UK: Planting the seed of inner-city farming

"Our agricultural sector is under pressure like never before. Charged with meeting ever-growing demand, agriculture has had to diversify and adapt at an astonishing rate", writes Philip Gane, Capital Projects Manager at the James Hutton Institute, in an opinion piece for The Scotsman.

"To achieve this, research and innovation must play a significant role in supporting the world’s most important industry. Countries successful in translating science excellence through to industrial application will not only secure food supply chains against climate change but also attract inward investment opportunities.

"There is a prime example of this in Tayside in the Advanced Plant Growth Centre (APGC) being developed at the James Hutton Institute at Invergowrie, near Dundee. The investment required is £28 million and it is currently under consideration as part of the Tay Cities Deal – a partnership between local, Scottish and UK governments and the private, academic and voluntary sectors which seek to create a smarter, fairer and more prosperous Angus, Dundee, Fife and Perth & Kinross.

"With a return on investment of £11.70 for every £1 invested and £463 million in economic added value, APGC will have a significant economic impact and an estimated 800 full-time equivalent jobs to the entire UK food and drink supply chain."

Read more at The Scotsman