Blogs

Overconsumption and high levels of resource use are challenges contributing significantly to the climate and biodiversity crises. Scotland is currently only 1.3% circular, meaning that over 98% of the products consumed in Scotland come from newly extracted materials, and only a small proportion of these materials are ‘cycled back’ into use in the economy. In other words, most of what we buy, use or consume in Scotland is not reused again within Scotland, despite the huge potential to do so.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this blog post are the views of the author(s), and not an official position of the institute or funder.

By Robin Pakeman, senior ecologist, The James Hutton Institute.

NatureScot recently published our report “Understanding the Indirect Drivers of Biodiversity Loss in Scotland”. In 32 years in ecology, it’s been one of the hardest technical reports I’ve written, cutting across science and policy.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this blog post are the views of the author(s), and not an official position of the institute or funder.

To help a group of scientists and experts across Scotland’s Scottish Environment, Food and Agriculture Research Institutions (SEFARI) build their skills around media engagement, SEFARI Gateway recently funded two media training sessions with former senior editors who now specialise in media training and strategic content at Second City Creative.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this blog post are the views of the author(s), and not an official position of the institute or funder.

A project officer has been appointed to help drive forward a project that will help convert an Aberdeenshire research farm into a green hydrogen-powered demonstration site.

The £6 million HydroGlen project is being run by The James Hutton Institute at Glensaugh, near Fettercairn.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this blog post are the views of the author(s), and not an official position of the institute or funder.

Uploaded on behalf of: Alison Karley, Sebastian Raubach, Paul Shaw, Susan Verrall, Robin Pakeman, Adrian Newton, Roy Neilson, Rob Brooker

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this blog post are the views of the author(s), and not an official position of the institute or funder.

Field trials led by The James Hutton Institute in collaboration with farmers in Scotland and overseas have demonstrated that cultivating different crops together in the same field and at the same time can make agriculture more resilient and environmentally sustainable.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this blog post are the views of the author(s), and not an official position of the institute or funder.

Peatland covers about 20% of Scotland, providing a unique habitat, filtering our water and storing carbon. But when damaged, peatlands can be a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, about 80% of Scotland’s peatland is thought to be damaged and contributing to an estimated 13% of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions.  

Because of this, an increasing amount of work to restore peatlands is being done, to return peatland into healthy carbon stores, as well as the unique habitat it provides to a wide range of species.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this blog post are the views of the author(s), and not an official position of the institute or funder.

The James Hutton Institute in Aberdeen is opening its doors to local residents, schools, businesses and community groups to share proposed plans for its new £7.2 million Just Transition Hub.

Funded by the Scottish Government’s Just Transition Fund, the hub will be a centre for engagement, innovation and capacity building around nature-based solutions for net zero and the green recovery.

Initial architect drawings of the hub extension

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this blog post are the views of the author(s), and not an official position of the institute or funder.

The Heat is On, sang the singe Glenn Frey, and it would be an apt song for this summer.

While July and August may not have felt that warm, failing to make it Keith Urban’s Long Hot Summer, the climate change driven heat in June tipped summer into being the 10^th warmest summer on record at Invergowrie, jointly with 2018 and 1997.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this blog post are the views of the author(s), and not an official position of the institute or funder.

The sun shone, but then the heavens opened – it’s a typical story for Scottish weather and one our and all the other teams taking part in the Great Glen Challenge on Friday (August 25) took on with relish.

And it was all well worth it – we’ve hit our £1,000 fundraising target, helping farming charity RSABI to hit its overall £50,000 goal for the event.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this blog post are the views of the author(s), and not an official position of the institute or funder.