Barley boost as Dundee wins £62m city deal hub
Scotland’s £600 million malting barley industry, which forms the backbone of the country’s whisky production, is set to benefit from a major investment into the creation of an International Barley Hub (IBH) which will provide a world-class centre of excellence for the crop.
The James Hutton Institute in Dundee which will host the new facility will also see its work on “vertical farming” gain additional funding through the Tay Cities Deal announced yesterday.
The institute will receive £62m of the £700m deal, making projects under the “Securing Our Food Production Capability” the highest-funded part of the deal.
The institute said that the two initiatives would create industry-focused and commercially viable innovation centres which would strengthen its world-leading research in plant science.
Welcoming the news, Professor Colin Campbell, chief executive of the institute, said that the IBH was an ambitious development which would create a unique 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 turn a more streamlined and joined-up approach into commercial benefits for the entire brewing, whisky and food value chain,” he said.
James Brosnan, director of research at the Scotch Whisky Research Institute, added: “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 highquality malting barley.
“I am particularly excited by the opportunity the IBH offers to encourage talented young scientists from many different disciplines to devote research skills to a career in barley science.”
The Advanced Plant Growth Centre (APGC) will be a new research facility which will be “at the very forefront of emerging technology” and is designed to deliver increased commercial, economic and environmental benefits to the global food and drink sector.
Investment in the APGC will see Scotland lead the way and become a hub for the global development of indoor and vertical farming.
Campbell added: “The APGC will also see the development of new crop varieties and improve the quality and taste of existing crop species.
“In doing this we have the potential to better secure our food supply chains against climate change and lower the impact on the environment.”