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New research hub will focus on food security
royal dick school of veterinary studies
The academy will be based at the University of Edinburgh's Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.

Edinburgh's global academy aims to equip future leaders for challenges ahead
 
A new hub for teaching and research in Edinburgh will focus on global food security, aiming to give future leaders the skills and knowledge to face the challenges ahead.

The Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Security will be based at the University of Edinburgh's Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.

As well as leading world-class research on food security, sustainable rural development and the wellbeing of animals and people, the hub will offer undergraduate and postgraduate training, educational activities and resources. It will also draw on expertise from the schools of medicine, biological sciences, geosciences and informatics.

Professor Geoff Simm, current vice principal research at Scotland's Rural College, is set to lead the academy. He will take up his post as assistant principal and director on 1 October, 2016.

Commenting on his appointment, he said: "Food security is about ensuring a supply of safe, nutritious and affordable food, for all people, at all times. This is a massively complex challenge, with health, environmental, economic, political, cultural and behavioural, as well as agricultural, dimensions.
 
"The University and partners can make even greater interdisciplinary, academic contributions, across many schools and existing Global Academies, as well as having global practical impact.
 
"I look forward to leading the new Global Academy to be a catalyst for these contributions in future, delivering excellent science in global agriculture and food security, promoting translation into practice through education of future leaders, and through collaborative research and knowledge exchange."

Image © University of Edinburgh

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Annual submission deadline small pet animal exemptions

News Story 1
 Companies marketing medicines for small pets exempt from authorisation must submit their annual return to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) by 30 November 2026.

Submitting this annual return ensures continued compliance with regulatory requirements for products marketed without a full Marketing Authorisation. The exemption specifically applies to products intended for animals, cage birds, terrarium animals, small rodents, ferrets and rabbits.

For further details and submission guidelines, visit the gov.uk website.  

Click here for more...
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Bluetongue RZ extended across Scotland

The Scottish Government has announced an extension to a Bluetongue Restricted Zone that is in place in south-west Scotland.

From 3 October, the Restricted Zone will be extended to cover the whole of Scotland. The Animal, Plant and Health Agency (APHA) says this is in response to further disease spread, as well as simplify trading conditions ahead of the autumn.

Since the whole country will share a disease status, it will no longer be necessary to have a movement license to move susceptible livestock around the country. Restrictions on germinal products remain.

As of 1 October 2026, there were 1,979 cases of BTV-3 in England, 389 cases in Wales and 40 cases in Scotland.