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SEFARI

SEFARI is the collective of six Scottish world-leading Research Institutes working across the spectrum of environment, land, food, agriculture and communities – all topics which affect how we live our lives, in Scotland and beyond.

March 3, 2023
Join scientists at the James Hutton Institute in Dundee on Thursday 27th July for the 2023 edition of Fruit for the Future, the annual showcase of soft fruit research including scientific presentations, outdoor demonstrations, walks through...
August 8, 2022
Today marks International Beer Day, a global celebration of beer, taking place in pubs, breweries, and backyards all over the world. Behind great tasting beer is great science, like the barley research taking place at the James Hutton Institute...
August 8, 2022
The James Hutton Institute, world leaders in soil science, will be showcasing a number of soil research initiatives at the 22nd World Congress of Soil Science (WCSS) which is taking place in Glasgow from 31 July - 5 August, this year the theme is...
July 7, 2022
The 2022 edition of Fruit for the Future, the annual showcase of soft fruit research presented by the James Hutton Institute and the Scottish Society for Crop Research (SSCR), is taking place on Thursday 21st July at the Institute's Dundee...
June 6, 2022
After a two-year enforced hiatus, the James Hutton Institute’s return to the Royal Highland Show was a success: a steady stream of visitors visited the marquee including farmers, research partners and families, as well as a significant...
June 6, 2022
TO ENTER BEST SOIL IN SHOW 2022, PLEASE REVIEW AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING FORMS:
June 6, 2022
The thin layer of soil surrounding plant roots, an interface that scientists define as the rhizosphere, is a habitat for a multitude of microorganisms collectively referred to as the rhizosphere microbiota. In analogy with the microbiota...
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
The Royal Highland Show (23-26 June 2022, Ingliston, Edinburgh EH28 8NB) is one of Scotland's most iconic events, and while it showcases the very best of farming food and rural life, it could be argued that it is actually a science, research...
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
Two hundred and ninety-six years ago, one of the most influential Scots ever was born: a man whose influence on our understanding of the earth was revolutionary at the time and has unlocked vast areas of related knowledge since then. He...
May 5, 2022
Research by James Hutton Institute and Heriot-Watt University scientists has carried out the first review of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Scotland’s waters.
May 5, 2022
The Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Kate Forbes MSP, visited the James Hutton Institute’s Dundee campus to discuss the National Strategy for Economic Transformation, which sets out a clear commitment to support a...
May 5, 2022
A series of Fascination of Plants Day events across Aberdeen will take place from the 14th to the 21st of May to highlight the impact of climate change on the natural world, featuring a range of activities from plant sales to sessions...
May 5, 2022
A Hutton scientific study summarising six years of agricultural research undertaken for the Scottish Government highlights the impact of the use of ecological principles in agriculture on sustainability, resilience, and provision of ecosystem...
April 4, 2022
Dr Mike Rivington, a senior scientist within the James Hutton Institute’s Information and Computational Sciences department, has contributed evidence to a session of the Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee of the...
April 4, 2022
From one little seed planted in soil, many things can arise: our food, feed, paper, medicines, chemicals, energy and an enjoyable landscape – pretty much everything we need to survive on this planet. On Wednesday 18th May, join scientific...
April 4, 2022
Forensic scientists from across Europe are gathering in Aberdeen for the ninth meeting of the Animal, Plant and Soil Traces (APST) Working Group of the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI). Around 50 experts are expected...
April 4, 2022
Arable Scotland, the country’s premier arable event featuring knowledge and solutions for the arable industry, returns to the field in 2022 with a focus on net-zero carbon emissions and markets. The one-day event will take place at...
April 4, 2022
The Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, Mairi Gougeon MSP, visited the James Hutton Institute’s Glensaugh Research Farm, near Laurencekirk, site of our Climate-Positive Farming Initiative. Climate-...
April 4, 2022
The flux tower network in Scotland is to be extended and enhanced to better understand the carbon and climate impact of restoring peatlands. Supported by over £1 million of Scottish Government funding, three additional flux towers to be...
March 3, 2022
New research by James Hutton Institute scientists and partner organisations explores the use of sustainable farming practices in Scotland and how these support long-term land productivity and resilience amongst agricultural businesses.
March 3, 2022
Scotland’s Centre of Expertise for Waters, the Hydro Nation International Centre and the James Hutton Institute joined the annual global celebration of World Water Day with a call to realise the benefits of Scotland’s waters, during...
March 3, 2022
A study carried out by researchers at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU), with the James Hutton Institute and the Environmental Research Institute (University of the Highlands and Islands) delivered the first national assessment of the emerging...
March 3, 2022
Join scientists at the James Hutton Institute in Dundee on Thursday 21 July for the 2022 edition of Fruit for the Future, the annual showcase of soft fruit research including scientific presentations, outdoors demonstrations and walks through...
March 3, 2022
Arthropod pests are estimated to destroy up to 20% of annual crop production worldwide. In recent years, key pesticides used in soft fruit production have been withdrawn, leaving crops vulnerable to attack. Researchers have been developing...
March 3, 2022
The annual Hutton Postgraduate Student Event, which showcases the excellent science being undertaken by postgraduate students at the James Hutton Institute, returned to its traditional in-person format at the Birnam Arts and Conference Centre,...
March 3, 2022
Aberdeen Scientific Services Laboratory (ASSL), which is operated by Aberdeen City Council, is to relocate from Old Aberdeen to the James Hutton Institute's Craigiebuckler site.  The move is expected to consolidate the city's...
