RESEARCH FACILITIES

Research Facilities

Growing Kent & Medway has invested in research facilities and technical experts to drive sustainable innovation for the food system. Explore how our research facilities are supporting local businesses to innovate and grow.

Our Research Hubs

Locations

Located in the ‘Garden of England’, our hubs sit between London’s markets and European supply chains via Dover and Calais. This strategic position allows Growing Kent & Medway to support the horticulture and food sectors, linking regional production to international trade and national food security.

Niab at

East Malling

Smart Glasshouses

Growth Rooms

Rhizolab

Protected Cropping

Medway Food Innovation Centre

Prototyping & NPD

Novel Processing

Technical Labs

Food Accelerator

BioTechnology Hub

Cell Image Analysis

Biomolecular Science

NMR Facility

Biosensor Development

Agri-Engineering Hub

Engineering Labs

Fabrication Workshops

Verena Holmes Building

Maker Space

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Our four research facilities provide the specialised expertise and equipment to address challenges across the food system. They offer world-class R&D, from sustainable crop production through to advanced food processing.

Niab at East Malling

East Malling

Advancing resilient horticulture through world-leading research in plant breeding, pest and disease control, and sustainable growing systems.

Resource Efficiency

Genetics and Breeding

Climate Resilience

Pest and Pathogen Ecology

Orchard Management

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BioTechnology Hub

University of Kent

Solving plant-based challenges with cutting-edge research into sustainable packaging, protein alternatives, and crop health.

Pathogen Control

Sustainable Packaging
Compound Extraction
Soil Microbiome
Biocontrols and Breeding

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Medway Food Innovation Centre

University of Greenwich

Accelerating new product development through state-of-the-art food processing technologies and commercial-scale research space.

Alternative Proteins

Product Reformulation

Flavour and Texture

Food Safety and Storage

Sustainable Packaging

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Agri-Engineering Hub

Canterbury Christ Church University

Advancing agricultural productivity through precision robotics, automation, and industrial-grade additive manufacturing.

Agriculture Automation

Smart Farming
Sustainable Manufacturing
Materials Testing
Additive Manufacturing

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Research Facilities

Discover the specialist facilities and technical expertise available across the Growing Kent & Medway innovation cluster.

Niab at East Malling

Based at Niab’s East Malling site, our world-class facilities support the future of sustainable horticulture. We provide advanced glasshouse technology and precision growth rooms to help develop resilient, low-carbon production systems for a changing climate.