Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom
June 23, 2010

The commercial subsidiary of SCRI – Scotland’s world-beating crop research centre – has seen its turnover increase by 25% in the year to March this year. The news comes on the eve of the Royal Highland Show, the UK’s premier agricultural show and Scotland's leading outdoor event.

Mylnefield Research Services Ltd, based at Invergowrie, has a staff of just 25 and a mission to transform SCRI’s scientific research into innovative food products on the supermarket shelf.

Established in 1989 it has made a profit in every year of trading and in the last 10 years channeled £2 million in charitable donations to SCRI and the Mylnefield Trust to boost plant breeding, research and education.

MRS partners include some of the biggest companies in the food and drink sector including GlaxoSmithKline, Greenvale AP, McCain, Pepsico, Marks & Spencer and Limagrain.

The Vales Sovereign potato was awarded Tesco’s ‘Fresh Produce Variety of the Year’ accolade soon after launch.

MRS manages 473 plant licences in 23 countries. Glen Ample is the No. 1 raspberry grown in the UK and Glen Lyon is the No. 1 raspberry grown in Spain. An estimated 50% of the world’s blackcurrants were bred at SCRI and licensed by MRS.

In 2009/10 MRS’ operating profit was £353,000 compared with £256,000 the year before. Reserves after tax were strengthened by £174,000 to a total of £669,000.

The growth in MRS income was largely because of a 47% increase in contract research and a 30% increase in food and pharmaceutical services.

Profits were further boosted by royalty income from soft fruit, potatoes and brassicas.

MRS is continuing to lodge applications for new, EU plant variety rights including two types of blackcurrant, one new potato variety and two other plant types. They are all the result of conventional breeding programmes.

MRS Managing Director, Dr Nigel Kerby, said: "Our financial performance was exceptional and reflects the excellence of SCRI's science and the quality of our enduring commercial partnerships. We look forward to future growth from the commercial opportunities in sustainable crop production research that will emanate from the merger of SCRI and the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute."

SCRI is partly funded by the Rural and Environment Research and Analysis Directorate of the Scottish Government. It is one of the Scottish Research Institutes that undertake work on the Scottish Government programmes of research in the areas of environment, agriculture and biology. More information on the research programmes can be found at www.scotland.gov.uk/srg  

Website: http://www.mrsltd.com/

Published: June 23, 2010