Research institute to shed jobs

More than 40 science posts are to go at a Norfolk food research centre.

The Institute of Food Research (IFR) in Norwich says it wants to cut 40.5 posts to meet a £1.5m shortfall caused by increasing costs and funding cuts.

Scientists' union Prospect condemned the cuts saying the loss of scientists at a time when nutrition was high on the public agenda was "regrettable".

The world-renowned IFR conducts research into food-related diseases and links between food, diet and health.

'Falling reserves'

Nigel Titchen, from Prospect, said: "Staff are rightly extremely angry and disillusioned that the Institute could contemplate discarding such expertise when human diet and nutrition are major public concerns and food security is one of the government's stated priorities."

A statement from the IFR said: "The last couple of years have been particularly difficult financially, and our reserves are falling. Running costs (particularly utilities) for our buildings have spiralled at a rate that we could not have predicted."

It said it would be offering voluntary redundancy to staff before losing jobs through compulsory redundancy.

The institute currently employs 182 scientists.