Investing in York's science and tech future

York Outer MP Julian Sturdy has written for the York Press on how BioYorkshire is the key to the UK's Net Zero and Levelling Up success. The full article is available here, with his thoughts on BioYorkshire below.

"In advance of the Chancellor’s Spring Statement today, I thought it was important to press Ministers to pay close attention to what our city needs to succeed in the modern economy. I was therefore very pleased to work with York University to invite the Minister for Science George Freeman to visit Dunnington Biorenewables Development Centre earlier this month, to learn about this and the wider BioYorkshire project.

This collaboration between York University, Askham Bryan College, FERA Science at Sand Hutton and regional businesses aims to create 4,000 skilled, high-wage jobs and put York at the heart of the growing bioeconomy sector, which could be worth an extra £220 billion a year by 2030, helping secure the city’s long-term prosperity. BioYorkshire aims to rapidly translate scientific discoveries into new green products, producing materials, chemicals, fuel, food and animal feed with less environmental impact.

The Minister and I toured the Centre’s cutting-edge labs, dedicated to converting waste and plant matter into new goods. We also heard first-hand about a new nitrogen technology that could reduce the need for fertiliser use, and the latest breakthroughs in protein extraction from potatoes that could be applied to produce vegetarian and vegan foods. Finally, we inspected the facility of a biochemical enterprise that converts residential and business waste into recycled materials for sale.

I helped arrange this visit so we could impress the science minister enough to secure strong government backing for BioYorkshire, which is a massive opportunity to deliver growth and skilled jobs for York and the wider region. I think George Freeman was very enthused by the innovation and potential he saw, and the period after the visit has already brought the wonderful news that the firm Aziotic Technologies is relocating to York on the strength of the opportunities the BioYorkshire hub offers, bringing 14 high-skilled jobs and generating up to 30 more."