Agri-EPI Centre is preparing for the October launch of one of its flagship projects: a new dairy development centre set in the heart of the South West milk field. The 180-cow dairy unit provides a state-of-the-art environment for the development, testing and demonstration of new technologies and techniques to support sustainable, efficient and high welfare milk production.

The South West Dairy Development Centre has been established in close partnership with independent dairy specialists Kingshay, who manage the facility. Critical to the Centre’s activities is its direct relationship with the dairy sector by offering a platform for industry to trial and review new ideas and to connect with farmers throughout the UK. The £1.4 million Centre has been established by Agri-EPI using funding from Innovate UK and support from industry partners Barbers, ForFarmers, Galebreaker, GEA and Zoetis.

Open Day Wednesday 3 October

The formal event on Oct 2 will see Earl Bathurst perform the opening ceremony to an invited audience of farmers, researchers and industry colleagues. This will be followed by an Open Day on Oct 3. People on their way to or from the Bath & West Dairy Show and those in the industry or involved in technology or engineering, who have an interest in attending the Open Day in Somerset on Wednesday October 3 are welcome to call in. For further information or to register your interest in attending either day, please email communications@agri-epicentre.com by 25 September.

Our thanks to Innovation for Agriculture for their support of these events through the 4D4F programme