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March 3, 2023
Come and be inspired by arable innovation at Scotland’s premier arable event. Arable Scotland is a free, day long event taking place on 4th July, 2023. This is a chance for key players in food production, from farmers and agronomists to...
February 2, 2023
Potatoes in Practice is the largest field-based potato event in the UK. The event brings together variety demonstrations, research and trade exhibits in one place making it an essential date in the potato industry calendar. In the field, you...
January 1, 2023
The findings of a ground-breaking farm trial investigating potato varieties resistant to crop-destroying potato cyst nematodes (PCN) were revealed last week at the James Hutton Institute (JHI) in Invergowrie. The PCN Action Scotland Winter...
December 12, 2022
Following successful field trials, the James Hutton Institute based at Invergowrie, has donated three tonnes of locally grown potatoes to Cyrenians, Scotland’s charity for homelessness, for distribution to communities in need across the...
August 8, 2022
Potatoes in Practice (PiP), the UK’s largest field event for potatoes, is set to return to Balruddery Farm in Angus on Thursday 11th August 2022 with a focus on new research and current challenges.
June 6, 2022
An international research team featuring the James Hutton Institute has shed further light on the evolution and biology of potato as a genetically complex global food crop. Most commercially grown potato varieties are tetraploids, which means...
June 6, 2022
Work by researchers at the James Hutton Institute that helps protect Scotland’s valuable potato crop against late blight is to continue thanks to funding from the Scottish Government for the Fight Against Blight (FAB) campaign in 2022....
March 3, 2022

James Price (Member of Staff)

James is a molecular plant pathologist and plant nematologist within the CMS nematology group with a focus on potato cyst nematodes (PCN). Over his 8 years' experience working with plant-parasitic nematodes he has investigated parasite-host...
March 3, 2022
Arable Scotland 2022 will take place on Tuesday 5 July at the James Hutton Institute, Balruddery Farm, Invergowrie, DD2 5LL. The theme of the event is net-zero carbon emissions and it will consist of a series of Arable Conversations, field plots...
March 3, 2022
Potatoes in Practice is the largest field-based potato event in the UK. The event brings together variety demonstrations, research and trade exhibits in one place making it an essential date in the potato industry calendar.
January 1, 2022
The Crop Production in Northern Britain Conference, the foremost summit discussing environmental management and crop production in northern environments, is back this year as an online event on 1-2 March. CPNB 2022 brings together agronomists,...
January 1, 2022
Daylight is made from a spectrum of wavelengths and plants possess receptors that can detect red and blue light. Blue light is important for plant growth and yet inhibits the immune response of potato plants to Phytophthora infestans, making them...
December 12, 2021
Five climate and disease resilient potato varieties developed by the James Hutton Institute-led Quikgro research project have been approved for release in Malawi by the Agriculture Technology Release Committee of the Malawian Ministry of...
December 12, 2021
Researchers at the James Hutton Institute and James Hutton Limited are exploring ways to reduce the losses caused by potato cyst nematodes (PCN) in commercial potato production. PCN is an increasing challenge to the UK fresh and processing potato...
August 8, 2021
Crop pathogens like Phytophthora infestans – the origin of several European potato famines in the 19th century - still cause US$300bn worth of damage to global crop production each year and continue to threaten world food security.
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
A major new project will tackle pests in potatoes through the protection of clean land and the management of land already infested with pests. The project will focus specifically on tackling potato cyst nematode (PCN), which is becoming an...
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...
April 4, 2021
