The Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) has appointed professors Lisa Collins and Grant Stentiford to its board. They will also join SAIC's Independent Scientific Panel (SISP). According to the Stirling-based company, both will provide scientific knowledge and networks, as well as the combined experience of global sustainable food systems.
Professor Collins has 15 years of experience within the agriculture sector. She is Head of the school of biology and professor of animal science at the University of Leeds. Besides, Lisa has worked on numerous projects involving big data and emerging technology. Her current research focuses on developing smart agricultural systems including technology development, systems modeling, and data analytics, driving more sustainable, efficient, and effective food production.
On the other side, Professor Stentiford has more than 20 years of expertise in both the government and academic fields of international aquaculture, with a strong track record of delivering scientific research and development programmes in the sector, combining a focus on the animal, human and planetary health and wellbeing. Since 2016, Professor Stentiford has been co-director of the Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture Futures at the University of Exeter. He is also currently Head of the OIE Collaborating Centre for Emerging Aquatic Animal Diseases and principal aquatic animal pathologist at Cefas, among other positions.
Launched in 2014, SAIC is part of the Innovation Centres programme, which aims to drive innovation in key economic sectors. SAIC's mission is to transform aquaculture by unlocking sustainable growth through innovation excellence. They look to increase the economic impact and reduce the environmental footprint of aquaculture.
SAIC connect businesses, researchers and other stakeholders, stimulating and supporting commercially relevant collaboration. This represents a very deliberate pooling of resources, designed to share the risk of innovative R&D, enable more businesses to invest in the areas that will help them grow, and ensure that SAIC's public funding delivers maximum benefit.
The overarching aim, however, is the same: to deliver a tangible benefit to the sector and, in turn, Scotland, whether that's enhanced fish welfare, increased capacity for producers, highly skilled recruits, or fresh revenue streams. Their ultimate ambition is for Scottish aquaculture to be a stable, well-regulated, animal-friendly, and scientifically robust industry that is of benefit to Scotland's economy and its local communities alike.