March 3, 2022
The James Hutton Institute and the Macaulay Development Trust have announced plans for the evolution of the Institute’s Craigiebuckler campus in Aberdeen and will hold a public consultation to allow people to learn more about the vision for...
February 2, 2022
Agar, a jelly-like substance obtained from the cell walls of some species of red algae, is used in food production as a gelling and thickening agent, but it is not currently produced in the UK and has a large carbon footprint. An innovative...
February 2, 2022
The James Hutton Institute has received an accolade for its commitment to the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people in the workplace. This year, the Institute received a Bronze award from Stonewall, the world’s second-...
February 2, 2022
A renowned group of barley scientists, including researchers from the James Hutton Institute and the University of Dundee, has issued an open call to ‘galvanize’ the international barley research community from the ground up by...
February 2, 2022
The latest issue of Hutton Highlights, our quarterly review showing how Hutton science is driving the sustainable use of land and natural resources, is now available from our Hutton Highlights pages. Our February 2022 issue includes:
February 2, 2022
By Pete Iannetta
February 2, 2022
The Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, Mairi Gougeon MSP, got a vision of climate-positive agriculture and future farming technologies when she visited the James Hutton Institute in Dundee. Ms Gougeon...
February 2, 2022
Dr Mike Rivington, a senior scientist within the James Hutton Institute’s Information and Computational Sciences department, has contributed evidence to a session of the Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee of the...
January 1, 2022
The potential of grain legume crops such as faba beans to harness the nitrogen present in air into biologically useful forms is well known, but how much of an opportunity does it present for farmers wanting to pursue net-zero agriculture? A...
January 1, 2022
The James Hutton Institute has joined Angus Council, Agrico UK, Arbikie Distillery and SoilEssentials Ltd in signing a letter of intent to develop a Centre for Agricultural Sustainable Innovation (CASI) headquartered in Forfar, Angus. The CASI...
January 1, 2022
Beavers could make an important contribution to improving the condition of Scotland’s rivers, including helping to improve water quality and limiting the effects of drought, new research from the University of Aberdeen and the James Hutton...
January 1, 2022
The James Hutton Institute and Robert Gordon University (RGU) are carrying out research on how COVID-19 restrictions impacted behaviours around food related practices. The study will look at the nature and extent of these changes across different...
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...
January 1, 2022
Society needs to re-think its relationship with the natural world if we are to avoid the worst consequences of climate change and pandemics, the James Hutton Institute has urged in the 2022 episode of BBC Scotland’s Resolutions programme...
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...
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...
December 12, 2021
By Mike Rivington Will there be turkeys for Christmas? In spite of some likely strains due to Brexit, labour shortages and the familiar yet ever-evolving disruptions of COVID-19, the answer is a fairly safe yes. Yet this is perhaps surprising....
December 12, 2021
Soil seed banks are a hidden stock for plant diversity and are critical for the recovery of disturbed ecosystems. A new study co-authored by Prof Robin Pakeman, a senior scientist within the James Hutton Institute’s Ecological Sciences...
December 12, 2021
By Ken Loades, Roy Neilson, Tracy Valentine and Nikki Baggaley COP26 highlighted more than ever that we must reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and become more sustainable before it’s too late. Soil is a key component in this battle and...
December 12, 2021
A report by a multi-stakeholder working group of the European Technology Platform ‘Plants for the Future’, featuring contributions from James Hutton Institute scientists, has identified three principles that will help transition...
November 11, 2021
New research published today by the James Hutton Institute has found that the shift to virtual meetings and events due to the Covid-19 pandemic improved accessibility to knowledge exchange, networking, and organisations for women working on farms...
November 11, 2021
Diversification of crop systems provides great opportunities to make food production more sustainable and resilient but also faces challenges along the whole value chain. A session at the World Biodiversity Forum (26th June to 1st July 2022) co-...
November 11, 2021
Diseases affecting different UK tree species have been shown to have a multiplying effect on the loss of associated biodiversity, new research by James Hutton Institute scientists and partners in the UK and Portugal has found. In a study...
November 11, 2021
The Dee Catchment Partnership, a collective of organisations tasked with looking after the river Dee catchment in north east Scotland, has won the Nature and Climate Action award at the RSPB Nature of Scotland Awards. The highest accolade for...
November 11, 2021
New opportunities for PhD projects from the James Hutton Institute's annual competitive joint-studentship and EASTBIO DTP 3 programme are now being advertised on FindAPhD.com. PhD projects are funded jointly between the Institute and...
November 11, 2021
How do climate negotiations take place and why is progress so slow? How can governments, scientists and activists work together to tackle the climate emergency for everyone's benefit? These questions, and many others, were at the heart of the...
October 10, 2021
Genetic Improvement Networks (GINs) provide a key link between industry and academia to ensure that genetic research addresses the needs of the industry, and help tackle longer-term issues through breeding efforts. The James Hutton Institute and...
October 10, 2021
The latest issue of Hutton Highlights, our quarterly review showing how Hutton science is driving the sustainable use of land and natural resources, is now available from our Hutton Highlights pages. Our October 2021 issue includes:
October 10, 2021
The Macaulay Development Trust with the James Hutton Institute are delighted to host the 43rd TB Macaulay Lecture, live and online on Tuesday 2nd November 2021 at 19:00 GMT, from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. Hosted by acclaimed...
