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what is AAA?

Animal Health | Agritech | Aquaculture

animal health

Interventions that improve the health of livestock and companion animals. 

agritech

Development of novel technology for agriculture ensuring improved productivity and sustainability.

aquaculture

Breeding and rearing of fish, shellfish, plants, algae, and other organisms in water environments.



scotland leading the way

The AAA sector - Animal Health, Agritech and Aquaculture - is maturing fast and has overlapping interest with a range of other key Scottish sectors:

  • Life Sciences
  • Chemicals
  • Food and Drink
  • Technology 

The sector is made up of businesses, from SMEs to large companies, with strong academic centres located in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling, Aberdeen and Inverness.



SCOTLAND's strengths  

Scotland is a major contributor in the animal science sector globally.

The AAA sector is already firmly established as a key player within Scotland's life sciences sector as it strives for an £8 billion turnover target by 2025.

AAA is closely linked to, and critically important in, the food and supply chain, which is worth £6.3 billion in Scottish exports. 

Scotland’s aquaculture (finfish and shellfish) industry contributes £620 million GVA and employs over 12,000 FTEs*



*Source: The Value of Aquaculture to Scotland, 2017 (HIE and Marine Scotland)



AAA Report: Improving Awareness and Links for Innovation Capacity in Scotland

"There is without question growth and momentum in our Animal Health, Agritech and Aquaculture (AAA) sectors and in Scotland there is a big desire to be a world leader, alongside places like Prince Edward Island in Canada and the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor in the US. Scotland has a lot of great A3 international assets and together we want to capture these in our joint efforts to tackle global challenges and the transition to net zero."

John Mackenzie, A3 Scotland Conference Lead and Director (Scotland), Pioneer Group

"We are seeing growth in each sub-sector and this positive performance in AAA is a real sign of the health and sustainability of the over arching life sciences sector."

Dave Tudor, Chair, Life Sciences Scotlands Industry Leadership Group 

"It is very exciting that the inaugural A3 conference is taking place on the doorstep of our Northern Hub in Edinburgh. This looks set to be a major and influential global event. It is being held in a very apt location given the fact that Scotland, and the Roslin area in particular, are internationally recognised as having strengths in AAA, both in the research and commercial environments."

Dave Ross, Chief Executive Officer, Agri-EPI Centre Ltd