Challenge Centres
Our Challenge Centres tackle some of the world’s most pressing issues and produce research that influences industry, policy, communities and society.

Our Challenge Centres bring together experts to address tackle some of the world’s most pressing issues and produce research that influences industry, policy, communities and society.

Our goals
By aligning our innovation and expertise across the challenge areas we can anticipate and develop creativity, allowing us to be the leading force of development and deployment of innovation and support our natural economy.
The Challenge Centres are a key support for knowledge exchange and the use of research to influence change. They can identify areas of convergence with potential partners and audiences in academia, enterprise, government and other sectors. This leads to successful networking, productive debates and collective influencing.
Discover our Challenge Centres

Global climate emergency

Thriving natural capital
Supporting thriving rural communities through regenerative agriculture and conservation.

Delivering data & digital innovation
This centre focuses on the use of data and analytics to generate new understanding, develop and improve products, and increase efficiency across agri-food systems.

Future Food Systems
Generating knowledge to create safe, sustainable, and new foods chains that deliver healthy diets and support economic growth.

Safe & improved food
Developing new ways of producing food to make it safer, healthier and tastier.
Find out more about our services

Research services
Our work addresses health and productivity in animals, animal welfare and crops, promotes low carbon farming and increases farm output through efficiency and innovation.

Vet & laboratory services
Our leading experts provide support to clients in areas animal disease, diagnosis and surveillance.

SAC Consulting
Our consultants in 25 offices across Scotland and northern England turn research into advice and advantage for business and public sector alike.