Skip to navigation Skip to content

decision support

March 3, 2023
Scotland’s water sector leaders, from academia to industry and government, will gather in Edinburgh tomorrow [22nd March ] to discuss how Scottish innovation and cooperation can safeguard global water sustainability and resilience. The...
February 2, 2023
Faithful+Gould has been selected by The James Hutton Institute as the project manager for its new Just Transition Hub in Aberdeen, following the award of £7.2 million for the project from the Scottish Government late last year. As project...
February 2, 2023
The James Hutton institute’s head of forensic science, principal scientist Professor Lorna Dawson, has been appointed as a commissioner on the UK’s Food, Farming and Countryside Commission (FFCC). The FFCC, which delivered the...
January 1, 2023
The James Hutton Institute has been awarded £1 million by the Wolfson Foundation, for equipment to support a new Molecular Phenotyping Centre. The Foundation is an independent charity with a focus on research and education. Its aim is to...
November 11, 2022
Researchers from the James Hutton Institute will form a partnership with a project team aiming to develop a framework for an eco-directed formulary that will incorporate environmental data on medicines into the prescribing process, alongside...
November 11, 2022
The UK’s Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council has awarded £609K to a collaborative partnership led by the James Hutton Institute to understand how a tree’s microbiomes (the bacteria, fungi and viruses that...
September 9, 2022
Scientists at the James Hutton Institute are researching ways to prepare for and prevent future threats to arable and horticultural production in Scotland.  In work funded by the Scottish Government’sRural and Environment Science and...
June 6, 2022
Do you have any burning questions about the key issues influencing Scotland’s arable industry? Are you interested in sustainable farming practices and how best to achieve net-zero? Then why not visit Arable Scotland (Balruddery Farm near...
June 6, 2022
Phosphorus is an essential but often overlooked resource, which is vital for life on Earth and is extracted from phosphate rock for use in crop fertilisers, livestock feeds and food additives. A major new report by scientists warns that global...
May 5, 2022
Plant professionals from science, government and industry are gathering in Dundee to take part in Scotland’s Plant Health Conference – an event that will shine a light on the importance of keeping our plant resources safe in the face...
April 4, 2022
The Research Network on Economic Experiments for the Common Agricultural Policy (REECAP), which aims to create bridges across evaluation communities and encourage knowledge exchange with policy makers, has been awarded the annual Center for...
March 3, 2022
Researchers from the James Hutton Institute are calling on community landowners from across Scotland to help them develop a greater understanding of the agricultural activity carried out on their land.  The research also explores perceptions...
December 12, 2021
Following on the back of COP26, planning proposals are being put forward to build the UK’s first purpose-built tall tower for directly measuring greenhouse gases from land at the James Hutton Institute’s Balruddery Farm, in Angus near...
September 9, 2021
Researchers from the James Hutton Institute are seeking views from farmers and farming professionals from across Europe in relation to the support, challenges and opportunities for new entrant farmers.
August 8, 2021
Researchers from the James Hutton Institute are calling on livestock farmers and vets in the UK to help develop a greater understanding of the use of on farm anti-microbials. It is widely believed that overuse and improper use of anti-...
August 8, 2021
Speaking at Potatoes in Practice 2021, scientists of the James Hutton Institute have outlined plans for a Potato Innovation and Translation Hub: a centre of excellence to translate innovation and research into solutions for the potato industry...
August 8, 2021
Researchers from the James Hutton Institute will contribute to one of six research teams tasked with developing new tools and approaches to help trees and woodlands adapt to climate change and enable the UK to reach the goal of net zero...
July 7, 2021
Potatoes in Practice, the UK’s largest field event for potatoes and a highlight of the season for the sector bringing together variety demonstrations, research and trade exhibits in one place, is set to return on 12 August 2021 to...
June 6, 2021
Scotland has a legally binding commitment of being net-zero by 2045, and a 31% reduction is required in emissions from agriculture by 2032. This topic will be under discussion in the fourth Arable Conversations session on 29th June 2021 at 6:00...
June 6, 2021
SEFARI Gateway and the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission (FFCC) are funding a collaborative project between the James Hutton Institute, the Soil Association Scotland, and Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society (SAOS) to carry out...
June 6, 2021
Join us at Arable Scotland on 29th June for a virtual Arable Conversation with Pete Iannetta (James Hutton Institute), Ed Brown (Hutchinsons), Dick Neale (Hutchinsons), Christine Watson (SRUC) and Paul Hargreaves (SRUC), which will look at...
May 5, 2021
