Institute’s masterplan will be on public display

THE James Hutton Institute in Invergowrie has submitted the first stage of a £62 million plan to build a new international hub.

The science facility is using money from the Tay Cities Deal to develop an International Barley Hub (IBH) and Advanced Plant Growth Centre (APGC).

It has submitted the masterplan to Perth and Kinross Council which will go on public display at the institute on January 11 from 10am-4pm.

Philip Gane, capital projects manager at the institute said: “We’re seeking approval for a site masterplan which shows how we’re going to develop as a whole.

“Then we will be submitting plans for individual buildings.

“We’re hoping work will start in the summer of 2020 and be completed by Christmas 2022.”

The International Barley Hub will provide the institute with a “unique platform” to translate its barley research into economic benefits for the food, brewing and whisky industries, while also becoming an internationally recognised training and development centre.

The director of research at the Scotch Whisky Research Institute, Professor James Brosnan, has been appointed interim chairman of the IBH.

Prof Brosnan believes the hub provides an opportunity for the links of the barley supply chain to work together to ensure a long-term, resilient supply of a product vital for the whisky industry.

The APCG will help the institute develop its vertical farming technology.

Mr Gane said: “We’re very excited. What we do has global impact so we need to compete on the global stage.”

The organisation believes it could take up to seven years to have both projects fully up and running.