Raising the barley: UK’s first and only centre of expertise
MP’s will next week be urged to show their support for the UK’s agricultural, food and drink and scientific research community at a parliamentary event on Barley.
The roundtable, hosted by Professor Colin Campbell Chief Executive of the James Hutton Institute and Pete Wishart MP, will take place on Thursday 3rd of March and will discuss the progress of the International Barley Hub; a world class research facility.
Barley is one of the UK’s most important crops and is a fundamental component of many key industries, including brewing and whisky.
The International Barley Hub is the vision of the James Hutton Institute in collaboration with the University of Dundee and seeks to create a unique, integrated, open platform for the translation of barley research into economic, social, environmental and commercial impacts.
The initiative will look at uncertainty around barley supply in relation to climate change and disease.
Cereal crops and barley in particular are indispensable features of the UK economy and landscape, vital component of distilling, brewing, animal feed, food, health and associated industries.
This is why an International Barley Hub/Centre of Excellence to be located in the UK has been welcomed by a range of sectors.
When fully operational, the Invergowrie-based Hub will comprise a globally unrivalled research and industry support facility with 102 research and business development staff, and an expanded research programme operating across a broad spectrum. It also holds the potential to create 3,400 FTE jobs across all the relevant sectors by 2030.
The enhanced industry-related and applied research will boast state of the art capital research equipment both on site and at industry partners’ locations.
The roundtable will take place on the 3rd of March in the Churchill Dining Room between 12 - 2.30pm.
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