Investment a ‘huge vote of confidence’ for research centre

The Scotch whisky industry looks set to benefit from a £62 million Tay Cities Deal investment in the James Hutton Institute.

Bosses at the Invergowrie research centre welcomed the signing of the Heads of Terms for the landmark funding announcement, which includes windfalls for its International Barley Hub and Advanced Plant Growth Centre, declaring it a “huge vote of confidence”.

The £62m cash injection means projects headed under Securing our Food Production Capability are the single highest funded area of the Tay Cities Deal.

Professor Colin Campbell, chief executive of the James Hutton Institute, said: “Both projects we are involved in represent significant investment in the future of this region in key sectors for the regional and national economy, and have the potential to unlock substantial economic benefits.

“Our governments, industry partners and colleagues across academia were instrumental in achieving this outcome and we owe them and the city deal teams many thanks.”

The International Barley Hub was created to develop a platform for the translation of barley research and innovation into economic, social and environmental benefits.

It will support an industry worth £600m to the UK economy each year and bosses hope to use it to establish a more streamlined and joined up approach to the brewing, whisky and food value chain.

The Advanced Plant Growth Centre will be a new research facility designed to be at the forefront of emerging technology and to deliver increased commercial, economic and environmental benefits to the global food and drink sector.

James Brosnan, director of research at the Scotch Whisky Research Institute, said the announcement could provide benefits for one of Scotland’s largest export industries.

He said: “The confirmation that the International Barley Hub has been given the go-ahead in the Tay Cities Deal is great news for Scottish science and will help ensure the continued success of the Scotch whisky industry, which relies on a resilient supply of high-quality malting barley.”