The new hub is designed to serve as a pivotal space for businesses to upscale their production capabilities, innovate product lines, and test new processes while accessing a wealth of industry knowledge, entrepreneurial education, and mentoring designed by Opportunity North East (ONE) in collaboration with partner organisations.

Key features of the ONE SeedPod facility include 11 food-safe manufacturing kitchens, dedicated product development and demonstration kitchens, as well as spaces designated for pilot plant and process testing. These facilities collectively represent a significant resource for the food and drink sector, which plays a crucial role in the local economy.

The official launch, which took place recently, was attended by notable figures including Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes and UK Government Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill, alongside 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 its doors to industry professionals in April of this year.

ONE SeedPod is co-funded by ONE and receives substantial backing from both the Scottish and UK governments, who each contributed £5 million as part of the Aberdeen City Region Deal. A further contribution of £3.1 million from the Scottish Government through the Just Transition Fund elevates its total financial support to £8.1 million. The site is strategically positioned at the Craibstone Campus of Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), which acts as a key partner in providing the necessary infrastructure for ONE SeedPod.

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.” He expressed a forward-looking vision for ONE SeedPod as a future hub for a community of innovative and ambitious businesses.

David Kilshaw emphasised the timeliness of this investment, asserting, “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.” He described ONE SeedPod as a launchpad poised to advance the next generation of pioneers in the sector.

Kate Forbes highlighted the importance of the food and drink industry in the region, noting that it currently employs over 22,000 individuals and generates more than £2.4 billion annually. She reiterated that the creation of ONE SeedPod reflects the ambition to further support businesses in producing high-quality, innovative, and sustainable food products, with the aim of enhancing Scotland's global reputation in low-carbon food production.

Kirsty McNeill expressed the UK government's commitment to this initiative, stating, “It was an absolute privilege to help officially open the £27 million ONE SeedPod. Backed by £5 million UK Government funding – part of our £125 million commitment to the Aberdeen City Region Deal – this innovation hub will help further grow north east Scotland’s world class food and drink sector.”

Adrian Gillespie, Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise, remarked on the potential impact of ONE SeedPod for the region's economy, affirming, “This new state-of-the-art facility will help secure its future success by creating and supporting innovative start-ups and scale-ups.”

Professor Wayne Powell, Principal and Chief Executive of SRUC, underscored the collaborative potential that the hub represents, expressing excitement about the opportunities for businesses to connect and accelerate innovation. He stated, “We look forward to working with partners on this hugely exciting venture,” acknowledging the value it will bring to both producers and consumers in the food sector.