SRUC VISION AND MISSION
Building on our traditions in tertiary education, research excellence and industry expertise to deliver sustained impact and innovation in the natural economy.
Vision: By 2031, SRUC will be a global tertiary powerhouse, a place-based university college working collaboratively to build a sustainable future for the natural economy.
Mission:
• We will redefine what tertiary education means in the 21st century.
• We will create a high-performing innovation and skills ecosystem that powers a natural capital-based economy.
• We will help to address major global challenges of climate change; food, water and energy security; and biodiversity loss.
• We will drive imaginative new ways of working between business, government, communities and academia.
Purpose: To deliver sustained impact and innovation in the natural economy and create a sustainable future for our staff and students, communities, business and the environment, in Scotland and globally.
After gaining taught degree-awarding powers, we are visioning what a future university college will look like. We know that with change will come challenges and opportunities. Our opportunity is to build a global tertiary powerhouse that works with our natural capital to create a sustainable future for people, communities, businesses, and the environment in Scotland and globally.
EMBRACING THE FUTURE WITH INNOVATION AND EXCELLENCE
Gaining taught degree-awarding powers was a transformational moment for SRUC. We take confidence and pride in how our institution continues to evolve with a focus on place-based initiatives and a belief that innovation should be as diverse as the landscape of Scotland itself.
At SRUC, we believe in the power of collaboration between government, business, academia, and communities –a synergy that catalyses growth and resilience. Our aim is to ensure that every SRUC site is a microcosm of this collaboration; places where ideas are incubated, and enterprises are born that take root in rural communities and generate prosperity.
We will enable policymakers to fully embrace the natural economy’s vast potential in helping to create a vibrant and flourishing future in Scotland, the UK and beyond. We must ensure that sectors like agriculture, forestry and food and
drink not only survive, but also innovate and evolve at pace to remain vital pillars of our economic and environmental success.
By tailoring our tertiary education, expert advice, and knowledge exchange programmes to the unique needs of rural communities, businesses and the environment, we ensure that the innovation we require to fuel growth and productivity in the natural economy is widespread, reaching and helping to shape prosperity in every corner of our country.
However, this is about much more than just the growth of businesses in rural settings; it’s also about the sustained support and expertise we deliver,
alongside the spirit and capability to innovate within these communities. Our mission is to harness this spirit, fostering an environment where entrepreneurial skills are not only taught but also become deeply integrated in the fabric of rural enterprise.
Entrepreneurial campuses and placebased initiatives at SRUC are more than educational offerings; they are the engines of change for Scotland’s rural economy. By placing an unwavering emphasis on entrepreneurial skills and fostering an environment where innovation thrives, SRUC is leading the charge to create a sustainable, dynamic, and inclusive economic future for Scotland.
Though the road ahead may be challenging, the opportunity to shape a vibrant, sustainable natural economy, and a productive and prosperous future for our rural communities and beyond, is transformative.
With the support of our community, the guidance of our colleagues, deep connections with business all over Scotland and the dedication of our students, the future of SRUC is bright, filled with the promise of innovation and the potential for transformative impact on our world.
PRINCIPAL AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE INTRODUCTION
Tertiary – integrated academic, technical and vocational education powered by worldleading research and commercial expertise – is at the heart of our mission.
With taught degree-awarding powers, we will now push the boundaries of education, research and outreach in our sector, redefining what tertiary education means in the 21st century.
Our strategy is clear: to foster innovation, drive sustainable growth and practices, translate research to impact and contribute to a thriving natural economy.
The challenges of today – climate change, food security, and biodiversity loss (in line with the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy to 2025) – require us to push the boundaries of what’s possible, and to lead with courage and conviction.
We must continue to innovate, to educate, and to lead in the delivery of a sustainable, productive, and resilient natural economy.
Professor Wayne Powell
INTERIM CHAIR
The time is now for an institution like ours to take centre stage. The international investment opportunity in food and agriculture, environment and sustainable solutions is in the billions of pounds annually – and we could not be better placed to be an expert voice informing and driving its best use.
Over the past few years, we have established our vision and mission, and created ownership of the concept of the natural economy as a part of those aims.
Our research is dynamic and responsive to the major challenges that we face globally, as well as continually relevant and meaningful in the real world. We remain commercially astute and agile –with more small and medium-sized enterprise engagement than any college or university in the UK – and are a natural place to do business with partners around the globe.
