Minister opens £14million bird health facility

A national centre for poultry health and welfare research was officially opened yesterday (Monday, September 9) by universities and science minister, David Willetts.

The National Avian Research Facility (NARF) is a £14million centre located at the University of Edinburgh's Easter Bush campus.

The new building is the first of two units that will form the facility. The NARF is dedicated to improving bird health and hopes to have a significant impact on the UK's economy.

Researchers will study a range of poultry diseases, such as campylobacter and salmonella, which place a large economic burden on the food industry.

"Agricultural science and technology is one of the world’s fastest growing markets and we can’t allow the UK to be left behind in the global race," said David Willetts.

"In an industry worth £4billion to the UK economy employing around 35,000 people, the National Avian Research Facility will enhance the UK’s reputation as a world leader in this field."

The new facilities will also include research laboratories for the production of genetically modified (GM) chickens.

The Roslin Foundation, who will be collaborating with the Pirbright Institute on the facility's research, have already managed to produce GM chickens that are unable to spread bird flu.

In future, it is expected that the NARF will also include specially designed sterile areas which will help researchers to work on reducing food borne diseases.

Professor David Hume, director of the Roslin Institute, says the new facility "will endow the UK with a national resource that will lead the world in avian research."