October 10, 2021
Researchers from the James Hutton Institute are seeking views from anyone involved in habitat restoration or creation, from across the UK. Through a survey devised in partnership with Scotland’s Plant Health Centre and NatureScot, Hutton...
October 10, 2021
After a year’s break in 2020, the Macaulay Development Trust and the James Hutton Institute are delighted to host the 43rd TB Macaulay Lecture. Coinciding this year with the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in...
October 10, 2021
An industry-wide consortium, led by producer organisation G’s Growers and supported by the James Hutton Institute, the University of Dundee and James Hutton Limited, has won a UKRI-BBSRC collaborative training partnership award (...
October 10, 2021
Chris Scott-Park, of Portnellan Farm, on the banks of Loch Lomond, has been chosen as the winner of the final NEWBIE UK award for New Entrant of the Year for 2021. Originally a successful organic beef business and winners of the James Hutton...
October 10, 2021
Dr Ruth Wilson and Dr Jonathan Hopkins, social scientists within the James Hutton Institute’s Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences department, have contributed evidence to a session of the Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural...
October 10, 2021
The next generation of barley researchers have received a multi-million investment through the Barley Industrial Training Network (BARIToNE) programme, a Collaborative Training Partnership (CTP) led by the Scotch Whisky Research Institute, the...
October 10, 2021
The National Soil Archive of Scotland, held at the Aberdeen campus of the James Hutton Institute, has added two large samples of Dopplerite to its collection by gift of the executors of Mr William Filshie. Dopplerite is a naturally occurring, but...
September 9, 2021
Bioinformaticians at the James Hutton Institute are supporting a 10-year, US$58m initiative launched by the Crop Trust and the Government of Norway to improve global food security and climate resilience. The newly announced BOLD (Biodiversity...
September 9, 2021
The James Hutton Institute has welcomed plans unveiled by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to pave the way to enable use of gene editing technologies in England. Gene editing can unlock benefits to nature, the...
September 9, 2021
While urban greenspace is often associated with improved mental health, new research has found these benefits are dependent on the characteristics of the population using the space, and their proximity to it. Researchers at the James Hutton...
September 9, 2021
An all-female team of scientists from the James Hutton Institute travelled to Shetland to install the most northerly micrometeorological station in the UK to monitor greenhouse gas emissions from eroded peatland. The station, set up on a site...
September 9, 2021
Dr Rebekka Artz, a senior research scientist within the James Hutton Institute’s Ecological Sciences department, has contributed evidence to an inquiry by the Science and Technology Committee of the House of Lords into the role of nature-...
September 9, 2021
David Beattie, a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) researcher exploring how seaweed-based feeds can help achieve benefits in Scotland’s premium animal feeds sector, has been shortlisted for a Knowledge Transfer Network “Best of the...
September 9, 2021
The partnership in charge of looking after the river Dee catchment in north east Scotland is a finalist in the Nature of Scotland Awards. Shortlisted for the Climate Action Award, the Hutton-supported Dee Catchment Partnership has been recognised...
September 9, 2021
Celebrating the inspirational people, projects, groups and organisations working hard to protect Scotland’s precious natural heritage, the shortlist has now been announced for the Nature of Scotland Awards 2021, including finalists for the...
September 9, 2021
As the eyes of the world turn to Glasgow for the upcoming COP26, the James Hutton Institute has supported the recommendations issued by the Climate Emergency Response Group (CERG) in a report launched today, which outlines a series of key actions...
August 8, 2021
An estimated £1.2 billion of Scotland’s buildings, transport infrastructure, cultural and natural heritage may be at risk of coastal erosion by 2050, according to new research funded by the Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW), a...
August 8, 2021
Building work has now begun on the International Barley Hub (IBH) and Advanced Plant Growth Centre (APGC) at the James Hutton Institute. The two plant science innovation centres are being supported by £45 million from the UK Government...
August 8, 2021
Large-scale conservation work across the Dee catchment has been given the green light thanks to a major cash injection of over half a million pounds. A variety of projects comprising floodplain restoration, woodland expansion and peatland...
August 8, 2021
Researchers at the James Hutton Institute have responded to the latest international report on climate change by emphasising their continued determination to address the greatest challenge humanity has ever faced.
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...
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...
August 8, 2021
Dr Ruth Mitchell, a Plant Soil Ecologist at the James Hutton Institute’s Ecological Sciences department, has been appointed as a member of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), Trees and Woodlands Science...
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...
July 7, 2021
A new website which brings together thousands of research publications, dating back centuries to the present day, has been launched by six Scottish Government funded partners.  
July 7, 2021
Researchers at the James Hutton Institute have welcomed the publication of a report on the UK’s National Food Strategy, which calls on the UK Government to commit to a landmark package of reforms to build a better food system for a...
July 7, 2021
New social research conducted by the James Hutton Institute for the Scottish Government’s National Islands Plan paints a mixed picture of life in Scotland’s islands: while most respondents rate their local environment very highly and...
July 7, 2021
New research on the attitudes of people working in the UK dairy sector has revealed that many dairy farmers believe cows should graze for part of the year. Findings of the ‘Cows eat grass, don’t they?’ study, funded by the...
July 7, 2021
Join scientists at the James Hutton Institute in Dundee on Thursday 15th July for the 2021 edition of Fruit for the Future, the annual showcase of soft fruit research including scientific presentations, outdoors demonstrations and walks through...
July 7, 2021
Scientists from all over the world have come together in the 6th Forum Carpaticum to present their research and discuss the sustainable development of the Carpathian region and mountain areas more generally. The event was organised online by the...