As taught degree-awarding powers help us further unlock the potential of our dynamic tertiary model, I have never been more confident that we
are building on strong foundations to become one of the most powerful voices in our domain.
David Bell
A FUTURE-FOCUSED STRATEGY BUILDING ON OUR SUCCESS
This strategy is a continuation of our commitment to achieve the best for our sector, our students, clients and for society. It is a doubling-down on our core mission and an unapologetic expression of our identity as a different kind of institution that delivers economic impact, originates transformational innovation, nurtures brilliant talent and is a natural collaborator.
In short, this strategy sets out our vision to evolve as a global leader for the natural economy, but it also recognises that what makes us distinctive now will continue to be our points of differentiation in the future.
Applying our taught degree-awarding powers, we will become a distinctive tertiary university college at the heart of the natural economy and characterised by a unique combination of education, research, innovation and enterprise, and commercial ventures.
We will retain our placebased mission, focused on natural capital to support a green recovery in the more rural parts of Scotland, while simultaneously driving imaginative new ways of working between business, government, communities and academia.
In the short term, attaining taught degree-awarding powers and then embracing university college status will strengthen our capabilities as educator and researcher and to present ourselves as a local, national and international leader in the natural economy.
We are, and long have been, a distinctive institution. Our unique delivery model
which embraces knowledge exchange and industry engagement through SAC Consulting provides powerful links into rural communities and connects our strong networks into agriculture, food, and land-based businesses.
Going forward, we will build on our expertise to ensure we drive innovation and impact across the land-based and agricultural industries.
We are in a powerful position at an opportune time, and the potential for growth should not be underestimated as we aim to establish a truly global tertiary powerhouse for the natural economy.
THE POWER OF INSTITUTIONAL INNOVATION TO DRIVE SUCCESS
It will be no easy task to deliver our strategy – but to provide the foundations for long-term success our operating model will be dynamic and flexible.
From our academic expertise and consulting capability through to ground-breaking research and the commercialisation of our intellectual and physical assets, we will encourage our teams to collaborate across the institution – leveraging insight and resources to ensure activities align with our strategic priorities – and that they drive diversification and revenue growth.
We will build our reputation as a global tertiary powerhouse – to attract new students at all levels from across Scotland, the rest of the UK and internationally.
Our research areas and challenge focus must be at the forefront of innovation to power new solutions for the natural economy.
With a dedicated focus on improving knowledge exchange, we will help industry address business-led challenges and stimulate innovation within the rural SME base.
Supporting place-based projects that support regional economic development will continue to be a priority as we look to develop and
support a vibrant innovation pipeline.
Likewise, we will encourage institutional innovation to help support and upscale our advisory and consulting services. We will be a valuable partner in UK and EU efforts to build innovative and successful businesses through new joint ventures or acquisitions.
Additional support from our products and services teams, and our partnerships and joint ventures teams, will help to realise our vision of placebased entrepreneurial campuses.
Our overarching goal at all times will be to reinforce and maximise the full potential of our strategic distinctiveness. We will create and capture economies of scale where they add value to our mission. We will create a more radical business model that catalyses system change and enables us to build a compelling narrative nationally and globally, making sure we are seen as a proactive and visible leader in the natural economy.
We will become a global tertiary university college focused on supporting a vibrant natural economy that attracts ambitious UK and international students to excel academically through flexible, blended learning at a Top 200 World University.
EDUCATION & STUDENT EXPERIENCE
To deliver these changes, we have reorganised our academic structure from a geographically based faculty model, which has been excellent in preserving place-based opportunities but has led to some duplication of effort.
Our three faculties have been replaced by two discipline-based, pan-SRUC schools. The School of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences and the School of Natural and Social Sciences both support place-based activity but also maximise cross-SRUC activity while minimising duplication.
We will deliver an integrated model to improve efficiency and productivity across SRUC, recognising the importance of practitioners and consultants working alongside academic (education and research) colleagues.
SEEDABLE
In 2023, we won the Tomorrow’s
Employees award at the UK and Ireland Green Gown Awards for our SEEDABLE (Sustainability, Enterprise, Equality and Diversity through Active and Blended Learning) project which aims to empower graduates to create a sustainable future.
