A £21 million digital dairy project – involving University of the West of Scotland (UWS) – which aims to decarbonise the dairy industry and create 600 new jobs, officially launched this week.
Led by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) from its Barony campus, the project will see partners across South-West Scotland and Cumbria focussing on developing a fully integrated and traceable dairy supply chain.
This landmark project will not only help to reduce carbon produced by the dairy industry, it will develop and retain a skilled and innovative workforce in the region. I am delighted that UWS’s research expertise will play a key role in the project.
Aligning with Scotland’s Strategy for Economic Transformation, it is planned that the Digital Dairy Chain will eventually lead to the creation of more than 600 jobs and generate £60m a year of additional value.
Professor Milan Radosavljevic, Vice-Principal of Research, Innovation and Engagement at UWS, said:
“This landmark project will not only help to reduce carbon produced by the dairy industry, it will develop and retain a skilled and innovative workforce in the region. I am delighted that UWS’s research expertise will play a key role in project.”
Supported by £21.3m of government money through UK Research and Innovation’s flagship Strength in Places Fund, the Digital Dairy Chain’s initial focus will be on the use of sensors and data from dairy herds and how it can be utilised to produce more, and better, dairy products.
Professor Wayne Powell, Principal and Chief Executive of SRUC, said:
“Working with local and national businesses, the Digital Dairy Chain will transform the region’s dairy production systems and establish it as a global leader in advanced, sustainable and high-value dairy manufacturing.
“It will foster entrepreneurship, create new market opportunities, add new skills to the workforce and lay the foundations for more productive regions, all while making the critical journey towards net zero.”
Jo Lappin, Chief Executive of Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership, said:
“Innovation is critical to improving productivity and addressing labour supply issues and the Digital Dairy Chain can play a really important part in supporting our dairy sector to innovate. This matters to Cumbria as we are home to one of the biggest dairy herds in the UK.
“I am delighted that the Dairy Chain is now formally launched and look forward to continued close working with colleagues in SRUC to deliver this important project in South-West Scotland and Cumbria.”
Professor Wayne Powell, Principal and Chief Executive of SRUC said:
“Working with local and national businesses, the Digital Dairy Chain will transform the region’s dairy production systems and establish it as a global leader in advanced, sustainable and high-value dairy manufacturing.”
In addition to SRUC, the Digital Dairy Chain comprises a number of partners in the region, including the University of the West of Scotland, University of Strathclyde, CENSIS, First Milk, Lactalis UK & Ireland, Kendal Nutricare, Cows & Co Group, National Milk Records and SmartSTEMS.
Cumbria and South-West Scotland is the UK’s second largest milk field, producing 1.9 billion litres each year, with a farm-gate value of £750 million. There are 52 dairy manufacturing businesses adding value to milk produced from 1,300 farms.