July 7, 2021
Join scientists at the James Hutton Institute in Dundee on Thursday 15th July for the 2021 edition of Fruit for the Future, the annual showcase of soft fruit research including scientific presentations, outdoors demonstrations and walks through...
June 6, 2021
The partnership tasked with looking after the River Dee catchment has published a summary of its achievements over the last 15 years and is seeking public comment on priorities for future projects. Established in 2003 with the support of the...
June 6, 2021
The James Hutton Institute was delighted to welcome a visit by His Excellency Mr Manoah Esipisu, High Commissioner of Kenya to the UK, and his team to our Dundee site. The visit, set up through James Hutton Limited’s membership of the...
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
The latest seminar of the International Barley Hub took place on Tuesday 22nd June and discussed Barley Varieties - The Recommendation System. It was led by Dr Paul Gosling and chaired by George Lawrie, IBH. Barley breeders are...
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...
June 6, 2021
International Barley Hub scientists have been awarded a prestigious International Partnership award from BBSRC to strengthen the link between world leading research teams in the UK and Europe. The aim of the grant is to create new working...
June 6, 2021
Arable Scotland, the premier event for the Scottish arable industry, returns on 29th June 2021. Now in its third year, the event brings together the key players in food production, academia and farming to discuss key issues and provide a wealth...
June 6, 2021
The James Hutton Institute is delighted to support one of seven Climate Beacons that are taking shape across Scotland in the run-up to and beyond the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference that’s happening in Glasgow this November.
June 6, 2021
The latest issue of Hutton Highlights, our quarterly review showing how Hutton science is driving the sustainable use of land and natural resources, is now available from our Hutton Highlights pages. Our June 2021 issue, published on what would...
June 6, 2021
The James Hutton Institute has announced the appointment of Professor Chris Gilligan to its Board of Directors, effective from the 1st of June. Professor Gilligan is Head of Epidemiology and Modelling Group in the Department of Plant Sciences at...
May 5, 2021
The critical role soil can play in forensic investigations has again been highlighted by the involvement of the James Hutton Institute's soil forensics team in a high-profile case, this time the inquiry by Police Scotland into the...
May 5, 2021
Plant scientists at the James Hutton Institute and the University of Dundee have won funding to establish a partnership with world-class researchers in Australia. This will allow the leading research organisations to pool their expertise towards...
May 5, 2021
Undergraduate student Johanna Maria Würtz, who undertook a 1,150-mile hike alongside her Shetland pony Hechizo to take on a barley science placement at the James Hutton Institute in Dundee, has completed her work in Scotland and plans to...
May 5, 2021
An international team of scientists including Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland (BioSS) has discovered the perfect cocktail of physical activity that could help live a healthier, longer life.
May 5, 2021
The historical ‘forest gardens’ of Guadeloupe, an overseas region of France, have provided the inspiration for a research group studying the feasibility of small-scale production systems in the area. The region is one of the world...
May 5, 2021
A new research project involving 39 partners from 19 countries and including James Hutton Institute scientists has received €10 million from the European Union. The Horizon 2020 funded project FireEUrisk, launching this month, aims to shift...
May 5, 2021
The partnership tasked with looking after the river Dee catchment in north east Scotland is a finalist in the Inspiring Aberdeenshire Awards. Shortlisted for the Beautiful Aberdeenshire Environmental Award, the Dee Catchment Partnership’s...
May 5, 2021
Legume plants can make ‘smart’ management decisions when it comes to interacting with their symbiotic bacterial partners to harness nitrogen from the atmosphere, a research team including a James Hutton Institute scientist has shown,...
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...
May 5, 2021
From one little seed, planted into soil, many green lives can arise – from small herbs up to big trees, or from ornamental flowers to substantial crops which all animals and humans need to survive on this planet. Plant biologists estimate...
April 4, 2021
In the UK the addition of lime to agricultural land was strongly encouraged by Government subsidy payments to farmers, but since subsidies ceased in the late 1970’s the application of lime has declined with subsequent acidification of many...
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...
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
A partnership agreement has been signed between Utah State University and the James Hutton Institute to promote cooperation in agricultural and environmental research, with emphasis on climate change issues. The agreement was signed by...
April 4, 2021
How will food production respond to the effects of COVID-19 in the next 18 months? Which sectors are likely to experience change? These questions are at the heart of research examining how best to protect the UK’s food and nutrition...
April 4, 2021
An industry team led by agritech specialist Liberty Produce and supported by the James Hutton Institute has won Innovate UK funding to develop innovative hybrid farming and greenhouse technologies to work towards Singapore’s food security...
April 4, 2021
Researchers from the James Hutton Institute are deploying aerial mapping technology to collect data on the natural restoration of peatland at the Queen’s Balmoral Estate in Scotland. A survey aircraft equipped with advanced laser scanners...
April 4, 2021
The Worshipful Company of Fruiterers has presented its 2021 Matthew Mack Award to soft fruit scientist Dr Rex Brennan, an Honorary Associate of the James Hutton Institute. This triennial award is to recognise distinguished achievements in...
April 4, 2021
A new mobile app has been launched to provide farmers, land managers and the public with a quick, easy way to learn about soil erosion in Scotland and contribute their own records and images to improve our current understanding and to...
April 4, 2021
Even if it has not yet been detected north of the border, Scottish growers must take adequate steps to monitor growing areas for the brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys), a new potential threat to the UK’s agricultural,...