Plant scientists at the James Hutton Institute are studying the evolution of late blight in potato by working with industry and research partners to track the distribution and diversity of dominant clones in Europe in 2020, and have also...
February 2, 2021
Researchers at the James Hutton Institute and partner institutions are set to explore previously undiscovered mechanisms through which the pathogen responsible for late blight in potato, Phytophthora infestans, breaks through cell walls to infect...
February 2, 2021
The Scottish Society for Crop Research (SSCR) is holding their 2021 Potato Winter Meeting as an online event. The meeting is open to anyone in the potato industry and other interested parties, but registration is essential. Two BASIS points are...
January 1, 2021
2021 is the United Nations' International Year of Fruits and Vegetables, bringing public attention to the key role of fruit and vegetables in human nutrition, food security and health – all key strands of work at the James Hutton...
December 12, 2020
Mayan Gold and Vales Sovereign potatoes developed in Tayside by the James Hutton Institute and grown on Hutton research farms as part of a long-term trial of sustainable cultivation methods are being donated to food banks across Tayside in time...
November 11, 2020
Professor Ian Toth has been recognised with the British Potato Industry Award 2020 for his invaluable contribution to the potato industry over the past 25 years. The prestigious lifetime achievement award was presented by AHDB Potatoes Chair,...
October 10, 2020
Scientists from the UK’s foremost agricultural research organisations, including the James Hutton Institute, have teamed up to create a new UK Crop Microbiome Cryobank (UK-CMCB) to safeguard future research and facilitate the sustainable...
October 10, 2020
A bioinformatics platform developed at the James Hutton Institute which allows users to import, visualize, explore and share project data for plant genetic resources has been recognised by being named a global ‘Hub Pilot’ by the...
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
A group of leading European academic research institutions including the James Hutton Institute have joined forces to launch the ADAPT (Accelerated Development of multiple-stress tolerAnt PoTato) project, which seeks to develop strategies to make...
August 8, 2020
Scientists at the James Hutton Institute and partner organisations are working to understand the interactions between pathogen Pectobacterium atrosepticum and an array of soil-microbe-crop interactions in the development of blackleg,...
June 6, 2020
Potato is one of the world’s most important food crops, but the vulnerability of yield levels to plant stresses limit the crop’s uptake in some parts of the world, particularly in areas impacted by climate change. This reduces potato...
June 6, 2020
Agricultural scientists of the James Hutton Institute have been awarded £220,000 by Horizon 2020, the European Union’s research and innovation programme, to find ways to promote the adoption of integrated pest management strategies...
March 3, 2020
Potato is a key food and cash crop contributing both to food security and the local economy in Kenya, Malawi and elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa. However, crops in the region are frequently affected by low yields and plant pest and diseases, with...
March 3, 2020
An international consortium including the James Hutton Institute which tracks the European spatial distribution of Phytophthora infestans, the plant pathogen responsible for potato late blight, has updated the distribution of the pathogen by...
February 2, 2020
The Scottish Society for Crop Research (SSCR) is holding their Potato Winter Meeting at the James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie. The event is open to anyone in the potato industry and other interested parties. CPD Points BASIS and NRoSO...
January 1, 2020
2020 is the International Year of Plant Health and Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters, bringing public attention to two huge global challenges and for good reason, say scientists at the James Hutton Institute.
December 12, 2019
With countries struggling to press forward after the recent COP25 summit in Madrid, and ever-increasing awareness of the impact that the climate emergency is having on our planet, consumers can do their bit by making changes to their daily habits...
October 10, 2019

