MOREDUN is celebrating its 100th year in operation, at a time when society has been reminded of the importance of science and technology in combatting infectious diseases.

Set up by farmers, for farmers, the research facility, based just outside Edinburgh, has led the development of many of the vaccines, diagnostic tests and disease prevention and control strategies used on farms today.

CEO of the Moredun Group, Professor Julie Fitzpatrick, said: “Moredun focusses its research on infectious diseases of livestock and wildlife species, especially those which are endemic, or common, diseases which adversely affect the efficiency of production and animal welfare. The organisation has developed scientific expertise in studying the viruses, bacteria and parasites that cause disease and the animal species they infect. We are proud of our long history of delivering practical tools and solutions to ensure safe, high quality food from livestock and look forward to continuing our important work."

Moredun started as the Animal Diseases Research Association in 1920 and at that time was the only society of its kind in the UK. A committee composed of representatives of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, the Scottish Chamber of Agriculture and the Farmers Union of Scotland drafted a constitution and the initial objectives were to 'research infectious diseases of livestock and to apply available knowledge to farm practice'.

Chairman of the Moredun Foundation, Ian Duncan Millar, added: “It was on the 17th March 1920, exactly 100 years ago that a public meeting was held in the chambers of the Royal Agricultural Society of Scotland and the Animal Disease Research Association was formed. One of the tenets of the new Association was to '...be in a favourable position to influence stock owners and in this matter science has scarcely penetrated farm practice. It will be an essential part of the organisation to bridge the gap between research workers and farmers'.

"This is still a central mission of Moredun today and I am very proud of the successes Moredun has achieved in these 100 years and for the foresight of our founding fathers," he continued. "We have much more to give in the next 100 years and look ahead to new science producing new rewards."

 

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