By SRUC Principal, Professor Wayne Powell

COP26 highlighted the importance of land use, food production and consumption in meeting Scotland’s net zero ambition and SRUC has a major role to play in ensuring agriculture is seen as part of the solution and continues to contribute to our economy, communities, culture and identity.

SRUC has superbly navigated the challenges of the past 21 months and my wish for 2022 is to retain the spirit of innovation and pioneering willingness to work differently as we serve Scotland through our tripartite mission of research, teaching and consultancy.

We will continue our journey towards gaining taught degree awarding powers in 2022, when SRUC celebrates its tenth anniversary.

We will also accelerate several significant strategic initiatives, including the creation of Scotland’s first veterinary school in 150 years, a Rural and Veterinary Innovation Centre in Inverness, a state-of-the-art Dairy Nexus at the Barony campus and a £21 million digital dairy project in the south of Scotland.

SAC Consulting continues to attract outstanding talent and we anticipate a growing demand for Agrecalc – a globally recognised standard for carbon emission calculation, benchmarking and mitigation.

Finally, we are looking forward to our first in-person graduation ceremony for two years and meeting face-to-face at the 200th anniversary of the Royal Highland Show.