The James Hutton Institute has announced the appointment of Sir Paul Grice, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Queen Margaret University, to its Board of Directors as a non-executive director. Sir Paul held the position of Clerk and Chief...
April 4, 2021
Substantial cuts in global greenhouse gas emissions could be achieved by raising water levels in agricultural peatlands, according to a new study co-authored by James Hutton Institute scientists and published in the journal Nature. Peatlands...
April 4, 2021
First Milk, Nestlé and Agricarbon have announced the launch of a pioneering soil carbon capture project, with scientific guidance from leading soil ecologist and James Hutton Institute Honorary Associate, Dr Helaina Black. The project...
March 3, 2021
What is the true value of water in Scotland and what does it mean to you? On Monday 22nd March, the Hydro Nation International Centre, supported by the Scottish Government and the James Hutton Institute are hosting a free online celebration of...
November 11, 2020
Testing the natural Capital Protocol in an upland farm in Scotland: The Glensaugh case study
November 11, 2020
How can we use the Natural Capital Protocol (NCP) to help land managers when considering agricultural land use decisions? How can the NCP contribute to ongoing initiatives to test natural capital approaches in land-based business in Scotland?...
October 10, 2020
Supporting the next generation of new and young farmers is critical to the sustainability of agriculture in Scotland and across Europe, but how can we encourage young people to see farming as a future and worthwhile career? This question will...
October 10, 2020
The James Hutton Institute has today announced the appointment of a new Chair for the Institute Board.
October 10, 2020
A social scientist based at the James Hutton Institute is seeking the views of dairy farmers interested in running a ‘cow with calf’ production system in the UK. The system involves keeping calves with their mothers for the first...
September 9, 2020
Crop diseases can generate destructive outbreaks that have the potential to threaten global food security, which is why it is fundamental to have reliable data promptly available from disease surveillance programs and outbreak investigations. In...
August 8, 2020
Tree planting and woodland expansion are often touted as desirable ways to soak up atmospheric carbon and help stem climate change. They are a frequent feature of climate change mitigation policies, but these policies often assume that all new...
May 5, 2020
An international group of scientists who specialise in various kinds of computer modelling is calling on colleagues across the world to maintain open access to knowledge, expertise, tools and technology during the global fight against COVID-19,...
April 4, 2020
Social science at the James Hutton Institute may provide an insight into how rural Scotland can and will likely respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. These research findings bring into focus the importance of community resilience, discuss the impact...
October 10, 2019
Scientists based at the James Hutton Institute in Aberdeen have developed a brand-new, web-based portal to improve access to spatial data on Scotland’s natural assets, including soils, land, biodiversity and cultural heritage. The new...
August 8, 2019
Rewilding in the Scottish uplands could take decades without the intervention of land managers, a new long-term grazing experiment at Glen Finglas has shown. The experiment, the first of its kind in Scotland, was set up in 2002 to explore how...
February 2, 2019
While Brexit can be viewed as a very real threat to the future of Scottish agriculture, it must also now be viewed as an opportunity, albeit not an easy one to grasp. That was one of the main messages of the Soft Fruit Winter Meeting of the...
December 12, 2018
  What is the story with woodlands in the Cairngorms National Park? Or should we say, what are the stories, as there are many threads of stories of actual, former or speculative woodlands weaving in and out that make this area what it...
September 9, 2017
Anaerobic digestion, a process by which micro-organisms break down biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen leading to the production of biogas and bio-fertilisers, is an increasingly relevant source of renewable electricity and heat...
September 9, 2017
Research projects aiming to provide land managers with alternatives for efficient land management of upland systems will be presented at an event titled "The Challenge of Marginal Land: efficient utilisation of the managed natural...
March 3, 2017
Common grazings cover 6% of Scotland, supporting High Nature Value habitats like upland grasslands, and a distinct culture of crofting and traditional hill grazing. But declining agricultural incomes and demographic change have meant a retreat...
January 1, 2017
The James Hutton Institute today announced the appointment of a new Chair for the Institute Board, a move complemented by the appointment of a new Chair to the Board of James Hutton Ltd, its commercial subsidiary. Two new members of the Institute...
December 12, 2016
Following an announcement made to staff earlier this month, the James Hutton Institute has confirmed the recruitment of Derek Leslie as its new Director of Finance and Company Secretary, replacing Beth Corcoran who is stepping down after four...
September 9, 2016

