
ONE SeedPod opens to accelerate Scotland’s food and drink innovation
ONE SeedPod, a £27m industry hub on SRUC's Craibstone Campus, has opened to boost high-value food and drink manufacturing, offering collaborative kitchens, development spaces, and business support. The first tenant, Vanilla Farms, exemplifies the facility’s innovation and sustainability focus.
Scotland’s food and drink innovation landscape has taken a significant step forward with the opening of ONE SeedPod, a dedicated industry hub designed to boost high-value manufacturing within the sector. Developed and operated by Opportunity North East (ONE), this £27 million project, part of the Aberdeen City Region Deal, offers a comprehensive suite of 11 food-safe manufacturing kitchens, alongside new product development, pilot plant kitchens, and a demonstration kitchen. The hub aims to provide a collaborative and entrepreneurial environment where food and drink businesses can innovate, scale, and succeed in an increasingly competitive market.
The facility, located on Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) Craibstone Campus near Aberdeen, represents a strategic collaboration. The UK Government, Scottish Government, Just Transition Fund, and Scottish Enterprise co-funded the project, with SRUC serving as a key strategic partner. This positions ONE SeedPod not only as a physical site but also as a vibrant ecosystem offering specialist support, business mentoring, and education to nurture ambitious food and drink entrepreneurs.
Vanilla Farms, an Aberdeenshire-based business pioneering premium vanilla production through sustainable, high-tech agriculture and science-led flavour innovation, proudly became the first tenant at ONE SeedPod. The company recently earned £150,000 from the inaugural Missions EDGE prize at Scottish EDGE 25, an accolade recognising its potential to revolutionise the natural flavour industry. Vanilla Farms’ move into ONE SeedPod marks a critical milestone in its growth journey. Co-founder Gillian Lane highlighted the hub’s state-of-the-art facilities and supportive community as ideal for scaling their sustainable flavour innovation ambitions in Scotland.
The opening of ONE SeedPod has already drawn interest from a range of notable customers, including Associated Seafoods, Queen Margaret University, and Scotland Food & Drink, who have utilised its facilities during its commissioning phase. David Kilshaw OBE, chair of ONE SeedPod, emphasised the hub’s unique offering of manufacturing kitchens combined with technical expertise and a collaborative ecosystem that supports businesses in accelerating growth. He noted the strong nationwide interest the facility has attracted and expressed optimism about its role in helping Scotland’s food and drink companies reach new heights.
SRUC Principal and CEO Professor Wayne Powell welcomed the milestone, affirming that Vanilla Farms’ focus on quality, innovation, and sustainability resonates strongly with SRUC’s ethos. Meanwhile, expert advisory support from Johnston Carmichael, which sponsors Scottish EDGE, is helping Vanilla Farms navigate its expansion phase. Adam Hardie, partner and Head of Food and Drink at Johnston Carmichael, praised Vanilla Farms for identifying a market gap and delivering an innovative solution, positioning Scotland on the global vanilla map for the first time.
Constructed by Robertson Construction Eastern, the ONE SeedPod facility seamlessly combines cutting-edge manufacturing units with new product development and pilot plant spaces, creating an environment where product testing, process innovation, and demonstration can flourish. Beyond just physical infrastructure, ONE SeedPod fosters a community for founders and business leaders to share knowledge, collaborate, and grow – an essential ingredient for nurturing Scotland’s food and drink sector, known for its entrepreneurial spirit and drive for innovation.
As ONE SeedPod opens its doors, it signals a bold new chapter for Scotland’s food and drink industry—one where innovation is matched with opportunity, expertise, and a commitment to sustainability, positioning the sector strongly for future growth and global impact.