Potato@Hutton (Research Partners)

The Potato@Hutton group at the James Hutton Institute combines strengths in potato, soils, land use, and environmental research. As such, Potato@Hutton makes major contributions to the understanding of key global issues, such as food, energy and...
September 9, 2019
A recent workshop co-organised by the Earlham Institute and the Catholic University of Santa María gathered plant scientists from Peru and the UK to discuss the application of 'omic' technologies for the research of crop...
September 9, 2019
The workshop aims to demonstrate the innovations and cutting edge research for reducing water and nutrient stress in crops across Europe, namely in wheat, potato and tomato production. It also aims to facilitate discussion with those in the...
August 8, 2019
Chinese and Scottish researchers are to work together and explore joint solutions to potato breeding and to pests and diseases that cause major losses to farmers and industry across the world. A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed...
August 8, 2019
As the potato industry faces up to the loss of major chemicals, diquat for definite with CIPC likely to follow, this year’s Potatoes in Practice will focus on what growers will be using in the future. Potatoes in Practice is the largest...
July 7, 2019
Potatoes have been a staple of Britain’s diet for half a millennium, but new research suggests that limited genetic differences in potato lineages has left British and American spuds vulnerable to the disease that caused the Irish potato...
June 6, 2019
The seeds have been sown for the creation of a world-leading potato hub in Scotland, designed to give those working in the £200 million-plus industry instant access to expert advice. The country’s three main knowledge, consultancy...
May 5, 2019
Temperature has a pronounced effect on the formation of potato tubers: when temperature is too high, potato plants form less or no tubers, which can greatly decrease yields. Scientists at the Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen Nuremberg (...
April 4, 2019
Come and spend a fun family day at Mylnefield Farm! The Institute will be taking part in Open Farm Sunday 2019 on 9 June.
April 4, 2019
Potatoes in Practice is the largest field-based potato event in the UK. The event brings together variety demonstrations, research and trade exhibits in one place making it an essential date in the potato industry calendar.
March 3, 2019
Researchers at the James Hutton Institute and partner organisations are working to understand the mechanisms behind senescent sweetening, a problem responsible for considerable losses of potato crops during storage, particularly in the processing...
February 2, 2019
The Scottish Society for Crop Research (SSCR) is holding their Potato Winter Meeting at the James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie. The event is open to anyone in the potato industry and other interested parties. CPD Points A total of 4 BASIS...
January 1, 2019
Potato tuber skin and flesh colours are attractive traits for consumers and frequently influence purchase choices. In a new study, scientists of the James Hutton Institute have identified a genetic molecule that regulates the production of ...
December 12, 2018
The James Hutton Institute's commercial subsidiary, James Hutton Limited, has entered into a five-year agreement with Technico Agri Sciences, a subsidiary of Indian company ITC Limited, for the provision of 16 potato varieties and 600...
November 11, 2018
Hutton Android app Buntata has been featured in the first issue of Global Potato News, a newly launched international business-to-business magazine serving the entire potato industry from farm to fork. Originally unveiled in 2017 and named...
November 11, 2018
Scientists at the James Hutton Institute, in collaboration with colleagues of the University of Dundee, Huazhong Agricultural University, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences (both China) and Wageningen University (Netherlands), have...
October 10, 2018
The James Hutton Institute's Information and Computational Sciences group have announced a web version of Buntata, the free mobile application launched last year to help potato growers identify plant pests and diseases in the field....
September 9, 2018
A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China, and the James Hutton Institute, during the 2018 UK-China Potato Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Conference, held in Shandong...
September 9, 2018
The James Hutton Institute and its commercial subsidiary, James Hutton Limited, have welcomed a deal which will allow the UK to export seed potato to China. The agreement, signed by International Trade Secretary Dr Liam Fox during a recent...
August 8, 2018
Research at the James Hutton Institute has led to the discovery of genetic variations which can help protect potato crop yields at high temperature, potentially providing potato breeders with a valuable tool in their quest to create varieties...
July 7, 2018
Potato blight, caused by the water mould Phytophthora infestans, is the major disease of potatoes worldwide and is thus a threat to food security. New research from the Birch lab in the University of Dundee's Division of Plant Sciences,...
July 7, 2018
The next generation of the potato industry will debate the future of the humble spud at this year’s Potatoes in Practice. Potatoes in Practice is the largest field-based potato event in the UK, held on Thursday 9th August at Balruddery...
July 7, 2018
Two potato varieties bred at the James Hutton Institute in Dundee have been recommended for release in Kenya thanks to the concerted efforts of AHDB, SASA, Seeds2B Africa - part of the Syngenta Foundation - and the Institute’s commercial...
May 5, 2018
Scientists from the James Hutton Institute are supporting an industry-led Innovate UK project aimed at improving food safety standards in potato, cereal, bread and other food products. The £1.99m initiative, led by Industrial Technology...
April 4, 2018
The James Hutton Institute's Information and Computational Sciences group has announced a new version of Buntata, a free Android app to help potato growers identify plant pests and diseases in the field. Produced with support from the...
March 3, 2018
Potato is a key food and cash crop contributing both to food security and the local economy in Kenya, Malawi and elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa. Scientists from the James Hutton Institute in collaboration with the University of St Andrews are...
