Scottish Government Rural Affairs and the Environment Strategic Research Strategy 2011 - 2016

Annex 2: Main Research Providers

Moredun Research Institute moredun.org.uk

Moredun Research Institute (MRI) is committed to promoting animal health and welfare through research and education and is recognized worldwide for its contribution to research into infectious diseases of farmed livestock which has led to improved treatment and preventive strategies for farm animals across the globe. In this way, Moredun has, and continues to, contribute significantly to global food security.

MRI carries out research that aims for greater understanding of disease pathogenesis, the development of diagnostic tests and the creation of novel vaccines. Scientists work with farmers and vets to improve animal health and wellbeing and to support sustainable agriculture. It is a company limited by guarantee (CLG) with charitable status. SG is MRI's largest customer and in 2012-13, SG funding accounted for 46.7% of MRI's total income of £13.5 M. MRI is listed as a public body in Schedule 8 of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010, and is classified by ONS as a public sector/general government/central government body.

The James Hutton Institute hutton.ac.uk

The James Hutton Institute is an international research centre which makes major contributions through knowledge, innovation and services to address key global issues, such as food and water security, climate change and sustainable development. The principal activity of the Institute is to conduct research in soil, plant, environmental, social and economic sciences. In partnership with people, organisations and governments it delivers evidence based solutions to the global challenges facing land and natural resource use both now and in the future.

The James Hutton Institute was established on 1 April 2011 through the merger of the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, based in Aberdeen, and the Scottish Crop Research Institute, based in Invergowrie, Dundee. The Institute has 600 staff as well as a Postgraduate School of over 120 PhD and MSc students. Like MRI, it is a CLG with charitable status and a public body. In 2012-13, SG funding accounted for 71% of James Hutton Group's (including its commercial subsidiaries) total income of £38 M.

Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health abdn.ac.uk/rowett

The University of Aberdeen Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health (RINH) is a key centre for the study of food and its relationship to long-term health and an internationally recognised Centre of Excellence for nutrition research.

RINH carries out research on how nutrition can prevent disease, improve human and animal health and enhance the quality of food production in agriculture. It became an integral part of the University of Aberdeen in 2008 and has charitable status but as a Higher Education Institute is not a public body. The University does not produce annual accounts for RINH but in 2012-13 SG research funding was estimated to account for about 75% of RINH's annual income.

Scotland's Rural College (formerly Scottish Agricultural College) sruc.ac.uk

Formed following the merger of SAC with Barony, Elmwood and Oatridge Colleges, SRUC is an integrated research, education and consultancy organisation focusing on outcomes which can impact on sustainable land use, the environment and the rural economies in Scotland and internationally.

SRUC research focuses on sustainable, efficient, low-carbon crop and livestock farming systems - including key components of genetics, nutrition, health and animal welfare; economic, environmental and social sustainability of rural areas, food supply chains and businesses; innovation, behaviour; and rural policy. SRUC is a Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG) with charitable status, a public body and in 2008 was designated a higher education institution (HEI) for the purpose of Part II of the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992. SG is SRUC's largest research customer with SG grant funding of about £7.7 million per annum accounting for 41% of SRUC's research income (but only 10% of SRUC's total income).

SG also funds SRUC to provide a range of veterinary and advisory services (VAS) and, via the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) the institute's education function at annual revenue cost of approximately £7 million. Overall, SG revenue funding in 2011-12, including that provided by SFC, accounted for approximately 42% (£28 million) of SRUC's total income for 2010-11 of £67 million.

Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland bioss.ac.uk

Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland (BioSS) undertakes research, consultancy and training in mathematics and statistics in the agricultural, environmental, food and health sectors.

BioSS, which is part of the James Hutton Institute, contributes to delivery of the strategic research programmes, centres of expertise and strategic partnerships though collaboration with the other Main Research Providers. The quantitative expertise of BioSS staff helps to address a wide range of design, modelling and analysis issues.