NIAB opens new headquarters following multi-million pound redevelopment project

It is also the base for the Crop Science Centre - a partnership between NIAB and the University of Cambridge – working with industrial partners to translate the University’s strong fundamental plant research into outputs for the farmer, processor and consumer, both in the UK and across the world.

The Centre will be home to researchers and students from the University’s Plant Sciences and sister research departments, the Cambridge Sainsbury Laboratory, and other UK and international research institutes.

Ambition

NIAB CEO Dr Tina Barsby says: “The development is an exciting new chapter in NIAB’s history following our centenary celebration last year, reflecting NIAB’s ambitions and aspirations across the regional, national and international agri-science and business communities.

"We firmly believe it will help improved collaboration and communication across NIAB and with the new Crop Science Centre partnership, and provide much improved facilities and flexibility in working spaces.”

Research

The opening of the Lawrence Weaver campus comes just nine months after NIAB moved into two new office and laboratory buildings at its neighbouring Park Farm site to the north of Cambridge.

Park Farm was already home to the MacLeod Complex - NIAB’s 2,500sq.m research glasshouses - as well as the Sophi Taylor Conference Centre.

The new ‘barns’ include stores for onions and potatoes, seed stores for the pathology and genetics and breeding teams, spore-proof growth rooms and analytical services laboratories and offices.