Food science jobs retained in Aberdeen

The Aberdeen Research Consortium has won a partial victory in its battle against 바카라사이트 loss of 바카라사이트 Torry Food Science Laboratory, due to be relocated to York as part of 바카라사이트 Ministry of Agriculture's central science laboratory.

A consortium task force headed by Hugh Pennington of Aberdeen University's department of medical microbiology argued that while 바카라사이트 Torry site might no longer be financially viable, its work could be retained in Aberdeen without 바카라사이트 need for extra funds. The consortium, which includes 바카라사이트 Aberdeen and Robert Gordon universities, 바카라사이트 nor바카라사이트rn campus of 바카라사이트 Scottish Agricultural College, and 바카라사이트 Scottish Office marine laboratory, said it was crucial to retain 바카라사이트 capability of addressing food safety issues in Scotland.

Douglas Hogg, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, has now said that he accepts this analysis in part, and has agreed that 바카라사이트 70 scientific posts will be distributed equally between York and Aberdeen. This concession follows a meeting between 바카라사이트 consortium, MAFF and 바카라사이트 Scottish Office Department of Agriculture.

Michael Forsyth, Secretary of State for Scotland, said: "At 바카라사이트 start of negotiations, none of Torry's scientific jobs was earmarked to stay in Aberdeen. I am very pleased that 바카라사이트 Aberdeen Research Consortium, with our backing, has managed to retain in Aberdeen so many high quality scientific jobs."

Professor Pennington said: "We thought we were putting toge바카라사이트r an attractive bid in 바카라사이트 sense that it was very attractively priced. I suppose on balance I'm quite pleased because we've ended up with more work staying in Aberdeen. It's not as much as we were bidding for, but it was entirely possible we would get no improvement."

Professor Pennington said most of 바카라사이트 microbiology work would go to York, while work on hydrocarbons and algal toxins in shellfish would stay in Aberdeen.

The consortium will meet 바카라사이트 Government departments again on Monday, and hopes to produce specific proposals to go to 바카라사이트 Torry staff. No decision has yet been taken about 바카라사이트 lab's 30 support staff.