March 3, 2018
Please note that this event is now fully booked and no more registrations are being taken. Turning up without having registered first is not recommended as you may be turned away. Please accept our apologies. The Scottish Society for Crop...
January 1, 2018
A potato research partnership between Xisen Group and the James Hutton Institute’s commercial subsidiary, James Hutton Limited, has been shortlisted for a China-Scotland Business Award in the Business-Education Collaboration of the Year.
December 12, 2017
Tis’ the season of potato intake, but did you know the humble tattie is a great source of vitamins C, B6, B9 and a whole host of macro and microminerals? Together, these biocompounds are responsible for maintaining a good health balance and...
December 12, 2017
Potatoes in Practice is the largest field-based potato event in the UK. The event brings together variety demonstrations, research and trade exhibits in one place making it an essential date in the potato industry calendar.
December 12, 2017
A PhD student at the University of Dundee and James Hutton Institute has been selected as Young Plant Scientist 2018 in the fundamental research category by the European Plant Science Organisation (EPSO). Shumei Wang, based at the Institute...
August 8, 2017
Plans to establish a £3m partnership between China’s Xisen Potato Industry Group Co. Ltd and our commercial subsidiary James Hutton Limited were announced at this year’s Potatoes in Practice event. The collaboration seeks to...
August 8, 2017
Potato industry representatives, growers and influencers from all over the UK and beyond are expected to descend on Dundee to take part in Potatoes in Practice (PiP) 2017, a technical potato field event featuring a high-standard mix of science,...
June 6, 2017
Potato is the third most important food crop in the world after rice and wheat; more than a billion people worldwide eat potato, and global crop production exceeds 300m tonnes each year. However, the crop is particularly vulnerable to increased...
June 6, 2017
James Hutton Limited, the James Hutton Institute’s commercial subsidiary, has welcomed two delegations of European visitors to the Institute’s Dundee site as part of efforts to share knowledge and ideas with a huge variety of interest...
May 5, 2017
The Potato Story, an exhibit without a single decorative bloom on show, has charmed Chelsea Flower Show judges into awarding a gold medal to Scottish potato aficionados Morrice and Ann Innes for the third year running – the only medals for...
May 5, 2017
Scientists at the James Hutton Institute, in collaboration with the Division of Plant Sciences at the University of Dundee and the Fujian Agricultural and Forestry University of China, have discovered that the pathogen responsible for the...
April 4, 2017
As one of the world's most important food crops, potatoes are grown for many different markets. It is fundamental for farmers to know when to halt crop growth to achieve optimal tuber size for market and so maximize profits. Until now,...
January 1, 2017
James Hutton Limited, the commercial arm of the James Hutton Institute, will be attending Fruit Logistica (8th-10th February, Berlin, Germany), in a drive to develop new markets for Hutton soft fruit varieties with an emphasis on new...
December 12, 2016
The Scottish Society for Crop Research (SSCR) is holding their Potato Winter Meeting at the James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie. The event is open to anyone in the potato industry and other interested parties. BASIS points have been applied for...
December 12, 2016
New risk criteria which aim to transform the performance of potato late blight alert systems were revealed today (7th December) at AHDB’s Agronomists’ Conference in Peterborough. Arising from research undertaken by the James Hutton...
December 12, 2016
Potatoes in Practice is the largest field-based potato event in the UK. The event brings together variety demonstrations, research and trade exhibits in one place making it an essential date in the potato industry calendar.
November 11, 2016
A research consortium including the James Hutton Institute and the University of Southampton is to tackle the problem of greening in potato, the world’s fourth most important food crop, in a drive to reduce field and supply chain losses...
November 11, 2016
As one of the world's most important food crops, potatoes are grown for many different markets. It is fundamental for farmers to know when to halt crop growth to achieve optimal tuber size for market and so maximize profits. Until now,...
October 10, 2016
A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (SAAS), China, and the James Hutton Institute, during a visit of a SAAS delegation to the Institute's Dundee site.  SAAS previously held...
August 8, 2016
As one of the world's most important food crops, potatoes have got everything you need to survive – but could they also help produce the drugs needed to treat illnesses? Researchers at the James Hutton Institute are investigating the...
August 8, 2016
Chinese and Scottish researchers are to work together and explore joint solutions to potato pests and diseases that cause major losses to farmers and industry across the world. Last week, the James Hutton Institute and the Heilongjiang Academy...
August 8, 2016
More than 100 potato scientists from all across Europe and beyond descended on Dundee to discuss crop pests and diseases that cost millions in annual losses to farmers and industry. The European Association for Potato Research (EAPR) Pathology...
August 8, 2016
Potato industry representatives, growers and influencers from all over the UK and beyond are expected to descend on Dundee to take part in Potatoes in Practice (PiP) 2016, the UK’s largest technical potato field event offering a high-...
June 6, 2016
Parasitic nematode worms are the 'hidden enemy’ of farmers worldwide, causing billions of pounds worth of crop damage every year. Now an international research collaboration led by the University of Dundee and the James Hutton...
March 3, 2016
Crop traits such as consistency, predictability and storability are highly desirable for the agricultural industry, and of particular importance to potato growers. However, do we understand the genetics behind the traits, and more importantly,...
March 3, 2016
