In 2013 the Government, AgResearch and Lincoln University announced plans to build a research hub for both public and private sector use.
Lincoln and AgResearch are in a joint-venture to create a world-class environment for agricultural research and education based on shared use of laboratories, teaching spaces and offices.
In July AgResearch moved its corporate headquarters from Ruakura in Waikato to its existing premises opposite Lincoln University.
Construction also started recently on PGW Seeds’ new facility on AgResearch’s Springs Road frontage.
It’s a forerunner to a bigger shared campus project in which AgResearch and Lincoln own, lease and occupy a new facility and share space with DairyNZ as a tenant.
Five buildings in the new complex at Lincoln are set to house 700 scientists, academics and students.
Most of the 27,000 square metres will be shared laboratory and workspace and the key word is shared, AgResearch chief executive Tom Richardson said.
“There’s no AgResearch science wing.
Clusters are based around the work being done at the hub including biosecurity, microbiology and soils.
“The AgResearch and Lincoln teams have designed that facility jointly and both those teams will be located in that area.”
AgResearch and Lincoln will pay rent based on their proportionate use of the space and that figure will be adjustable over time, Richardson said.
The latest estimate is for the first buildings to be open by late 2020 but the project has been subject to ongoing delays, mainly related to confirmation of Government funding for the financially-embattled Lincoln University.
Separate to the hub concept and the new facility, Lincoln and Canterbury Universities are considering a closer relationship. Word on that plan is expected with weeks.
Richardson said co-locating took longer than expected but there is tangible evidence of boots on the ground.
“It’s been a long time between drinks as we worked through the options with the co-developer, the university. There’s been months and months without a lot of progress but no-one’s lost sight of the prize.”
Richardson said the main change to the hub concept since 2013 is the amount of Crown help for Lincoln.
“The Crown is providing roughly $85m for Lincoln University – a portion of their contribution towards the new facility.”
He expects the Crown will be able to finally approve its funding by November, based partly on final estimated construction costs.
AgResearch is spending $115m on co-locating facilities, including $45m for a new building at Massey University. AgResearch is funding its reorganisation by selling surplus assets, using retained earnings and borrowing. It will negotiate all of those arrangements over the next three years, Richardson said.
The broad aim of the hub concept is to create an ecosystem for undergraduate and graduate education and applied research, he said.
Since 2013 AgResearch has relocated staff and facilities to Lincoln from Invermay in Otago and Ruakura in Waikato and sold non-core commercial property in Wellington.
“That asset sales programme has been under way for a number of years and we have a few more this financial year and a few more in subsequent years as we move out of existing facilities.”
AgResearch Ruakura will keep about 100 scientists and some support staff, focusing on environmental and biosecurity issues and maintaining partnerships with nearby industry organisations like Innovation Waikato.
“It will still be a centre focused around dairy, farm systems and environment in Waikato, Bay of Plenty catchment issues.”
Invermay will keep 20-30 jobs, focused mainly on environmental and farm systems issues facing Otago and Southland farmers. The centre will also service the new Southland dairy hub, which AgResearch partly funded.