April 4, 2021
A research project examining the potential of using crushed basic silicate rocks as a soil input, for enhanced carbon sequestration and soil biodiversity, has reported positive results.
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
Celebrating the inspirational people, projects, groups and organisations working hard to protect Scotland’s precious environment, the tenth Nature of Scotland Awards are open for applications until Tuesday 14th June, with the James Hutton...
March 3, 2021
Professor Philip J. White, a research specialist in plant ecophysiology at the James Hutton Institute, has received the honour of being elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) has announced 87...
March 3, 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has required many people to adapt their lifestyles and livelihoods to mitigate the spread and impact of the virus. A new report by SEFARI researchers at the James Hutton Institute and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)...
March 3, 2021
Volunteers are wanted for the first on-the-ground national survey to shed light on the distribution and numbers of Scottish mountain hares. The survey, which is launched today and will carry on throughout 2021, is calling on hillwalkers,...
March 3, 2021
The International Barley Hub and the Advanced Plant Growth Centre, two flagship innovation projects supported through a transformational capital investment of £45m by the UK Government and £17m by the Scottish Government via the Tay...
March 3, 2021
The productivity of cereal crops could get a boost in the future thanks to the discovery of new roles for a master gene regulator that influences the development of barley florets, furthering the understanding of grain development including...
March 3, 2021
The James Hutton Institute has welcomed the publication of the new 10-year UK Plant Science Research Strategy. The document provides a framework for research and skills development to ensure UK plant science can play a strong role in solving...
March 3, 2021
Scientists of the James Hutton Institute, working alongside partners at China Agriculture University, have discovered novel ways in which arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, bacteria and plant roots interact to influence the transfer of nutrients to...
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...
March 3, 2021
The annual Hutton Postgraduate Student Event, which showcases the excellent science being undertaken by postgraduate students at the James Hutton Institute, took place online on 2, 3 and 4 March 2021. This event provides a valuable learning...
March 3, 2021
A recent study published in Conservation Letters co-authored by a James Hutton Institute ecologist has investigated the number of women and the geographic distribution among the 1051 top-publishing authors in 13 leading journals in ecology and...
February 2, 2021
How can we produce a Europe that is spatially and socially just? Is it possible to discuss cohesion and territorial development policy without considering localities and local experiences? The RELOCAL policy conference (15th March) will focus on...
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
What are the lessons we can all learn from land reform in Scotland, and what are the challenges still faced by our rural communities? Dr Annie McKee, a social researcher at the James Hutton Institute, will tackle these and other questions during...
February 2, 2021
The advantages of Flapjack, the James Hutton Institute’s multi-platform application providing interactive visualizations of high-throughput genotype data, were demonstrated at a recent workshop organised with the purpose of helping wheat...
February 2, 2021
Tomnah’a Market Garden, a community-focused enterprise located at Comrie Croft in Perthshire, has been declared the winner of the NEWBIE UK award for New Entrant Farm Business of the Year for 2020. Tomnah’a is run by Cristy Gilbert,...
February 2, 2021
The latest issue of Hutton Highlights, our quarterly review showing how Hutton science is driving the sustainable use of land and natural resources, is now available from our Hutton Highlights pages. Read in our February 2021 issue:
February 2, 2021
The James Hutton Institute has announced the appointment of directors for three flagship research and innovation initiatives: the International Barley Hub (IBH) and the Advanced Plant Growth Centre (APGC), both based in Dundee, and the...
February 2, 2021
To mark the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the James Hutton Institute is highlighting its ‘Women in Science’ booklet, which spotlights the roles of 21 of its 204 female scientists. The collection illustrates some of...
February 2, 2021
By Pete Iannetta and Alison Karley, Ecological Sciences, James Hutton Institute The COVID-19 pandemic has stretched the UK’s systems of food supply, raising further questions about the adaptability of global food systems in a crisis - in...
February 2, 2021
Professor Lorna Dawson, Head of Soil Forensics at the James Hutton Institute, has been recognised as Soil Forensic Expert Witness of the Year in the Corporate INTL 2021 Global Awards.  The awards are the result of an extensive review,...
January 1, 2021
As part of the EU Horizon 2020 research project DIVERSify, researchers of the James Hutton Institute and partner institutions have been working on investigating the viability of species mixture cropping as an alternative to crop monoculture....
January 1, 2021
In support of the James Hutton Institute’s Climate-Positive Farming initiative at Glensaugh, which explores a transformational approach to farming that achieves net-zero or even negative carbon emissions whilst protecting natural assets and...
January 1, 2021
The James Hutton Institute has welcomed plans unveiled by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to consult on gene editing, a technique which could unlock benefits to nature, the environment and help farmers with crops...
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
The potential of innovative mixed-species crop systems to increase the sustainability of food production will be under the spotlight at an online conference focussing on the latest findings on intercropping research from lab to field.
December 12, 2020
River corridors exemplify places in busy farmed landscapes where researchers and land managers can use environmental measures for multiple benefits. These areas often fringe the main working points of the farm but are important interface zones...
December 12, 2020
The James Hutton Institute has today welcomed the signing of the Tay Cities Deal, hailing it as a huge vote of confidence in Tayside, while also highlighting the urgency of innovation projects funded by the Deal including the International Barley...
December 12, 2020
Mountain hares in Scotland show increasing camouflage mismatch due to less snowy winters, according to a new study carried out by an international research team including the James Hutton Institute. Mountain hares are one of multiple species...