A USA-UK collaborative project Potato virus Y (PVY) is one of the most serious pathogens of potato crops worldwide, reducing both yield and quality. New recombinant strains of PVY have emerged in recent decades, adapted rapidly to the potato...
February 2, 2016
Scientists working in Scotland and China have uncovered a potential Achilles’ heel in the organism which causes potato blight, a global problem with associated costs estimated at US$6billion around the world every year. Blight was the...
January 1, 2016
The Winter 2016 meeting of the Scottish Society for Crop Research (SSCR) Potato Sub-committee will be held at the James Hutton Institute in Dundee on 24 March 2016. Programme Programme can be found by clicking the link below:
December 12, 2015
Use of a self‐compatible diploid potato for mutagenesis and forward genetic studies
December 12, 2015
Diverse climatic and geographical zones in Peru are home to a great variety of crops (e.g., potatoes, quinoa, asparagus, and coffee). Recent advances in genomics and biotechnology offer great potential to address biotic and abiotic challenges to...
October 10, 2015
Potato cyst nematodes (PCN) are a significant threat to the UK fresh and processing potato markets, with an annual estimated cost of £50 million to the potato industry. A new study by UK scientists has brought us one step closer towards...
September 9, 2015
A delegation of the Sub Union of Seed Industrialists and Producers of Turkey (TSUAB) visited the James Hutton Institute and its commercial subsidiary James Hutton Limited. TSUAB is a professional organisation whose purpose is to represent and...
September 9, 2015
Potatoes in Practice is the largest field-based potato event in the UK. The event brings together variety demonstrations, research and trade exhibits in one place making it an essential date in the potato industry calendar.
July 7, 2015
The next meeting of the European Association for Potato Research (EAPR), Pathology and Pests Section, will be held in Dundee, Scotland, UK, 7th to 11th August 2016. This meeting covers research into potato pests and diseases with...
March 3, 2015
The Winter 2015 meeting of the Scottish Society for Crop Research (SSCR) Potato Sub-committee will be held at the James Hutton Institute in Dundee on 3 April 2015.   Programme Full programme can be found by clicking the link below:
January 1, 2015
The Scottish Society for Crop Research (SSCR) Cereals Sub-committee will hold its Winter Meeting at the James Hutton Institute in Dundee. In the UN "Year of the Soil" the theme is "Making the most of your Soil and Cultivations...
December 12, 2014
Potatoes in Practice is the largest field-based potato event in the UK. The event brings together variety trials, research and trade exhibits in one place making it an essential date in the potato industry calendar.
October 10, 2014
Researchers from the James Hutton Institute and Kenyan institutions have successfully introduced popular UK potato cultivar Mayan Gold in Kenya, in an effort to boost food security and strengthen potato production systems in the East African...
August 8, 2014
The James Hutton Institute is once again supporting the Dundee Flower and Food Festival and will have a display and talks in the new Food Discovery Marquee. Our display will be looking at the past, present and future of plant and agricultural...
August 8, 2014
Potato growers and industry representatives will be able to learn about novel research being conducted at the James Hutton Institute and how it contributes to Integrated Pest Management at Potatoes in Practice on 7 August 2014.
June 6, 2014
Two researchers based at the James Hutton Institute have been recognised for their contribution to plant science. Professor Philip J. White has been listed by Thomson Reuters as one of 176 Highly Cited Researchers in Plant and Animal Science over...
March 3, 2014
Researchers at the James Hutton Institute and partner organisations are working to understand how seed potato becomes infected with Pectobacterium atrosepticum, the pathogen that causes blackleg; a disease that has been one of the most...
March 3, 2014
The Scottish Society for Crop Research (SSCR) Potato Sub-committee will hold its Winter Meeting at the James Hutton Institute in Dundee. Basis points have been applied for and will be available to attendees on the day. Programme PDF file:...
December 12, 2013
Potatoes in Practice is the largest field-based potato event in the UK. The event brings together variety trials, research and trade exhibits in one place making it an essential date in the potato industry calendar.
August 8, 2013
The hot climates of Egypt, Israel and Southern Europe may have seemed like a world away to UK potato growers gathered at Balruddery Farm near Dundee on 8 August for the country’s largest potato field event but the experiences of growers...
August 8, 2013
The James Hutton Institute has secured more than £850,000 in new funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council who, in conjunction with the Scottish Government, has awarded £3 million to four projects to...
August 8, 2013
Practical ways in which the potato genome is being used to help breeders and the industry improve the potato crop will be showcased at Potatoes in Practice this Thursday (8 August), the UK’s biggest potato field event.
July 7, 2013
The James Hutton Institute will undertake a £382,000 BBSRC-funded project to study genetic mutation in potato; which could lead to improved varieties of one of the world’s most important foods. By 2020 it is estimated that more...
July 7, 2012
Background and rationale
November 11, 2011

Biotechnology Facility (Research Page)

Potato and barley transformation The Biotechnology facility at the James Hutton Institute is a technical resource helping develop and deploy stable transformation (GM) and gene editing (GE) in crop species. We work collaboratively with research...
March 3, 2011

Lesley Torrance (Member of Staff)

Lesley is Executive Director of Science at the James Hutton Institute and Professor of Biology at the University of St Andrews. She was appointed member of CGIAR advisory panel, the International Science for Development Council, in 2019 and...
March 3, 2011

David Cooke (Member of Staff)

First Class Honours Graduate in Agricultural Botany, University of Wales Aberystwyth. PhD Plant Pathology, University of Wales Aberystwyth. Employed at the Institute since 1994 as a project leader in plant pathology.

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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.