The project embeds the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals into all programmes, with a teaching and learning focus on building the competencies to create sustainable solutions.
OUR STAFF
SRUC’s shared values are:
• RESPECT everyone’s contributions
• INNOVATE for success
• and SUPPORT each other to...
• EXCEL in everything we do.
These values provide direction for all levels across all areas of SRUC and are placed at the core of everything we do. They are particularly important in areas such as leadership, performance,
personal development and communication.
They underpin an environment that inspires and supports everyone to give their best and feel proud to work for SRUC. The values help us work well together and deliver high-quality services to our customers; everyone can demonstrate them daily, whatever their role.
We aim to deliver parity of experience for both our staff and our students.
The School of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences is using a range of innovative teaching methods to help us prepare students for work in the increasingly important rural mixed practice, agricultural and food sectors.
A NEW MODEL FOR SUCCESS
SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE AND BIOSCIENCES
The opening of our new School of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences, Scotland’s first new vet school in 150 years, signifies our commitment to the next generation – those who will lead and power our natural economy in the years to come.
As the demand for food grows with our population, so too does the need for skilled veterinarians to ensure the health and welfare of livestock, numbers of which are increasing year-on-year in the UK.
The School of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences is using a range of innovative teaching methods to help us prepare students for work in
the increasingly important rural mixed practice, agricultural and food sectors.
SCHOOL
OF NATURAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Launched at the Royal Highland Show
in 2025, this school has a broad remit that covers the applied natural and social sciences with the purpose of enhancing productivity, food security, environmental management, mitigation and adaptation within the local and international economy.
The school couples natural and social sciences to address development goals both locally and globally.
The school is composed of a number of sections which cover:
• Horticulture and future food systems.
• Agricultural systems (including engineering).
• Business and social sciences (including economics).
• Natural capital (encompassing conservation, environmental sciences and forestry).
We will target status as the UK’s premier institution for research impact power in agriculture, food and veterinary science, using national and international collaborations across the natural economy to grow our research power, reach and impact within the UK and globally.
RESEARCH & IMPACT
The world faces significant challenges, from food security to climate change. We believe that this institution has a vital role to play in responding to these challenges and creating opportunities.
We will seek to bring together academic, industry and policy experts to address key global and local challenges in collaborative research work. By facilitating joint working across our organisation, we will aim to shape the next generation of interdisciplinary research leaders and practitioners.
Our researchers work locally and internationally to better understand and to transform the world around us. Working alongside industry and policy makers, our staff and students design, develop and deliver real-world change to benefit the global natural economy.
GLOBAL LIVESTOCK RESEARCH
SRUC is at the forefront of global livestock research. A project to breed more productive dairy cows has paid off both at home and in Africa, thanks to support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Research by SRUC Professors Raphael Mrode and Mike Coffey enabled them to identify economically important traits and implement genomic approaches that lead to healthier cows with higher milk production, and in turn allow farmers to breed smaller cows which require less feed and land to graze on, but produce more milk. This has helped communities in both the UK and Africa thrive.
At its research farm in Midlothian, meanwhile, SRUC opened a world-first circular farming system which uses cattle waste to power a shed and grow indoor crops.
After receiving feasibility funding from the Scottish Government, GreenShed was funded by the UK Government as part of Phase 2 of the Direct Air Capture and Greenhouse Gas Removal Programme. It is seen as an important step in the road towards net zero.
AI AND DATA-DRIVEN RESEARCH
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data will play an increasingly important role in society in the coming years. At SRUC, our data and our data skills are areas of
key strength and we are constantly exploring systems to better serve our ambitions and make a positive impact on the sectors we serve and on society as a whole.
In 2025, we unveiled farm-twin, a world’s first open-source Digital Twin platform designed specifically to transform dairy farming.
Made possible through funding from the Digital Dairy Chain, part of the SRUC-led UKRI Strength in Places programme, this project explores the use of digital twin technology in dairy farming.
A digital twin is a virtual representation
of the entire farm system from individual animals to infrastructure created using real-time data from sensors, telemetry and other digital tools.
By replicating the physical environment in a digital space, it enables farmers to monitor operations in real time, make data-driven decisions, and optimise the use of resources.
From optimised feeding and proactive health monitoring to enhanced environmental management, a digital twin plays a vital role in precision agriculture, advancing productivity, operational efficiency and sustainability in the dairy sector.
