News
‘Cool Calf’ could help accelerate dairy journey to net zero
Hilda may look like an ordinary calf, but the sprightly, Scotland-born animal represents an historic moment for the world’s longest-running livestock genetics project and could help accelerate the dairy industry’s journey to net zero.
Carbogenics secures funding for overseas expansion
Carbogenics has closed its latest funding round, securing just under £500,000.
The University of Edinburgh spin-out turns difficult-to-recycle secondary-biomass into a product called CreChar. This is a carbon-rich, porous material should help stabilise the performance of anaerobic digestion plants.
Source: Business Insider
Lightbulb moment for fungi scientists
Researchers from SRUC and the Empa (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology) St Gallen, Switzerland have successfully inserted the decay fungus Desarmillaria tabescens – a white rot fungus – into balsa wood to make it glow, with the aim of producing functionality.
Investment Fund for Scotland surpasses £10 million in its first year
The British Business Bank’s Investment Fund for Scotland has committed more than £10m of funding to smaller businesses in Scotland during its first 12 months.
This anniversary comes as Midlothian Science Zone-based Ingenza, a biotechnology research business, has secured funding for expansion which will double its capacity and create up to 20 new jobs.
Source: Business Insider
Scotland continues to spearhead green job creation
Scotland continues to lead the way in the creation of green jobs, with new data showing the number of green roles advertised has tripled since 2021. The fourth iteration of PwC’s Green Jobs Barometer sees Scotland take the top spot again for the highest proportion of green job adverts of any of the UK’s nations and regions; at 5.6%.
Source: Business Insider
World’s first GreenShed opens its doors
A world-first circular farming system which uses cattle waste to power a shed and grow indoor crops has opened its doors for the first time. More than 80 members of the beef industry attended the opening of GreenShed at Easter Howgate, an SRUC research farm near Edinburgh.
World’s first sustainability index for plants launched
AbacusBio has launched the world’s first Sustainability Index for plants, helping reduce the environmental impact of growing crops. This innovative tool enables breeding companies to create plant varieties that use less water, lower emissions, and optimize yield, health, and disease resistance.
Ingenza announces partnership with Cellugy to investigate the potential of biofabricated cellulose
Industrial biotech specialist Ingenza is delighted to announce that it is collaborating with Cellugy to accelerate the development of its innovative platform for producing biofabricated cellulose. This technology will provide a sustainable alternative to fossil-based petrochemicals in various industrial applications, starting with personal care
SRUC awarded £700k to measure cattle emissions
SRUC researchers have been awarded nearly £700,000 for equipment* which will form part of an ultra-modern research facility to measure emissions from beef cattle, supporting the UK Government’s goals to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Driving progress for healthy people and a healthy planet
Midlothian Science Zone Business Forum gathered to learn more about the Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems; developing new science, curating evidence and learning for the health and wellbeing of people and our planet.