Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) itself was formed in 1990 by a merger of three other institutions – the East of Scotland College of Agriculture (1901), the Aberdeen and North of Scotland College of Agriculture (1904), and the West of Scotland Agricultural College (1899).

It was the largest institution of its type in the UK, and one of the largest in Europe. SAC also provided advisory and consultancy services to the whole of Scotland in addition to its portfolio of traditional teaching and research.