A STATE-OF-THE-ART food sensory lab designed to give UK consumers a role in deciding future livestock genetics made its public debut at this week's Royal Highland Show.

Owned by Scotland’s Rural College and thought to be the first mobile unit of its kind, the lab invites members of the public to taste different meats and other food products and indicate their preferences.

The idea is that SRUC’s livestock scientists will then use the information collected as part of their genetic improvement research which, in turn, will influence breeding programmes for sheep, cattle and pigs.

Supported and funded by the Centre of Innovation Excellence in Livestock and Innovate UK, the SRUC sensory lab is contained within an articulated lorry.

At the Highland, members of the public are being invited to drop in to the lab to see how it works and take part in various tasting sessions. Among these will be one devoted to Crombies of Edinburgh sausages, beef from ABP Food Group, another on Mackie’s ice cream and chocolate and one tasting berries provided by Angus Soft Fruits. Castleton Farm Shop and Craigie’s Farm are also providing products for taste testers to trial.

The mobile lab is the brainchild of Professor Mike Coffey, team leader for Animal and Veterinary Sciences at SRUC, who said: “While the lab can be used to gather valuable information on the public’s taste preferences, our overall aim is to improve the quality of the meat we consume. Instead of taking consumers into the lab, we will now be taking the lab out to consumers.

"Learning the taste preferences of the public – people of different ages, from different places and from different backgrounds – gives us valuable insight and will help us to improve the genetics of our farm animals and thereby ensuring the consumer gets the products they want.”

The lab forms part of SRUC’s food and drink zone – one of three areas within the SRUC stand at this year’s RHS. Another highlights its support for rural businesses through SAC Consulting while a third, as part of Scotland’s Year of Young People, focuses on SRUC’s role in educating and skilling the agri-rural workforce of tomorrow.