Ministers open multi-million pound Dairy Nexus
Unveiling the plaque at the Dairy Nexus opening. From left: Councillor Gail Macgregor, Russel Griggs OBE, Kirsty McNeill, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland; Tom Arthur, Minister for Employment and Investment; and Wayne Powell, Principal and Chief Executive of SRUC.
Ministers from the UK and Scottish governments have opened a multi-million pound facility designed to boost innovation and sustainability in the dairy industry.
Tom Arthur, Minister for Employment and Investment, and Kirsty McNeill, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland, unveiled a plaque and toured the state-of-the-art laboratories at the new Dairy Nexus building near Dumfries, which is the first Scottish project to be delivered through the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal.
SRUC is leading the project, which was awarded £4 million each from the UK and Scottish governments and £738,000 from South of Scotland Enterprise.
Built by Portakabin Ltd on SRUC’s Barony campus near Dumfries, the Dairy Nexus is ideally placed to boost innovation in the major dairy producing regions of Dumfries and Galloway and Cumbria.
It will facilitate collaboration between researchers, advisors, farmers, and businesses in the sector to identify and solve real-world problems and take opportunities to improve productivity and sustainability.
Ministers and invited guests were shown inside the Milk Technology Unit, which is used for dairy product development testing, sampled local produce, and were also given the opportunity to meet Hilda, the dairy calf who recently made headlines around the world as the face of ‘Cool Cows’, a research project given a grant by the UKRI-funded Digital Dairy Chain.
UK Government Minister for Scotland Kirsty McNeill said: “This exciting project - backed by £4 million UK Government funding and part of our £65 million commitment to Scottish projects on the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal - is a great example of collaboration to find innovative solutions for boosting productivity, creating jobs, and decarbonising the dairy sector in the south of Scotland and beyond.
“I look forward to seeing Scotland’s Rural College and Dairy Nexus' contribution to delivering sustainable growth and helping us promote Brand Scotland's world-famous food and drink larder. The UK Government is focused on delivering our Plan for Change to turbo-charge economic growth and provide a decade of national renewal and opportunity for all. This includes investing £1.4 billion into important local projects across Scotland over the next ten years, including in Dumfries and Galloway.”
Kirsty McNeill, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland (left) and Tom Arthur, Minister for Employment and Investment, at the Dairy Nexus opening.
Tom Arthur, Minister for Employment and Investment, said: “The Dairy Nexus will boost the value of the south of Scotland’s thriving dairy sector, which supports more than 1,300 producers and nearly 1,000 farms. It aims to drive innovations which reduce carbon emissions and make the dairy sector more productive.
“The facility is the first project delivered through the Borderlands Growth Deal in Scotland. The Scottish Government has provided £85 million towards the Borderlands Deal to create jobs and drive sustainable economic growth across southern Scotland.”
Cllr Gail Macgregor, Leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council and Borderlands Partnership Board Member, said: “After a lot of hard work and investment I’m delighted to see the launch of this pioneering Dairy Nexus project.
“Our local economy across much of the Borderland’s region is very dependent on the dairy sector and I am extremely impressed with Barony College’s ongoing research into decarbonising forage-based dairy farming, optimising milk composition, and production while safeguarding animal wellbeing.
“I wish everyone good luck for the future and look forward to seeing how this will support innovation in one of our most long-established industries.”
Russel Griggs OBE, Chair of South of Scotland Enterprise, said: “Dairy Nexus is going to be a real asset for one of the most significant industries for Dumfries & Galloway.
“It will drive innovation to allow the dairy sector to decarbonise, as well as accelerate its productivity, enhance animal welfare, and develop new products from dairy resources.
“Dairy Nexus also aims to bring further investment and jobs to the area, contributing to SOSE’s target of turning the South of Scotland into the rural economic powerhouse we know it can be.”
Professor Wayne Powell, Principal and Chief Executive of SRUC, said: “This is a very proud day for everyone involved in Dairy Nexus. It’s a fantastic project that embodies SRUC’s commitment to innovation and place-based transformation. Getting to this stage has taken a huge amount of determination and grit from everyone involved and I would like to thank all our funders and partners for helping us to make it a reality.”
Posted by SRUC on 03/04/2025