ENTERPRISE & INNOVATION
We will foster a culture where sustainability and entrepreneurship are integrated into every aspect of learning, research, and enterprise, with targeted programmes that develop practical skills and innovative mindsets.
Our goal is to accelerate the uptake and delivery of sustainable enterprise for communities across Scotland and beyond. Success will be measured in the progress of an innovative and thriving natural economy in the fields of education, business and research.
Projects such as Dairy Nexus, Digital Dairy Chain, RAVIC, SeedPod, and the Vertical Farm fit perfectly into our wider vision for a robust rural economy
with growing natural capital the length and breadth of Scotland.
They are concrete reminders that when government partners with academia, businesses and communities to unlock joint investment, widespread benefits can be unleashed, such as cutting carbon emissions, boosting productivity, and opening new markets for rural enterprises.
INNOVATION CENTRES
SRUC is growing and developing its commercialisation and innovation income and reputation. Our goal is to maximise commercial revenue opportunities.
We already have a number of existing innovation infrastructure projects, which are vital to the delivery of high-quality research and the success of our learning and teaching. We are now set to facilitate a closer working relationship between these projects by combining them with other existing SRUC networks and assets to create six thematic innovation centres, affiliated with our two-school structure. This includes innovations
in the field of dairy, crop science, veterinary medicine and biosciences, aquaculture, food and drink, livestock and methane and carbon mitigation.
This innovation centre ecosystem will support growth by developing new revenue streams and intellectual property, while also enabling collaboration with other organisations.
This new model is a unique asset in the sector, which delivers beyond physical assets and draws on an extensive pool of SRUC talent in research, academia and commercial parts of the business, giving SRUC a level of distinction and a unique advantage on which to capitalise.
We will embrace innovation and drive entrepreneurial growth in the natural economy to create new opportunities for rural communities, while helping to shape global best practice in sustainable industries to create new avenues for attracting additional investment.
INVESTING IN INNOVATION
DAIRY NEXUS
Funded by the Borderlands
Inclusive Growth Deal and South of Scotland Enterprise, Dairy Nexus is not just a multi-million-pound capital project, it is a symbol of progress, proof of what can be achieved when we pour innovation and investment into traditional industries like dairy.
Home of the Dairy Innovation Centre and situated at our Barony campus in Dumfries and Galloway, this advanced facility is set to transform the region’s dairy industry. By weaving the latest in animal health, waste management, and product development together, we are helping to reimagine producers’ economic and sustainability potential. It will also support the work of the Strength in Places programme Digital Dairy Chain, which is delivering SRUC’s vision to transform UK dairy production through innovative use of data, reduction of greenhouse gases and the creation of a circular bioeconomy.
It is a five-year UK Research and Innovation funded project with a budget of £21 million to transform the dairy sector in the region, and uplift the rural economy with sustainable solutions.
The Digital Dairy Chain offers businesses or individuals involved in the dairy supply chain across South and West Scotland and Cumbria a range of services to support innovation and productivity through collaboration.
RAVIC
Part of the innovation centre network, RAVIC sits at the interface of agriculture, aquaculture, animal and human health, and is creating new opportunities for collaborative entrepreneurship, commercial development and education.
It is providing critical expertise, facilities, experts and infrastructure to better manage planetary health challenges
Opened by Anne, Princess Royal in 2024, RAVIC is a £12.5m facility developing new links between science and industry to help address planetary health challenges and grow the natural economy. including antimicrobial resistance, zoonoses, and the effects of climate change through applied research, innovation, education, and consultancy.
RAVIC is complementing the thriving life sciences sector already established in Inverness, providing opportunities for synergy and collaborations between local knowledge-based institutions, regional businesses and national partners.
We continuously seek to understand and offer solutions, knowledge and partnerships to meet the evolving needs of the agricultural, food and land-based industries.
We offer globally recognised expertise, data-driven solutions and global partnerships which create tangible value for customers, stakeholders and the wider industry.
COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY
We will guide a thriving and sustainable natural economy to meet the global challenges of climate change, food security and biodiversity loss through our diverse portfolio of experts, assets, products and services.
This continued focus on sustainability and commercial leadership will further support SRUC to deliver an environmental place-based natural economy.
