The ONE SeedPod, a new food and drink industry innovation hub, has been officially launched in Aberdeen.

Delivered by Robertson Construction Eastern, the £27 million project aims to stimulate high-value manufacturing within the sector. The facility, led by Opportunity North East (ONE), represents the largest public-private investment in Scotland’s food and drink manufacturing growth.

Part of the Aberdeen City Region Deal, ONE SeedPod provides businesses with facilities to scale production, develop new products, test innovative processes, and access industry expertise. The new-build features 11 food-safe manufacturing kitchens, product development and demonstration kitchens, and pilot plant and process testing spaces.

The official launch was attended by Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, UK Government Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill, ONE chair Sir Ian Wood KT GBE, and David Kilshaw OBE, chair of the not-for-profit Food Hub (NES) Ltd. The hub is scheduled to open to the industry next month.

ONE SeedPod is co-funded and led by ONE, with £5 million contributions from both the Scottish and UK governments through the Aberdeen City Region Deal. The Scottish Government further provided £3.1 million via the Just Transition Fund, bringing its total contribution to £8.1 million. Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) is the strategic partner, providing the serviced site on its Craibstone Campus.

-- Advertisement --

Elliot Robertson, Chief Executive Officer of Robertson Group, said: "As trusted delivery partner, it was incredibly important to us that we realised ONE’s vision of a food and drink industry innovation hub, which drives inward investment and champions regional and national economic growth. It was also essential that we delivered a high-quality building that throughout construction, supported local jobs, early career development and local suppliers. "It has been fantastic to continue our strong relationship with ONE, and we wish them and their partners every success as ONE SeedPod opens its doors as a pioneering innovation hub for the food and drink sector."

Sir Ian Wood stated: "The ONE SeedPod innovation hub is the private and public sectors investing in the economic potential of a key industry sector to drive diversification and growth. Food and drink is north east Scotland’s biggest industry after energy, employing 22,000 people, and the UK’s largest manufacturing sector. The unique combination of food-safe manufacturing and innovation space, facilities and support at ONE SeedPod will accelerate the growth of businesses in the region and across Scotland. We celebrate a milestone in the project delivery today and look ahead to ONE SeedPod becoming home to a community of ambitious businesses. This project is part of broader action and investment by ONE and partners to build the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem."

David Kilshaw added: "Now is the critical time to invest in value-adding food and drink manufacturing, drive entrepreneurial growth, create innovation-led businesses, and deliver more high-skill jobs across our communities. Today marks the start of an exciting new chapter to realise that ambition. ONE SeedPod will be the launchpad for the next generation of food and drink entrepreneurs and innovators and the catalyst that inspires and accelerates growth in businesses regionally and nationally."

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: "The North East of Scotland has a flourishing food and drink sector which employs over 22,000 people and turns over more than £2.4 billion annually. "ONE SeedPod has come from an ambition to do even more by supporting businesses to develop high quality produce which is innovative and sustainable, ensuring Scotland is recognised around the world as a leader in low-carbon food production."