Hansard

I, too, congratulate Gordon MacDonald for securing the debate, because it is a great opportunity to talk about the fantastic work that is being done at Heriot-Watt.

Heriot-Watt University is a leading institution in our city. Its work resonates around the world and, thanks to the creation of international campuses in the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia, this Edinburgh institution continues to create a global impact.

Heriot-Watt holds a special place in my heart, as it was there that I taught town planning as a lecturer and saw at first hand the amazing impact that the institution has on students and our community alike. The new centre for sustainable brewing and distilling will cement Heriot-Watt’s reputation at the forefront of one of Scotland’s most critical industries, because—as colleagues have said—brewing and distilling is one of Scotland’s iconic and oldest industries. For many abroad, Scotch defines Scotland, and we need to cherish and cultivate the industry.

Heriot-Watt has been at the forefront of training generations of brewers for decades. The master distillers at Ardbikie Highland estate and at our capital’s very own Edinburgh Gin studied their craft at Heriot-Watt. Now, once again, Heriot-Watt is defining the future of that field, taking an industry that has defined our history and equipping it with the tools for the future.

As a passionate advocate for tackling climate change, I am truly inspired to see one of our universities invest so heavily in the technology that will deliver net zero change. The centre will equip the Scotch industry with the tools that it requires to fully decarbonise its productions. In helping firms to trial low-carbon heat, CO₂ capture and water saving, it will provide a valuable resource for breweries, now and in the future.

As other members have said, the proposal builds on the fantastic research that Heriot-Watt has already carried out. The unique vertical Port of Leith Distillery is testament to the research and development that has been carried out in collaboration with Heriot-Watt.

Indeed, Heriot-Watt’s international centre for brewing and distilling was established by one of its most prominent professors and former chancellors, Sir Geoff Palmer, who—as Gordon MacDonald said earlier—sadly passed away this year. I think that it is appropriate to pay tribute tonight to his fantastic contribution to the sector, because he was a man who achieved so much in his career. He was born in Jamaica and became the first black professor in Scotland.

Sir Geoff’s research in the area of barley continues to influence the industry today. I was inspired to hear about the scholarship that has been set up in his memory to support students of Jamaican descent. There are so many brewers and distillers who owe their training to the facilities that Geoff set up. By building a centre for sustainable brewing and distilling, Heriot-Watt University will unlock a whole new generation of research and ensure that one of Scotland’s biggest cultural and economic exports becomes a world leader in sustainability.

I am proud that, once again, our higher education sector is proving why it is so renowned, promoting a key Scottish industry while ensuring that we are at the forefront in the fight against the climate emergency.