The Crop Innovation Centre (CIC), officially opened by UK Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray MP and Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney MSP, is located at The James Hutton Institute in Invergowrie. It aims to futureproof crop production and enhance food security for the UK and beyond.
The Crop Innovation Centre (CIC) houses the Advanced Plant Growth Centre (APGC) and the International Barley Hub (IBH), developed in collaboration with the University of Dundee’s Plant Sciences Division, according to a press release. Both innovation centers were funded through a £62 million investment from the Tay Cities Region Deal (TCRD) by the UK and Scottish Governments, which also enabled the construction of the Mylnefield Farm building and the IBH Field Centre on the James Hutton Institute’s Invergowrie campus.
This investment provides a unique combination of world-class science and cutting-edge facilities for field, farm, and lab work, aimed at delivering technological and digital innovations that futureproof crop production, enhance food and drink security, promote sustainable resource management, and support thriving rural communities in Scotland and beyond.
“We received funding for the Crop Innovation Centre in 2020, and the project is underpinned by decades of research at The James Hutton Institute along with partners,” Professor Colin Campbell, Chief Executive of the James Hutton Institute said.
“It cements the reputation of Scotland and the UK as global leaders in research and innovation. It was a pleasure to welcome the First Minister and UK Secretary of State to Scotland today to officially name the facility, and we’re grateful for all of the support we have received to make this ambition a reality.”
Barley is the leading crop in Scotland, significantly contributing to the renowned Scottish whisky industry, which represents 75% of the country’s food and drink exports. However, climate change and other environmental challenges, along with increasing demand for barley, make research in genetics and breeding crucial for safeguarding production and ensuring a sustainable future.
The International Barley Hub (IBH) will foster scientific discovery and innovation to address these challenges by piloting new breeding technologies such as precision phenotyping and crop management using data from sensors and drones.
The Advanced Plant Growth Centre (APGC) focuses on global food, non-food, and pharmaceutical crops. It features five key facilities: a molecular phenotyping center for studying crop characteristics at the DNA, protein, and flavor levels; a high-throughput phenotyping platform for large-scale data collection and analysis; a vertical growth tower; a post-harvest storage facility; and next-generation controlled environments that replicate current and predicted global crop production conditions.
The APGC aims to revolutionize crop production systems to enable year-round local food production with a lower environmental impact. It will utilize indoor vertical farms equipped with LED lights to mimic optimal outdoor conditions, accelerating the breeding and cultivation of climate-resilient, low-input crops. This technology positions the UK to lead in a rapidly expanding market projected to be worth $62 billion by 2025.
