Making food production sustainable
The University of Edinburgh has partnered with experts at Genus, who specialise in genetic research for livestock production. Together, they aim to improve the health and welfare of production animals.
Researchers from the university and Genus hope to identify genes that provide resistance to disease. This will allow them to improve the quality of livestock through breeding.
Concerns over the growing global and increasingly urban population have highlighted a need for boost the sustainability of food production for the future.
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council provides strategic funding to the university's Roslin Institute, for animal health and welfare research.
Edinburgh's Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies have also been given a three-year "substantial" investment to support educational initiatives and collaborative projects with Genus.
Professor David Hume, director of the Roslin Institute, commented: "This new partnership underpins our world-leading position in the field of livestock improvement and is central to our institute strategy."
He added that by engaging with industry, the institute's research will gain maximum impact to directly improve the health and welfare of production animals.
Dave McLaren, director of research at Genus, an international leader in the improvement of pork, beef and dairy animal production, explained: "We recognise the benefits of working with a world-leading research organisation to progress our vision of pioneering animal genetic improvement to help nourish the world."
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