Scotland's Soil Data (Research Page)

To view a wide range of soil and land capability maps online please visit Scotland's Soils website or the National Library of Scotland where you can view a selection of the published 1:63,360 (1 inch to the mile) scale maps. A number of soil...
July 7, 2016
MAGIC takes a fresh look at the Europe’s goals for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and the policies and instruments intended to support these goals. Many issues – including water, energy and food security - are interconnected...
May 5, 2016
March 3, 2016
The Scottish Government has today announced the re-commissioning of EPIC, the Pan-Scottish Centre of Expertise on Animal Disease Outbreaks. For the next 5 years EPIC will be led from the University of Glasgow by Professor Dominic Mellor,...
March 3, 2016
Scotland will remain at the forefront of ground-breaking advances in farming and food production as a result of continued Scottish Government funding for scientific research, Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead has said. More than £...
January 1, 2016
Leading UK and Chinese environmental scientists are taking part in a Science to Policy Roundtable in Beijing this week to discuss issues surrounding water resources and governance for water security.
December 12, 2015
Farming systems across Scotland, the UK and Europe can vary markedly from place to place. A range of factors can influence what types of production are practiced in any one place. However, climate and soil type are especially important in...
August 8, 2015
How can people in rural areas thrive during times of rapid, transformational change? How can rural Europe cope with the many pressures arising from globalisation, migration, deregulation and the effects of neoliberal policies? Over 400 social...
July 7, 2015
The Natural Capital Initiative, a partnership between the Society of Biology, British Ecological Society, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and the James Hutton Institute, has launched the ‘Valuing our Life Support Systems...
June 6, 2015
Cereals in Practice, the annual showcase of variety trials and research organised by the James Hutton Institute and Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), is again taking place on 2 July 2015. The event offers a range of advice and information for...
June 6, 2015
The James Hutton Institute has welcomed the announcement made by Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss that Defra is to release its data reserves to create opportunities for people in the UK making their living from food, farming and the...
May 5, 2015
In times of changing political conditions and increasing pressure from markets and citizens, innovation is more important than ever for farmers throughout Europe. This is precisely the focus of a group of social scientists who have for the past...
March 3, 2015
The James Hutton Institute is delighted to support the forthcoming Festival of Ideas, organised by the RSA Fellows' Media, Creative Industries, Culture and Heritage (MCICH) Network. The event will take place at St Stephen Centre,...
February 2, 2015

Sam Poskitt (Member of Staff)

Sam is an Environmental Social Scientist with a background in Geography, Environmental Anthropology and International Development. He specialises in participatory approaches for research, learning, and decision-making in relation to tackling...
November 11, 2014

Soils Maps of Scotland (Research Page)

To celebrate World Soils Day on the 5th December and the start of the International Year of Soils, we have made available for download scanned copies of the original seven 1:250,000 scale soil maps of Scotland and the accompanying handbooks. The...
October 10, 2014
National Soils Database
October 10, 2014

Greenspace Data (Research Page)

Data sources
September 9, 2014
What are the challenges faced by policy developers in Scotland, at a time of increasing calls on decision makers to base their conclusions more firmly on the underlying science and avoid inefficient use of resources? These issues, and many others...
August 8, 2014
Tarland modelling                         Hydraulic models help to predict where flooding might occur, how severe it might...
July 7, 2014
Despite many decades of research within protected area landscapes, many protected area management organisations struggle to use scientific expertise in their management and decision making processes. The project has been funded by the Macaulay...
March 3, 2014
The Land Systems Team are a group of researchers within the Information and Computational Sciences group of the James Hutton Institute. See here: https://ics.hutton.ac.uk/research/land-systems-research-team/ for their current website.
February 2, 2014
This seminar "Exploring low-carbon transitions by means of model integration" will be given by Associate Professor Alexey Voinov from the University of Twente, the Netherlands, at the James Hutton Institute in Aberdeen.
January 1, 2014
A workshop was held at Birnam Arts and Conference Centre on 20 November 2013 to provide an update on research being conducted as part of the Vibrant Rural Communities theme of the Food, Land and People Strategic Research programme, funded by...
January 1, 2014

