£25m for climate change research

Ibers was formed out of a merger last year

Scientists at a top UK research institute are to invest £25m in a new international centre aimed at solving problems posed by climate change.

Aberystwyth University's Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (Ibers) said the funding would take its work to another level.

Ibers wants to create what it calls an "international centre for food, energy and water security".

The announcement was made at the Royal Welsh Show in Powys.

Ibers said money from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and the Welsh Assembly Government would help fund the scheme.

Officials said their aim was to help find solutions to some of the major issues facing the world today.

Our vision remains the same - to carry out world class research for the benefit of farming, the environment and the economy and to help offer security in the three major areas of water food and energy Ibers director Dr Wayne Powell

"It is fitting that we start on the major investment at Gogerddan (near Aberystwyth) as we celebrate 90 years of ground-breaking research," said Ibers director Dr Wayne Powell.

"Our vision remains the same - to carry out world class research for the benefit of farming, the environment and the economy and to help offer security in the three major areas of water food and energy.

"Naturally, our fields of research are far wider but, just like those pioneers in 1919, we are responding to the great challenges of the day and putting our research expertise at the service of Wales and the wider community."

The Welsh Assembly Government said it part-funded Ibers and supported its work.