A NEW multimillion pound food and drink innovation hub in the North-east has marked a major milestone ahead of its opening next year.
The ONE SeedPod has reached the highest point of its construction on Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) campus at Craibstone.
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The facility is a part of Sir Ian Wood’s ambition to build a stronger, more resilient North-east economy.
Alongside the SeedPod sit the One BioHub at Foresterhill, a hub for life sciences in the region, and the One Tech Hub, a digital technology centre for start-ups in the city.
Work is also taking shape on an Energy Transition Zone near Aberdeen South Harbour, central to the city’s transition from a large oil and gas sector to a renewables one.
The SeedPod’s ‘topping out’ ceremony means the roof is now completed on the building with a focus now on the interior.
Benefits for people using the SeedPod range from scale manufacturing units, a demo kitchen for showcasing products and a pilot plant where companies can develop new projects.
“Some of our food and drink firms have been exporting for a long time,” said Aberdeenshire East MSP Gillian Martin.
“It will be good to see even more Aberdeen and north-east firms at the forefront of that.”
She joined Sir Ian on a tour of the project.
The SeedPod creates another hub for excellence in the North-east, but Sir Ian insists that he’s just getting started.
He told the Press & Journal: “There is still a long way to go but we are well on our way.”
ONE has committed in excess of £5m to the delivery of the facility’s objectives.
Other funding comes from the Scottish and UK Governments, as well as more than £3m from the Just Transition Fund.
Scottish Enterprise is contributing £2.
Sir Ian added: “Food and drink is this region’s biggest industry after energy, employing 22,000 people, and the UK’s largest manufacturing sector. ONE and the project partners are investing in the growth potential of new and established businesses.
“We celebrate a milestone in the build today and look ahead to ONE SeedPod becoming the focal point for practical growth support to the sector.”
Also touring the facility was Scotland Office Minister John Lamont.
“It was a pleasure to visit ONE SeedPod to mark this significant milestone on the journey to levelling up the region and Scotland more broadly,” he said.
“I can’t wait to see the food and drink innovation hub up and running as it will help boost the local and national economy.”
Meanwhile, Aberdeen City Council co-leader Ian Yuill said: “The One SeedPod food manufacturing hub is a perfect example of what can be achieved when the public and private sectors come together to drive innovation and growth.
“The North-east is already home to some of the finest produce in the UK and, of course, the keenest business and scientific minds.
“The hub promises to be a game-changer for the food and drink sector in the North-east, harnessing that expertise to help start-ups and established companies alike. Its launch next year will mark another important milestone in diversifying our economy”