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...
December 12, 2020
Dr Jorunn Bos, a principal investigator in the Division of Plant Sciences of the University of Dundee at the James Hutton Institute, has been awarded a prestigious European Research Council Consolidator grant worth almost €2 million to...
December 12, 2020
The James Hutton Institute has been awarded funding from the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) to undertake a feasibility study for a green-hydrogen-powered farming community around its Glensaugh farm....
December 12, 2020
By Pete Iannetta, Alison Karley, Cathy Hawes and David Michie
December 12, 2020
A scientific team featuring researchers of the James Hutton Institute and Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland (BioSS) has scooped the Innovation Award at the prestigious RSPB Nature of Scotland Awards 2020. Led by Royal Botanic Garden...
November 11, 2020
Scotland boasts a hugely varied coastline and a rich offering of inland waters in both rural and urban settings which host an amazing array of riches, come in all shapes and sizes, and are greatly valued and cherished by communities and visitors...
November 11, 2020
An international research team including scientists from the James Hutton Institute and the University of Dundee has reached a milestone on the way to unravelling the species-wide genetic diversity of domesticated barley. With the complete genome...
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,...
November 11, 2020
We hear about ‘climate change’ and ‘biodiversity loss’ all the time these days. We hear considerably less about how to tackle them, so it’s time to shout about a project that does just that. The restoration of the...
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?...
November 11, 2020
New opportunities for PhD projects at the James Hutton Institute are now being advertised on FindAPhD.com. PhD projects are being offered by all five of our science departments covering many aspects of our work. All projects are funded jointly...
November 11, 2020
A new hydrological study co-authored by James Hutton Institute PhD student Camilla Negri and colleagues based in Italy has shown that winter flooding, the application of water onto agricultural lands to recharge groundwater aquifers during...
November 11, 2020
The global use of personal protection equipment (PPE) has skyrocketed due to COVID-19, propelling the industry to revenues of more than £8bn in the UK alone, and although a coronavirus vaccine now seems closer, PPE is likely to remain a...
November 11, 2020
Professor Maria Nijnik, a senior scientist at the James Hutton Institute’s Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences department, has been appointed a member of the UK Expert Committee on Forest Science. The Committee was established...
October 10, 2020
How is population decline affecting island communities? What opportunities are there for sustainable economic development on Scotland’s islands? These questions, and many others, are at the heart of research being carried out by social...
October 10, 2020
Are you the UK's best NEWBIE farmer? The James Hutton Institute, as part of the EU-funded NEWBIE project (New Entrant netWork: Business models for Innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience in European agriculture) is calling for...
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
Research supported by Scotland’s Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW) has successfully pinpointed fragments of coronavirus’ ribonucleic acid (RNA) in local waste water samples across the country. Scientists at the Scottish...
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...
October 10, 2020
The latest issue of Hutton Highlights, our quarterly review showing how Hutton science is driving the sustainable use of land and natural resources, is now available from our Hutton Highlights pages. Read in our October 2020 issue:
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...
September 9, 2020
The James Hutton Institute and farming technology company Liberty Produce have been awarded UKRI funding to address the challenges of climate change and the food production yield-gap through an ambitious new project, which seeks to develop...
September 9, 2020
A pioneering analysis by James Hutton Institute social scientists explores the potential and value of applying a ‘natural capital’ approach to the land-based business of the Institute’s Glensaugh farm, where the aim is to...
September 9, 2020
Social scientists at the James Hutton Institute have developed a novel method to estimate future demographic change in Scotland’s sparsely populated areas, by considering geographical differences in employment structures and regional...
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...
September 9, 2020
Mountains cover 22% of the world's land surface and are home to about 915 million people. In Europe, mountain ranges cover 36% of the European area and play an essential role in the provision of public and private goods. Despite their...
September 9, 2020
A new diagnostic technique has been developed by Scottish scientists to help in the early detection of sheep scab, marking a significant development towards improved monitoring and control of the parasite. This was made possible through an...
September 9, 2020
As part of wide-ranging efforts to provide Scotland’s land managers, agencies and the public with open access resources, the James Hutton Institute has progressively been digitising the published one inch to the mile (1:63,360) and 1:50,000...
September 9, 2020
Scotland’s plants underpin the health of the nation, but plant pests and diseases can cause major economic, environmental, and social costs. Increased global movements of plants and soil, coupled with the effects of climate change, are...
September 9, 2020
International Barley Hub scientists at the James Hutton Institute, working with colleagues in the UK and Australia, have gained further insight into key genes responsible for grain composition, a process facilitated by using CRISPR gene editing...
September 9, 2020
Despite encouraging progress in several areas, the health of the natural world is suffering badly and getting worse. Eight transformative changes are, therefore, urgently needed to ensure human wellbeing and save the planet, the UN warns in a...
September 9, 2020
A straightened burn in Deeside will be restored to a meandering stream channel this month, in a bid to enrich habitats for wildlife and improve the natural environment.
September 9, 2020
A new review paper by Hutton PhD student Camilla Negri, working alongside colleagues in Italy and China, shows that food waste has significant potential to replace crops in the production of energy and fertilisers through anaerobic digestion....
August 8, 2020
Are you involved in growing, processing or selling pulse-based products? A newly launched Rural Innovation Support Service (RISS) group is set to explore the potential of pulse supply chains in Scotland and associated challenges and possibilities...
