Newport, the Southern hub in Cranfield and the South West Dairy Development Centre in Shepton Mallet. 

The Northern Hub on Easter Bush Campus supports collaboration, research and commercial trials to growers, agronomists, retailers, scientists and researchers from across the UK and further afield.

The organisation as a whole specialises in engineering and precision technology, bringing partners together to develop new technologies that will help farmers become more efficient and productive – essentially helping them to produce more with less.

CIEL, the UK’s livestock innovation centre provides a focused gateway to a core of 12 world-class research institutes, including the Roslin Institute, to develop new industry-needed solutions as well as commercial trial farms for real world results.

They connect industry with world-class research capability to successfully tackle key livestock challenges no one part of the sector can address alone, developing climate smart food systems and enhancing animal health, welfare and productivity

Within Midlothian Science Zone, CIEL-supported capability includes the Allermuir AISC, in partnership with SRUC, the only UK research facility that can test ideas from pilot studies to under near commercial conditions and LARIF, offering unparalleled facilities and expertise in farm animal production, health and welfare. Research supports the One Health framework, recognising the link between human, animal and environmental health.