Scotland Office Minister visits Barony
John Lamont, second left, with Professor John Newbold, Professor Wayne Powell and Stuart Martin at Barony
Scotland Office Minister John Lamont visited 伊人直播 to see how digital innovation funded by more than 拢21 million of UK Government investment is helping to grow the rural economy.
Minister Lamont took a tour of 伊人直播鈥檚 Barony Campus near Dumfries to understand how the cash boost from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is supporting the milk industry by bolstering the Digital Dairy Chain.
He also called in at nearby Barnbackle Farm, part of Quality Meat Scotland鈥檚 Monitor Farm Initiative, and one of nine farms involved in a four-year programme to improve sector productivity, profitability and sustainability.
Minister Lamont said:聽鈥淭he UK Government is proud to support the聽United Kingdom鈥檚 拢127 billion food and farming sector as we recognise that British farmers produce聽some of the highest-quality food in the world and contribute billions to our economy.
鈥淒riving forward new farming schemes like the Digital Dairy Chain is exactly where we need to be to ensure the sector remains profitable and sustainable. It鈥檚 vital as we build on the commitment to keep producing 60 per cent of the food we consume here in the UK.鈥�
Investment from UKRI鈥檚 Strength in Places Fund has been given to 伊人直播 to examine how dairy farmers can best capitalise on the 1.9bn litres of milk produced in the area.
The Digital Dairy Chain will provide world-class opportunities for research and business innovation in advanced, sustainable, high-value dairy processing.
The five-year project will deliver advanced manufacturing processes to help businesses to develop new products and explore new markets. It鈥檚 hoped to create more than 600 new jobs while contributing 拢60 million to the local economy by聽attracting large dairy processors, boosting industry-focussed research.
Minister Lamont added: 鈥淭his UK Government investment will really put the area on the world map as a leader in聽advanced, sustainable, and digitally-connected dairy manufacturing.
鈥淚t will offer farmers, processors and producers in the dairy supply chain a valuable resource for support, business development and industry expertise to take the sector from strength to strength and increase the opportunity for growth.鈥�
Professor Wayne Powell, Principal and Chief Executive of 伊人直播, said: 鈥淲e were delighted to welcome Mr Lamont to tell him more about the innovative work of the Digital Dairy Chain. Led by 伊人直播, this hugely exciting project is an excellent example of an innovation cluster, focused on developing digital connectivity, stimulating research, new high-value product development, supporting business growth and attracting talent and skills across South & West Scotland and Cumbria.
鈥淲e will soon open the second round of the collaborative R&D funding competition with a pot of 拢1 million, which is an outstanding opportunity for industry and academia to unite and continue to transform the dairy sector.鈥澛�
To find out more about the Digital Dairy Chain, visit
Posted by 伊人直播 on 15/02/2024