August 8, 2020
Dr Alice Hague, a social scientist based at the James Hutton Institute’s Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences department in Aberdeen, has been awarded a fellowship by the Place-based Climate Action Network (PCAN) to study climate...
August 8, 2020
Coinciding with their launch of World Sustainable Spirits Day today (Fri 28th August), Scottish distillery Arbikie has introduced a second addition to their climate-positive spirit range: Nàdar Vodka, crafted from the pea-based spirit...
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
A new raspberry with exceptional fruit quality and high productivity, plus resistance to deadly disease root rot, was introduced today at the start of industry event Fruit for the Future 2020. The new rasp, named Glen Mor, was bred by James...
August 8, 2020
Researchers at the James Hutton Institute and partner institutions are developing a suite of digital resources to help farmers harness the potential of crop mixtures to improve the sustainability of their production systems.
August 8, 2020
The latest UK climate projections show a trend towards drier and warmer summers, with the west of Scotland set to become wetter and the east drier, plus more frequent instances of heavy rainfall. New research by the James Hutton Institute shows...
August 8, 2020
The James Hutton Institute is pleased to support the National Biofilms Innovation Centre's #BiofilmAware campaign, which aims to raise awareness of biofilms and their importance for our everyday lives.
August 8, 2020
The Irish dairy sector has undergone a period of growth since milk quotas were removed in 2015. However, while dairy farmers have favourable views about expansion and grass-based systems, some farmers felt that volatile milk prices and increasing...
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,...
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...
August 8, 2020
The James Hutton Institute's bioinformatics group within the Department of Information and Computational Sciences has unveiled a new version of Germinate, the Institute's open-source, fully featured plant database infrastructure and...
August 8, 2020
The programme for Fruit for the Future 2020, the James Hutton Institute’s long-running soft fruit themed industry event, has been announced. Usually a well-attended physical gathering, this year FFF is going virtual with a week’s...
August 8, 2020
British and Indian experts are joining forces to investigate the impact that releasing antibiotics from antibiotic manufacturing into India’s waterways has on the spread of potentially fatal drug-resistant infections. An estimated 58,000...
August 8, 2020
The James Hutton Institute is taking part in a project led by the Scottish Organic Producers Association (SOPA), the UK’s only membership body owning Scottish organic standards, which will examine a new product that could help Scottish...
July 7, 2020
Professor Lorna Dawson of the James Hutton Institute has been recognised as Soil Forensic Expert Witness of the Year at Global Law Experts (GLE) Awards. Professor Dawson has more than 30 years’ experience in managing and conducting research...
July 7, 2020
This week, UK blackcurrant farmers are harvesting a groundbreaking new crop of berries that have been bred to cope with Britain’s changing climate. Named ‘Ben Lawers’, the new variety is the fruit of a longstanding partnership...
July 7, 2020
Planting huge numbers of trees to mitigate climate change is “not always the best strategy” – with some experimental sites in Scotland failing to increase carbon stocks, a new study co-authored by Hutton scientists has found....
July 7, 2020
The 2020 edition of Arable Scotland – Scotland’s newest field event focussing on arable crops - took place online on 2nd July and was very well received: hundreds of e-delegates visited the event’s Virtual Field Map on the day,...
July 7, 2020
In recognition of the ongoing COVID-19 situation, Fruit for the Future – the James Hutton Institute’s long-running soft fruit themed event – is going virtual for 2020, with updates about new research and varieties delivered...
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
Natural extracts from brown seaweeds native to the UK have been shown to have antiviral properties that could help stop the spread of viral diseases. Researchers at the James Hutton Institute and AIM-listed partners Byotrol plc have been awarded...
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...
June 6, 2020
Arable Scotland 2020, Scotland's newest field event focussing on arable crops, is taking place online on 2nd July 10:00 am and will major on alternative crops and new markets. Registration for the free event is open at www.arablescotland.org....
June 6, 2020
Research funded by Scotland’s Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW) is examining the potential of wastewater testing to help monitor the spread of coronavirus in Scotland.
June 6, 2020
The International Association for People-environment Studies (IAPS), currently presided by Dr Tony Craig, head of our Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences department, begins its conference today. The conference theme, “Running out of...
June 6, 2020
Professor Bob Ferrier, Director of Scotland's Hydro Nation International Centre at the James Hutton Institute, has appeared in OOSKAnews' latest aquaNOW Audience to discuss how HNIC is aiming to bring together a critical mass of the...
June 6, 2020
It is the year 2050. How has society reacted and adapted to climate change? A farming family have recorded three sets of video diaries. Dad (Jack), mum (Beth) and daughter (Sally). Each set of diaries decsribes life in different futures...
June 6, 2020
A research paper co-authored by Moredun Research Institute and Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland (BioSS) scientists has been named as joint winner of the 2019 3Rs prize, a prestigious award which recognises work that has had a major impact...
June 6, 2020
The James Hutton Institute today announced the appointment of Mr Graeme Dickson, former senior civil servant and energy specialist, to its Board of Directors as a non-executive director. Mr Dickson’s appointment is part of the normal...
June 6, 2020
The programme for Arable Scotland 2020, Scotland's newest field event focussing on arable crops, has been announced. This year's event is taking place online and will major on alternative crops and new markets.
June 6, 2020
Biodiversity —the variety of species, the genes within them, and the habitats in which they live— is threatened like never before. According to figures from the United Nations Environment Programme, we are on the verge of mass...
