Professor Dave Roberts has been appointed as an Executive Director of the Scottish Dairy Growth Board with immediate effect.

Recently retired from the post of head of Agriculture and Business Management at SRUC, Prof Roberts has worked in the dairy sector for over 40 years and was appointed Professor of Dairy Farming systems at SRUC in 2015. He will now take on specific responsibility for the board’s Environmental and Skills related work. Throughout his career, Dave has developed a particular interest in ensuring that the dairy industry has a well-trained workforce in today’s competitive agri-food industry and has been involved in several projects to encourage young people into the sector, as well as work undertaken in Malawi involving dairy farming training and education.

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Commenting on the appointment, chair of the Scottish Dairy Growth Board, Paul Grant, said: "Dave brings a vast knowledge of and expertise in the dairy sector to the Growth Board and I am delighted that he has agreed to lead our environmental and skills work agenda’s both of which are key priorities identified in the ‘Rising to the Top 2030’ strategy.

"As part of the board’s work, we have identified areas of future market growth opportunities for the sector and it will be critical that we deliver these by having a skilled workforce as well as minimising our climate change impact and optimising our environmental credentials, so having Dave on board could not have come at a better time."

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Prof Roberts commented: "I have been involved in both the Scottish Dairy Hub and Growth Board for a number of years and now welcome the opportunity to take on the leadership of two key strategic priorities. There is already much work underway in the sector around climate change and sustainability, but we cannot stand still, we need to continue to strive for excellence and continue to develop best practice using innovation and R&D to ensure that Scotland is recognised as a global player in tackling climate change in a proactive way."