The Agronomy Institute (AI) opened at Orkney College UHI in 2002 and is a market-led Research Centre within UHI Millennium Institute, a national project that is creating the University of the Highlands and Islands.
Our mission statement is:

To establish an internationally recognised centre for the research, development and promotion of temperate plants and their products which contributes significantly to the sustainable economic, social and environmental well-being of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.

 

The Institute provides a research facility for the development of plants and plant-based products within UHI focussing particularly on the Highlands, Western Isles and the Northern Isles and currently runs major agronomy projects in most of Northern Scotland. These are in collaboration with a wide range of academic, business and SME partners
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The AI has a wide portfolio of research falling into the main categories below

• Cereals

Principally investigating the use of northern varieties for the specialist food and drink market (e.g. biscuits, whisky and beer). Some of these are modern varieties while others are locally important heritage types like Bere barley and black oats or more widely grown heritage cereals such as Emmer and Spelt

• Biomass for fuel crops

Principally investigating two major biomass crops grown for energy: short rotation coppice (SRC) willow and grass crops. This is partly undertaken through collaboration with the International PelleTIME

• Plants for high value extracts

This is being spearheaded by the Sweet Gale Research Project in collaboration with The Boots Company Plc and Essentially Scottish Botanicals Ltd.
Other research in this area includes

o Arnica
o Daffodils

 

• Fruits and berries

Mainly northern species like cranberry, blueberry, chokeberry and Saskatoon

• Culinary herbs, ornamentals and covered crops

These will be developed within the International New Plants for the North programme which will shortly be starting,

• Biodiversity

Biodiversity impacts and assessment are included in most of our programmes and we are also involved in the production of local indigenous wildflowers for bumblebee conservation.

The above crops are being developed through the Institute’s own screening programme and through collaborative projects involving growers, end-users and other research organisations. A fundamental part of this work is the development of new markets for these plants and their products.

The AI has an enthusiastic team of researchers, support staff and postgraduate students. Its resources include access to land for field trials, agricultural and trials machinery, a dedicated grain store, polythene and net tunnels and laboratories with facilities for agricultural research.