£9m boost for barley experts of the future
Investment in researchers
A state- of- the- art scientific research facility based in Perthshire has helped secure £9 million in investment for barley scientists of the future.
The programme will see a cohort of 30 postgraduate researchers supported over the period 2022-28.
Funding has come through the Barley Industrial Training Network (BARIToNE) programme, a Collaborative Training Partnership (CTP) led by the International Barley Hub - at The James Hutton Institute ( JHI) in Invergowrie - Scotch Whisky Research Institute and University of
Dundee.
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council provides £3m, with £600,000 in cash from industry and more than £5m in-kind co-investment from academic and commercial partners.
BARIToNE leader and chair of the International Barley Hub, professor James Brosnan said: “The barley supply chain has come together under the umbrella of the International Barley Hub to work in partnership to achieve government and industry targets to reach net zero carbon emissions and to underpin the future climate resilience of barley as a major global crop.
“The BARIToNE CTP will create a new generation of scientifically diverse barley experts to become sustainability leaders in industry and academia over the coming decades.
“Under the CTP scheme they will have the opportunity to develop high level technical and translational skills and forge a strong professional network to be the foundation for their future careers.
“The 18 industry partners in BARIToNE all believe that this CTP will be a major lever to deliver barley sustainability through training talented people.”
Director of the International Barley Hub Professor Robbie Waugh added: “A sustainable barley supply supports both UK agriculture and the significant economic benefit that arises when it is processed into whisky, beer and food.
“Investing in barley science by bringing new researchers together within the BARIToNE CTP will not only yield a positive impact on the UK barley supply but as barley is also a major global crop and source of translational science to other crop species, the PhD projects are likely to have a far wider impact.”
The BARIToNE studentships are part of a contingent of 225 studentships, in partnership with academia and industry, spanning 29 businesses and 12 academic research organisations including JHI.