In 1981, the SHRI merged with the Scottish Plant Breeding Station (SPBS), which at the time was located near Edinburgh.

[1][2] The commercial arm of the SCRI, Mylnefield Research Services, was launched in 1989.

The SCRI has both staff and PhD students who do research into several different aspects of plant science.

Research facilities include laboratories, office space, glasshouses, growth chambers and 172 hectares of land which is used for field work.

[6] The institute is also undertaking research into how climate change in Scotland will affect crop production,[7] as the institute is involved with the Scottish Government's Agriculture and Climate Change Stakeholder Group.