FIVE projects in the South West Scotland and Cumbria areas have won a share of £1 million from the Digital Dairy Chain.
They were successful in the 2024 Collaborative Research & Development Grant Competition and were identified as innovative projects focused on improving dairy production and the supply chain.
The schemes had to show a realistic potential to support business growth, scale-up and create jobs for the sector within the region.
Each will get a grant of between £150-250k which will be invested in work taking place across Digital Dairy Chain’s geographical reach.
Stuart Martin, programme director of Digital Dairy Chain, said: “The calibre of applications we received for this final round of R&D competition funding was once again exceptionally high. The winning applications faced stiff competition and are all very deserving of the funding. These are groundbreaking ideas across several innovative subject matters, which will have significant implications for dairy productivity and sustainable production on a national level.”
The five are:
* Albasense: a fast response monitoring device to detect early-stage bovine respiratory disease to support the UK dairy industry amid labour shortages and rising costs. Early diagnosis allows timely intervention, reducing antibiotic use, improves animal welfare and boosts milk yields.
* Culquha Farm: integrating sensor technology to enhance manure management with environmental benefits such as reduced pollution, improved soil health, increased crop yields and social benefits through empowering farmers with technology.
* Galebreaker: an app and digital tool that will allow farmers to analyse heat stress and the impacts of cattle with the aim of improving animal welfare, productivity and future development of building designs to mitigate heat stress.
* Grouse fibres: biorefining waste milk from the dairy industry to create a casein-based fibrous growth material for horticulture that will serve as an alternative to traditional fertilisers and peat.
n Soltrophy: decarbonising heat for dairy farms and dairies by integrating four innovative technologies: solar thermal heating, a solid-state heat pump, a steam heat pump and a cutting-edge sensor system to be implemented at Appleby Creamery.
