The merger of two Scottish agricultural institutes should create a new scientific powerhouse that will secure hundreds of jobs, those behind the plans said yesterday.
Professor Peter Gregory said the planned link between Aberdeen’s Macaulay Land Use Research Institute and the Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI) at Invergowrie, near Dundee, was a good news story for Scotland.
Macaulay chairman Michael Gibson said the combined institute would be the biggest of its type in Europe, allowing it to bid for far larger research projects on a global scale as well as develop closer links with kindred organisations elsewhere.
The merger, as revealed in later editions of yesterday’s Press and Journal, is on target to happen in 2011. Both institutes will initially keep their existing bases, although in the longer term staff may be brought under one roof.
Prof Gregory hailed the proposal, which has been under discussion since early 2008. Staff too were said to have welcomed the idea at meetings yesterday.
Prof Gregory added: “This new institute offers the best possible opportunity to preserve as many jobs as possible.
“International research programmes are changing. It is cutting-edge science that will be needed and rather than just focusing on what Scotland needs we need to be looking internationally and expanding our horizons.
“I am convinced that this will be a huge success. I know plenty other institutes in the EU and US who would like to do what we are doing and bring the combination of skills that we have together under one roof. This allows Scottish science to be promoted internationally on a much bigger stage.”
SCRI currently focuses on research into agricultural crops and breeding new potato, barley, blackcurrant and raspberry varieties. Macaulay concentrates on research to protect natural resources, the development of integrated land use systems and in securing the long-term future for rural areas around the world.
Prof Gregory said the combination of both sets of research skills was the best possible strategy in a world where land use, food production and securing fresh water supplies were going to grow in importance.
He denied the link-up was a cost-cutting exercise – a view shared by Mr Gibson, who said the only jobs that appeared under threat were senior management roles as only one chief executive would be required.
Mr Gibson, a farmer at Dallas, near Elgin, added: “We do not see the need for any scientific redundancies. We have recently been recruiting staff. It is also recognised that the service sectors in both institutes are light (in terms of staff) and I do not see the need to shed any posts here. But there might be a realignment of some posts.
“There will also be job creation. The first job of the new institute’s board will be to identify a European director to look after its interests there and in securing work on a wider global front.”
Mr Gibson hoped the new institute would also be able to build improved links with Scotland’s two other agricultural research organisations – the animal health and welfare-focused Moreden in Edinburgh and the Scottish Agricultural College.
Union Prospect welcomed the announcement as it ended a lengthy period of uncertainty for staff.