Prof Geoff Simm takes up key food security role

After 33 years with the SRUC, Scotland's rural college and its predecessors, the Scottish Agricultural College and the East of Scotland College of Agriculture, long-serving academic Professor Geoff Simm is to move to head up Edinburgh University's new Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Security.

Prof Geoff Simm moves to Edinburgh University. Picture: Contributed

Simm, who currently holds the role of vice-principal (research) at the college, has been appointed director and assistant principle of the new academy at the university’s Dick Vet facility at Easter Bush, where research will concentrate on global agriculture and the future of the world’s food supplies.

He had been closely involved in the SRUC’s joint Research Excellence Framework submission with the university in 2014, and will oversee the establishment of the academy to address some of the greatest challenges facing humanity. He will take up his new role in October of this year.

“Food security is about ensuring a supply of safe, nutritious and affordable food, for all people, at all times,” said Simm.

“This is a massively complex challenge, with health, environmental, economic, political, cultural and behavioural, as well as agricultural, dimensions.

“The university and partners can make even greater interdisciplinary, academic contributions, across many schools and existing Global Academies, as well as having global practical impact.

“I look forward to leading the new Global Academy to be a catalyst for these contributions in future, delivering excellent science in global agriculture and food security, promoting translation into practice through education of future leaders, and through collaborative research and knowledge exchange.”