More than 80 companies and nearly 30 industry organisations have thrown their weight behind the bid to create the livestock research centre.

The next step forward will be the workshop for potential industry investors on 5 June at Fera near York.

The meeting aims to attract leading industry figures to take an active role in developing CIEL to bring the greatest benefits for the livestock industry.

AHDB/BPEX head of technical Andrew Knowles who has co-ordinated the bid, said: “The bid is now at the stage where the industry needs to take ownership to develop the CIEL bid.

"It is important for as many backers as possible to attend the meeting at Fera.

“This is a unique opportunity for the livestock industry to put itself at the front of global research and development.

“The time-scale has been short but the support we have received from across the livestock industry has been fantastic. Everybody is committed to making this bid a success to take the industry into an exciting future.”

The overall industry-led submission is for a £34m investment in the UK Livestock research and development sector and to establish a single UK-wide Centre.

The money will be matched over five years by commitment from industry partners in the form of cash and in-kind investments in research.

This funding will also be co-funded by academic institutes over five years to realise a total investment of more than £83m, equalling the money requested from Government.

The benefit of CIEL is that it is a unique co-operative venture bringing together:

• Multinational and small companies in the animal breeding, animal health, feed and nutrition and technology sectors

• Major UK companies involved in the production, processing and marketing of livestock-derived products

• UK levy boards and umbrella organisations working on behalf of livestock producers and some processors

• Twelve leading research providers from across the UK, including all the devolved administrations, in the animal sciences, veterinary medicine, animal health, consumer safety and product quality sectors.

• UK-leading veterinary service companies, veterinary schools and a network of R&D focused commercial farms for research trials and demonstration of techniques.

The application was submitted on 1 April and the review process and panel assessment is in May with the announcement of successful applications which will move to a Preferred Bidder stage.