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"Delivering More Effective Government" – SCRI statement

The Scottish Government has proposed a new, single institute to bring together environmental and rural research. In a statement to MSPs at Holyrood the First Minister, Alex Salmond, said the Macaulay Institute in Aberdeen and SCRI would be “encouraged to come together”. It’s understood the new organisation might be formed by 2010/11.

Mr Salmond told MSPs Scotland’s environmental research capacity would be strengthened and its international competitive position enhanced by the change. Later in the statement he pledged there would be no compulsory redundancies in any of the moves to deliver more effective services.

"This is absolutely in line with the future that SCRI sees for itself." - Peter Gregory

Reacting to the First Minister’s announcement to parliament, the Director and Chief Executive of SCRI, Professor Peter Gregory said: “We very much welcome the First Minister’s statement, particularly the recognition that Scotland’s research institutes are capable of competing internationally.

“This is absolutely in line with the future that SCRI sees for itself.

“SCRI already has partnerships in twenty countries around the world including the USA, China and Australia. In particular, our commercial wing, Mylnefield Research Services, has built important links with China…the world’s biggest potato producer and major producer of soft fruit. We look forward to welcoming a top-level Chinese delegation to our UN Year of the Potato conference in Dundee in August this year.

"We are very much looking forward to working with other research providers in Scotland including the other research institutes and the universities." - Peter Gregory

“Independent research commissioned last year indicated that SCRI’s research and development activities were contributing £160 million of business every year in the farming, manufacturing and retail sectors in Scotland and the rest of the UK. That’s £14 for every £1 invested in us. Already we have published some of the results of our work on climate change, sustainable development and biodiversity.

“SCRI supports the national aspiration to be greener, healthier, wealthier and smarter. We are very much looking forward to working with other research providers in Scotland including the other research institutes and the universities. It is our goal to exploit these exciting opportunities in environmental and rural research.”

More information from:

Phil Taylor, Head of Communications, SCRI, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA. Tel: +44 (0)1382 562731