Abertay to lead on low carbon food and drink innovation

Abertay is leading a new £670,000 project as part of a drive to support low carbon innovation and manufacturing capabilities across Scotland.

Transforming Net-Zero will have input from all of Abertay's Academic Schools and aims to provide advice to food and drink SMEs on energy use, water technology and carbon sequestration, while also preparing companies for new net zero market opportunities.

The project is among 3 university-led collaborations funded through Scottish Enterprise’s Low Carbon Challenge Fund and the European Regional Development Fund, with Abertay providing match funding.

Scottish Enterprise head of low carbon transition Andy McDonald said: “The Low Carbon Challenge Fund is a catalyst to support economic opportunities in Scotland and nurture businesses to develop net zero products, processes and services.

“I look forward to seeing these pioneering projects take shape as they have the potential to transform the way companies work.

“The projects will harness the expertise of public sector partnerships and engage businesses in Scotland towards the transition to a net zero nation.”

A recent report from Zero Waste Scotland highlighted that food and drink companies in Taysidecould save millions through the adoption of a more circular economy and Abertay University’s Transforming Net-Zero project aims to embrace this.

Part of the project will be to create a unique digital platform to support the design and adoption of low carbon products and services, tapping into expertise from academics working in video games.

Dr Iain Donald of Abertay’s School of Design and Informatics said: “This is a hugely exciting project for Abertay which will draw in expertise from all three of our Academic Schools to explore creative new low carbon solutions."

More information on the Low Carbon Challenge Fund is available at www.scottish-enterprise.com/LCCF. You can follow the Transforming Net-Zero project on Twitter at @TransformZero.