LandSFACTS downloads (Research Page)

The LandSFACTS software is available in several formats: with graphical interface, helpfile and tutorial [XP, W7], cf. below command-line [XP, W7, W7 x64, Linux x64], by request dynamic libraries [XP, W7, W7 x64, Linux x64], by request...
January 1, 2014

LandSFACTS (Research Page)

LANDscape Scale Functional Allocation of Crops Temporally and Spatially
January 1, 2014
Environmental, economic and social issues associated with agriculture are often fundamental for rural prosperity and sustainability, with consequent implications for any debate about future land use. A key to supporting the planning of change is...
January 1, 2014
Stakeholder engagement events relating to theme topics Health and wellbeing conferences and workshops Date Title Theme role Venue 25 November 2013
December 12, 2013
The overall aim of the project was to align upland estate management in Scotland with the concept of sustainability. Funding was provided by the Henry Angest Foundation and it ran from 2007-2011.     Project Objectives The...
December 12, 2013
Project aim The aim of this project was to explore the relationship between green space and human health using a range of methods and disciplinary approaches at different scales. It was funded by the Scottish Government and ran from 2009-2012.
December 12, 2013
Project aims This project looks at the management of conflicts:
November 11, 2013
July 7, 2013
This research project aimed to identify, analyse and assess the contribution of multi-stakeholder partnerships to the sustainable management of rural landscapes and to the well-being of communities in three European countries. In addition, the...
March 3, 2013
The Water Framework Directive (WFD) aims to deliver good ecological status (GES) for Europe’s waters. It includes economic principles, such as the use of cost-effectiveness analysis of measures to achieve GES and of derogation on grounds of...
March 3, 2013

Chen Wang (Member of Staff)

Dr Chen Wang is a Landscape and Visualisation Scientist, who joined the Information and Computational Sciences group at the James Hutton Institute in 2010.
February 2, 2013

URflood: Funders (Research Page)

February 2, 2013

URflood: Links (Research Page)

Partners The James Hutton Institute Suomen ympäristökeskus (Finnish Environment Institute) University College Dublin
February 2, 2013

URflood: Partners (Research Page)

The James Hutton Institute
February 2, 2013

URflood: Outputs (Research Page)

Main outputs from the project:
February 2, 2013

URflood: Case Studies (Research Page)

Please use the links below to read more about the country specific case studies
February 2, 2013
The aims of the project will be delivered via the following work packages:
February 2, 2013

URflood: Key Questions (Research Page)

October 10, 2012
October 10, 2012
April 4, 2012
Isotopes
April 4, 2011
Publications in which the VLT is presented or discussed Wang, C., Miller, D., Brown, I. and Jiang, Y. 2016. Public Participation to Support Wind Energy Development: The Role of 3D GIS and Virtual Reality. In: Proceedings of 24th...
April 4, 2011
The Virtual Landscape Theatre is operated by a team at the Aberdeen offices of the James Hutton Institute. They have been responsible for designing, developing and implementing the theatre, 3D models, and programmes of surveys and community and...
March 3, 2011
A development and demonstration virtual reality theatre has been constructed to compliment the mobile Virtual Landscape Theatre. The dimensions and capabilities of the development theatre are the same as the VLT enabling the preparation and...
March 3, 2011
What is it? The Virtual Landscape Theatre (VLT) is a mobile curved screen projection facility, in which people can be 'immersed' in computer models of their environment to explore landscapes of the past, present and future. It is used...
March 3, 2011

David Miller (Member of Staff)


Printed from /category/tags/decision-support on 19/03/24 06:17:47 AM

The James Hutton Research Institute is the result of the merger in April 2011 of MLURI and SCRI. This merger formed a new powerhouse for research into food, land use, and climate change.