A jointly organised conference between SRUC (Scotland’s Rural College) and Teagasc in Edinburgh last month explored the potential for how the two organisations, working together, could identify solutions and help create new opportunities for rural economies.
Recognising that rural regions need to be innovative to share prosperity in an increasingly globalised economy and respond to societal challenges, the focus of the conference was on building innovative and competitive rural economies that will contribute to national economic and social well-being.
It is hoped the event will help build greater public awareness of the potential of rural areas and resources to deliver on a wide range of economic, social, and environmental challenges and opportunities benefitting all citizens of Ireland and Scotland.
Speaking at the conference, Professor Gerry Boyle, Teagasc director, said: “It is important to highlight that new opportunities for rural areas will not be just confined to traditional sectors. New digital and other areas of science and technology will create opportunities for agri-food. The development of new technologies for the use and transformation of bio-materials has opened up a wide range of potential new economic opportunities for rural areas.”
Markets for new bio-based products, for biofuels, green chemicals and biomaterials are projected to grow, he added. “They have a real contribution to make to the rural economy. Investing in growing these domains creates opportunities in many sectors, more highly skilled jobs, more competitive and sustainable rural economies, as well as openings into new markets.”
Prof Wayne Powell, principal and chief executive of SRUC added: “This is a timely meeting focusing on the rural economy at a point when we are going through massive changes in the expectations of government, farmers, industry and society more generally as to how we use our land to deliver a range of both public and private goods. Behavioural and culture change alongside the adoption of new disruptive science and technology will be of paramount importance. SRUC stands ready and willing to lead and help all our stakeholders through this period of dramatic change.”
Range of speakers
The conference featured a number of presentations from a range of speakers from the two countries and further afield. Dr Liz Wedderburn, assistant research director with AgResearch New Zealand addressed the conference on “The challenges of change and possible solutions: the New Zealand experience”; a paper on the key challenges for change in the rural sector was presented by Professor Ian Boyd, chief scientific adviser at the UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; while SRUC agricultural economist Steven Thomson spoke on future agricultural policy options for Britain and Ireland.
Speakers from Ireland included Dr Kevin Hanrahan, head of Teagasc’s rural economy and development programme, who spoke on the potential implications of Brexit for Ireland’s rural economy. He was joined by Dr Brendan Dunford, Burren Programme manager, who addressed the topic of sustainable farming in a high nature-value area, and Catherine Keena, countryside management specialist, who gave a presentation on “Farming the uplands: where to from here?”
Teagasc senior research Dr David Meredith looked at the impact and implications for rural economic development of boom, recession and recovery while Teagasc principal researcher Dr Laurence Shaloo addressed the role of data in the future of dairy farming.
On a similar theme, Prof Eileen Wall, team leader for Animal and Veterinary Sciences at SRUC, looked at the role of innovation in improving livestock productivity.
SRUC Rural Policy Centre director Prof Sarah Skerratt addressed the human dimension in the development of more resilient rural communities while her colleague Prof Dave Roberts looked at how behavioural change can be achieved.
Also speaking at the conference, Professor Frank O’Mara, director of research at Teagasc, said: “To realise the potential or rural economies, investment will be required in new technologies, new business models, new models for the organisation of supply chains and value chains, as well as new policies and infrastructures. International research collaboration will be essential to help realise these opportunities. The existing strong links between SRUC and Teagasc can be further developed to address the required new and pluralist research agenda.”