Grant paves the way for agriculture research

Plans have been announced to build a £35 million innovation campus at Aberystwyth University. The new research facility aims to boost the UK's agricultural science and technology research.

Based at the university's Gogerddan Campus, the new centre will be known as the Aberystwyth Innovation and Diffusion Campus (AIDC).

UK minister for universities and science, David Willetts, recently announced a £14.5 million investment in the project from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).

Mr Willetts said: "Britain has the potential to be world-leading in agricultural science and technology, yet our productivity growth has dropped significantly in the past 30 years.

"These leading edge campuses will help reverse that trend by getting our researchers and businesses working together to commercialise their ideas. This is vital for our economy and future food security which is why we are launching the Agri-Technology Strategy."

The campus is to include a commercially-focused training centre and will allow numerous departments at the university to work together to develop bio-economy. The project also involves an upland research platform for the UK and an innovative, business-facing plant breeding facility.

Wayne Powell from the university's Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), said: "Agriculture is the cornerstone of some of the major challenges facing society in the 21st century.

"Our vision is to convert these grand challenges of food, water and energy security into sustainable and prosperous opportunities for society, recognising that innovation in agriculture will play a critical role in fostering a knowledge based bio-economy.”
 
Work on the new campus is expected to begin in 2014, and be completed by March the following year.

Image courtesy of Aberystwyth University