£5m investment for huge crop science glasshouse growing a million plants per year

A “revolutionary” crop science glasshouse capable of growing a million plants a year will be built at the Norwich Research Park with the help of a £5m charitable investment.

The John Innes Centre (JIC) and the Sainsbury Laboratory (TSL) have welcomed the funding from the Garfield Weston Foundation for the creation of “Technology Platform 1 (TP1)” – a state-of-the-art glasshouse, insectary and horticultural facility.

The 4,500sqm structure will enable scientists to study crop performance under “realistic, reproducible conditions”, providing a nationally-accessible research capability.

Researchers said it will “revolutionise our ability to tackle major global challenges using plant and microbial science”.

Project leaders said TP1 is part of the Next Generation Infrastructure (NGI) programme which will “bring JIC and TSL together under one roof for the first time, creating a critical mass of world-leading expertise with access to next-generation technologies and state-of-the-art infrastructure to support a community of more than 600 researchers”.

Prof Cristóbal Uauy, director of the John Innes Centre, said: “We are deeply grateful to the Garfield Weston Foundation for this transformative investment.

“TP1 will be the beating heart of our institutes, enabling us to grow over a million plants each year, test crops under future climate scenarios, and accelerate discovery across plant and microbial science.”

The investment builds on the Garfield Weston Foundation’s long-standing partnership with the two research institutes, and supports their joint Healthy Plants, Healthy People, Healthy Planet (HP3) initiative.

Prof Nick Talbot, executive director of The Sainsbury Laboratory, added: “The Garfield Weston Foundation has for many years played an essential role in turning the HP3 vision into reality.

“Their long-standing support strengthens the UK’s national research capability, and enables us to bring world leading experts together under one roof to drive the breakthroughs needed to safeguard global food security, improve human health, and protect our planet.”

The Garfield Weston Foundation was established by W Garfield Weston in 1958 through an endowment of shares in his family business – now known as Associated British Foods.

The foundation, which continues to be guided by the Weston family, has awarded charitable grants totalling nearly £1.7bn since its establishment.