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Bill Gates tours Easter Bush Campus
Bill Gates tours Easter Bush Campus
Bill Gates pictured at Easter Bush with Professor Jonathan Seckl, vice-principal, Edinburgh University.

Businessman visits campus at University of Edinburgh as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Microsoft-founder Bill Gates recently visited the Easter Bush Campus at the University of Edinburgh to hear about research to improve the health and welfare of people and farm animals worldwide.

Bill Gates is co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which supports initiatives in education, world health, population and community giving. The organisation has a strategic focus on agriculture development and research to improve farming productivity in a sustainable way.

The businessman was met by vice-principal, Professor Jonathan Seckl, and was given a tour of the Roslin Institute - a research centre which seeks to tackle some of the most pressing issues in animal health and welfare. He then visited the beef research facility based at Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), before touring the National Avian Research Facility, where scientists are developing technologies that are helping to breed chickens that are less susceptible to diseases -  particularly those affecting developing countries.

Professor Geoff Simm, vice-principal of research at SRUC said:  “We were delighted to welcome Mr Gates and his colleagues so that we could demonstrate the quality of research taking place at SRUC and the University. Mr Gates was particularly interested in how new technologies provide a step-change in collecting data to enhance livestock performance.”

Professor Jonathan Seckl, vice-principal planning, resources and research policy, said: “It has been a great pleasure to welcome Bill Gates to the Easter Bush Campus and showcase our work as world leaders in the field of animal bioscience.”

The Easter Bush Campus houses the University of Edinburgh's Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. Located just eight miles south of the city centre, the Campus has the largest concentration of livestock science-related expertise in Europe. It is currently in the process of a major development programme that aims to create one of the world most powerful livestock research campuses. 
 

Image courtesy of The Roslin Institute

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Defra shares new Sanitary and Phytosanitary guidance

News Story 1
 Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

The agreement, which will change the movement and trade of animals and related products, could see reductions in checks, paperwork and certification. As well as describing regulatory developments, the advice highlights the importance of animal ID, registration and traceability in disease control and other compliance arrangements.

The guidance can be found here. More detail is expected as negotiations progress. 

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News Shorts
Lords Committee opens Pet Parasite Medication inquiry

The House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee will launch its inquiry into Pet Parasite Medication (PPM) on Wednesday (3 June).

Focusing on treatments containing fipronil and imidacloprid, the inquiry will seek to understand distribution pathways and the impacts of PPM use and non-use on biodiversity and human health. It will also cover current regulation, monitoring, and the potential implications for pets and their owners.

The committee will hear evidence from environmental non-governmental organisations and research institutes. The public can follow the proceedings live on Parliament TV or in person in the Palace of Westminster.