The £ 11.3 million GreenTech Hub for Advanced Horticulture was officially opened by Tom Tugendhat , MP at NIAB ’s East Malling site , on Thursday , 12 May .
The Hub will offer the UK horticulture and viticulture manufacture with approach to a new research facility . It admit 2,000 m² of specialist glasshouses , 14 modern polytunnels , growth rooms , and stale rooms .
The new GreenTech Hub for Advanced Horticulture at NIAB East Malling in Kent
Professor Mario Caccamo , NIAB CEO , said : “ The site at East Malling in Kent has a long history of delivering exceptional research to advance horticultural production . As the sector makes significant advancement in area such as robotics and thinking grow system , these marvellous new facilities intend we can continue to provide cutting - boundary enquiry that contemplate the applied science being used by commercial agriculturist .
“ The Hub will also enable our research teams to advance their work in important area such as plant genetic science , gadfly and disease ascendancy , crop direction , and our world - renowned yield genteelness programs . ”
The research facility is expect to generate over £ 600,000 in extra research and development investiture per annum , as well as create new extremely - skilled jobs in the region .
Tom Tugendhat , MP for Tonbridge and Malling , opens the nursery coordination compound at the new GreenTech Hub for Advanced Horticulture ( from left to right NIAB Glasshouse Manager Emma Easton , NIAB Board chairwoman Jim Godfrey , East Malling Trust hot seat Oliver Doubleday , Tom Tugendhat , MP , Growing Kent & Medway Dr. Nicola Harrison and NIAB CEO Professor Mario Caccamo .
Tom Tugendhat , MP , said : “ Kent has a merited reputation as the Garden of England , being home to many of the lead yield growers and vino producers in the UK . The GreenTech Hub for Advanced Horticulture will serve beef up our part ’s reputation for innovative , sustainable solid food and drink production . In addition , it will hold economical development in the area by take in young investment and create jobs . ”
Trials at the research center will focus on creating sustainable originate systems to help make UK food product more resilient to climate change . NIAB ’s leading research expert will help businesses to expend resource , like water , more expeditiously , as well as cut carbon copy emissions in their production .
The task has been funded by UKRI ’s Strength in Places Fund ( £ 2.5 million ) and SELEP ’s Local Growth Fund ( £ 2.1 million ) with match funding from the East Malling Trust ( £ 6.7 million ) .
For more information : NIAB[email protected]www.niab.com
grow Kent & Medwaywww.growingkentandmedway.com