Our impact-focused consulting model is a unique asset, differentiating us in the marketplace and giving us the flexibility to deliver sector-leading solutions to support businesses from the smallest crofter to global multinationals.
The development of an agricultural knowledge and innovation system (AKIS)
for Scotland through utilisation of our unique blend of consultancy, advisory and research teams will facilitate knowledge exchange, innovation and skills to enable Scottish agriculture to increase sustainability, navigate change and seize new opportunities.
Our commercial ventures will amplify our reputation and profile while driving the efficient, sustainable growth and productivity of the industries they serve, and our global partnerships drive mutual growth and industry engagement. All of which combine to enhance SRUC’s reach, reputation and impact.
EUROFINS
Eurofins Agro Testing is leading the soil, forage and plant pathology laboratory at SRUC and will work in partnership with SAC Consulting to strengthen and develop its agricultural testing service across the UK.
The two organisations are working together to broaden the services
available to farmers throughout the country. This development forms the basis of a strong partnership between both organisations, combining SRUC’s great reputation in the Scottish market with Eurofins’ market-leading portfolio of tests. This is the third addition to the Eurofins Agro Testing network, with similar assets in Denmark and Germany. Together we want to contribute to viable, healthy and sustainable farming and growing in Scotland and the UK.
ROYAL HONOUR
In November 2025, SRUC was awarded the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Education for the third time, making it one of the few Scottish institutions to have received the honour more than twice.
Following previous wins in 2017 and 2023, the latest Queen Elizabeth Prize was presented to SRUC for the impact of the Scottish Farm Business Survey, which has been helping to shape Scottish agricultural policy and practice for almost a century.
Beginning in 1936 in response to the
Great Slump economic crisis, the survey was designed to address concerns over food security. Today, on behalf of the Scottish Government, SAC Consulting gathers data from 400 dairy, arable and livestock farms across the country, from which SRUC carries out in-depth annual analysis.
SRUC was awarded what was previously called the Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2017 for its dairy genetics research relating to the famous Langhill Herd in Dumfries and Galloway, and in 2023 for its contribution to animal welfare, veterinary science, education, research and the economy through its worldclass Veterinary Services network.
STRATEGIC AIMS
2026-2031
REINFORCING AND MAXIMISING OUR DISTINCTIVENESS
Achieved by:
• Magnify the advantages of an internationally recognised integrated tertiary model and strengthen the connectivity between teaching, research, consulting and wider commercial activities.
• Translation of research into practice and impact at scale.
• Implement a business model that can accelerate growth and attract investment through extending and leveraging our commercial and business reach.
• Seek out and establish strong partnerships, collaborations and alliances that contribute to our excellence, reach and sustainability.
• Embrace, lead and optimise the deployment of data, AI, sensors and machine learning in the natural economy.
• Shape the natural economy and influence the approach to natural capital, food security, blue/green economy, food security, supply chains, diet and health.
• By 2029, deliver a fully accredited veterinary training programme and, by inclusion, RCVS accreditation for the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences –driving capacity relative to future veterinary needs and building resilience and capability.
ENABLING STAFF AND STUDENTS TO FLOURISH
• Be an employer of choice, recruiting, developing and retaining talented staff that will contribute to the delivery of our ambitions.
• Deliver a strong student experience that combines on-campus, hybrid, distance learning and modular learning opportunities while maintaining the sense of belonging and culture.
• Cultivate a learning-led, highperformance culture through our People and Organisational Development Strategy. Develop our future leaders through succession planning and training.
DRIVE MULTIPLE AND DIVERSE REVENUE STREAMS
Achieved by:
• A financially sustainable and resilient position by diversifying our income streams while respecting the culture and uniqueness of our mission.
• Diversify and grow our student body with international open recruitment, transnational education (TNE) and further championing of widening access and diverse learner journeys.
• Generate philanthropic income that is proportionate to benchmarks.
• Drive new revenue streams through the excellence, relevance and impact of our research, access to outstanding facilities and infrastructure, together with outstanding commercially minded staff, providing excellent customer experiences.
REPUTATION AND BRAND
• Grow our brand and reputation beyond Scotland.
• Ensure our brand amplifies awareness of our areas of strength and expertise in driving forward the natural economy as a source of prosperity.
• Lead by example in implementing environmentally sustainable solutions for productivity and economic growth.