Hi I'm
Stuart Martin

With a degree in Business Studies and Marketing, I started a career as a professionally qualified packaging technologist, specialising in print, working on behalf of a number of blue-chip clients in the UK and EU.  I was first introduced to Scottish agriculture when I became Managing Director of the Scottish Organic Milk Producers, and then in 2014 became the manager of the Scottish Dairy Hub, a signposting service for the dairy sector in Scotland. Joining NFUS in 2019, I continued the work of the Hub and was Dairy Policy Manager covering several disciplines from cow to consumer. Until recently I was a member of the Scottish Dairy Growth Board and sat on the Technical Advisory Committee for Red Tractor Dairy.

Based in SRUC’s Dairy Research & Innovation Centre in Dumfries and working with a wide range of project partners and stakeholders across South-West Scotland and Cumbria, the main purpose of my role as Programme Director of Digital Dairy Chain is to provide leadership and strategic vision for the Digital Dairy Value Chain project to ensure maximum value and legacy for the dairy value chain, in South-West Scotland and Cumbria, SRUC and the funder (UKRI).

Working with partners operating in the region, including the University of Strathclyde, University of the West of Scotland, CENSIS, First Milk, Lactalis UK & Ireland, Kendal Nutricare, Cows & Co Group, National Milk Records and SmartSTEMS, the project provides a platform for research and business innovation in advanced, sustainable, high-value production and processing.

The project works with the dairy industry to develop and implement technologies for sensing and data handling, as well as infrastructure to support innovation and growth for local businesses, nurturing young entrepreneurs and teaching and training of new skills and capabilities.