To meet ever-growing demand, agriculture has had to diversify and adapt at an astonishing rate. Increasingly, research and innovation will play a significant role in supporting the world’s most important industry. Countries that successfully translate science excellence through to industrial application will not only secure their food supply chains against the impact of climate change but also attract material inward investment opportunities.
A prime example of this research and innovation is the James Hutton Institute’s Advanced Plant Growth Centre (APGC) [1] being developed in Invergowrie with industry and academic partners. On 22 November 2018, it was announced that the APGC project would receive critical investment funding under the Tay Cities Deal development programme. The project was green-lighted as part of an overall investment package of £62 million in two Institute-led innovation centre projects which will also see the International Barley Hub [2] become a reality.
APGC will deliver increased commercial, economic and environmental benefits to the agricultural, food and drink sectors in the UK and internationally, by the innovative use of precision-controlled environmental technologies. With a return on investment of £11.70 for every £1 invested and £330 million in economic added value, it will bring significant economic impact and an estimated 800 full-time equivalent jobs to the entire UK food and drink supply chain.
For more information on the project, please contact Derek Stewart [3], Director of APGC.
Links:
[1] https://www.apgc.org.uk/
[2] http://www.barleyhub.org
[3] mailto:Derek.Stewart@hutton.ac.uk