The Angus AgriTech Adoption Centre is a transformative initiative designed to strengthen the region’s agricultural sector through cutting‑edge agritech, practical innovation, and a commitment to long‑term sustainability.

This flagship project will establish a state‑of‑the‑art facility dedicated to the development, testing, demonstration, and adoption of advanced agricultural technologies. By accelerating agritech uptake, the Centre will help address some of the most pressing challenges facing modern agriculture — from boosting productivity and improving environmental outcomes to enhancing economic resilience.

The CASI Hutton Innovation Farm and Diagnostic Facility, based at the James Hutton Institute’s Balruddery Farm, will create a unique, multifunctional platform dedicated to regenerative and sustainable agriculture.

This flagship Tay Cities project will bring together field trials, a biosecure diagnostic glasshouse, specialist laboratories, public and industry engagement spaces, and a pioneering agrivoltaics innovation hub.

Together, these facilities will provide Scotland with critical research infrastructure not currently available anywhere else.

The Centre will fill major national gaps in crop diagnostics, soil health testing, and real‑world demonstration facilities, supporting farmers, researchers, and agri‑food businesses to transition to more sustainable land management practices.

Angus plays a vital role in Scotland’s agricultural economy, internationally recognised for its excellence in seed potato production, soft fruit, and field vegetables. These sectors contribute more than £507 million in economic output and nearly 2,900 full‑time jobs (2018–20). However, the region now faces increasing pressures from climate change, rising pest and pathogen threats, soil degradation, and escalating input and energy costs — challenges that make agritech‑driven innovation and sustainability more essential than ever.

With more than a century of leadership in seed potato production, Angus remains a cornerstone of the UK’s certified seed industry. The CASI Hutton Innovation Farm will build on this legacy by focusing on low to medium Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs). This will include:

• Low‑TRL research and innovation, including outcomes from the Scottish Government’s Strategic Research Programme
• Medium‑TRL prototyping and evaluation, testing outputs from the Tay Cities Region Deal–funded International Barley Hub and Advanced Plant Growth Centre under real‑world field conditions

By linking early‑stage scientific discovery with applied field‑scale validation, the Centre will strengthen Scotland’s capability to deliver sustainable, resilient, and commercially relevant agricultural solutions.