The Agronomy Institute (AI) opened at Orkney College UHI in 2002 and is a market-led Research Centre within 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 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 Barlye and Black Oats.

Biomass crops

Principally investigating biomass crops like willow grown for energy.

Plants for natural products

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.

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.