Photo: Collected
Cirencester's Innovation Village will house food producers, farmers, and research projects on a 29-acre site. They will look at issues such as climate change and biodiversity. The RAU's vice chancellor, Professor Peter McCaffery, said it will be a "first in the UK".
"We want to establish a global center for the world of
land and food."
"The challenge facing farmers is 'how do we enhance
productivity and keep healthy soil with climate change?
"We want people at the cutting edge of research to join
us," Prof McCaffery said.
The site will comprise a number of areas including a Research and Innovation Center, live and work residential units, business start-up, and support spaces, and business conference spaces. Associate Professor of Agriculture, Dr. Nicky Cannon, said it was an "exciting" development that could help food production in the future.
"Farmers need new crops, if we have crops that grow
well which we use heavily in our diets, we won't rely on imports in a climate
crisis," he said.
James Bolesworth already runs his business, CRM
AgriCommodities, from the existing RAU site, and also sees big advantages to
the new development.
"To have people on hand who are in the same position or
have been through that situation is very very valuable in helping you get past
challenges," he said.
The RAU believes it will increase its contribution to the regional economy by 50% over the next five years if the village is built. That contribution is currently £52m.
A planning application will be submitted later in the year.
Source:
Online/GFMM
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