June 6, 2020
Lucozade Ribena Suntory (LRS) has invested over half a million pounds in a five-year project with the James Hutton Institute to develop new varieties of climate-resilient blackcurrant. LRS, which uses 90 per cent of the blackcurrants grown in...
June 6, 2020
Different groups of soil fungi control the interactions between seedlings and established trees and can play a key role in the development or restoration of forests, new research by James Hutton Institute scientists has found.
May 5, 2020
A social scientist of the James Hutton Institute has been appointed to the Scottish Government’s Sustainable Renewal Advisory Group, a collective which has been tasked with identifying opportunities to embed sustainability in Scotland...
May 5, 2020
Hyperspectral imaging, a growing area in remote sensing, holds the promise of providing a solution for crop monitoring over large areas, and scientists at the James Hutton Institute are working with partners in industry and academia to...
May 5, 2020
How have our eating, cooking and food purchasing habits changed due to the coronavirus pandemic and the resultant lockdown measures in the UK, Europe and much of the world? Researchers at the James Hutton Institute are part of an EU consortium...
May 5, 2020
International Barley Hub scientists at the James Hutton Institute, working with colleagues in the UK, Australia and China, have identified a natural variation in a gene that influences sodium content in barley crops, a finding which may help...
May 5, 2020
The latest issue of Hutton Highlights, our quarterly review showing how Hutton science is driving the sustainable use of land and natural resources, is now available from our Hutton Highlights pages. Read in our May 2020 issue:
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
The UK has seen an unprecedented upsurge in gardening during the current lockdown, and as the nation finds itself restricted in time spent outside of their homes, it is only natural to try and make the best of the green areas which we can access...
April 4, 2020
Researchers at the James Hutton Institute’s Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences group are exploring ways in which the use of interactive maps can help understand communities and small areas well below the national level.
April 4, 2020
Scotland's Environment Secretary has praised Scottish scientific institutions which normally focus on infectious diseases in livestock, environmental security and nutrition for offering support to tackle coronavirus (COVID-19). The Scottish...
April 4, 2020
Plant viruses can be just as devastating for agricultural crops and the security of food supply as some of the world's most notorious viruses, SARS-CoV-2 among them, have been for the human population.  Plant viruses can be useful as...
April 4, 2020
A High-Performance Computing (HPC) platform that will increase the pace of crop science and climate change research has been established by six leading UK research organisations.
April 4, 2020
James Hutton Institute employees have been helping efforts to provide frontline staff in Tayside and North East Scotland with much-needed personal protection equipment (PPE) during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. The Institute has previously...
April 4, 2020
MycoNourish, an ambitious new biotechnology company and spin-out of the James Hutton Institute, announced today the completion of a £150K funding round led by Techstart Ventures. The funding, combined with a recent £125K Higgs Award...
April 4, 2020
“Society's priorities must be human health and the containment of the COVID-19 pandemic, but we also need to be thinking ahead to the resumption of conservation practice and education. There is an opportunity here to remind people of...
March 3, 2020
In line with the latest COVID-19 guidance from the UK and Scottish governments, most of James Hutton Institute staff members are working remotely. Nevertheless, rest assured we're still available – the big challenges of our time,...
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
To mark World Water Day, the James Hutton Institute has taken part in an aquaNOW Audience on the topic of 'Water and the Climate Crisis'. aquaNOW Audiences are interactive panel discussions, produced by OOSKAnews, engaging international...
March 3, 2020
“Soil is life. We breathe the air, we drink the water and we eat the crops, we live on the soil. Soil stores twice as much carbon globally as the vegetation above ground and is a universe of microbial life working with plants to balance the...
March 3, 2020
Countries around the world must induce ‘social tipping’ dynamics by introducing far-reaching social and technological changes if they are to successfully decarbonise and prevent the devastating consequences of climate change, an...
March 3, 2020
An international research team featuring scientists from the James Hutton Institute is exploring the potential of biochar - a carbon-rich type of charcoal - to address air pollution, climate change, food security and farmers’ incomes in...
March 3, 2020
The annual Hutton Postgraduate Student Event, which showcases the excellent science being undertaken by postgraduate students at the James Hutton Institute, took place at the Birnam Arts and Conference Centre, Birnam, on Thursday 5th and Friday...
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...
March 3, 2020
The definition of ‘sustainable development’ and ‘community’, as described in the draft Right to Buy Land to Further Sustainable Development (Eligible Land, Specified Types of Area and Restrictions on Transfers,...
March 3, 2020
Professor Lesley Torrance, Director of Science at the James Hutton Institute, has been made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE), a body which contributes to the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of Scotland through the...
February 2, 2020
An international effort to develop maize crops that don’t need fertiliser has taken Hutton scientist Euan James to the deepest reaches of the Amazon River, on a quest for samples of root nodules from legume trees to help understand how...
February 2, 2020
By Professor Fiona Burnett, Co-chair, Arable Scotland
February 2, 2020
Dr Isabelle Colas, a scientist of the International Barley Hub, has been awarded a New Investigator grant worth £400k by UK Research and Innovation to explore a genetic pathway to improved barley crops, with the ultimate aim of helping...
February 2, 2020
An initiative supported by the James Hutton Institute has set its sights on developing methods for measuring soil carbon with a cost-effective commercial tool to help UK farmers tap into the carbon credits market. Agricarbon, led by Invergowrie...
February 2, 2020
The world’s first “climate-positive” gin has been created by UK scientists — using the humble garden pea. Five years of research at Abertay University and the James Hutton Institute in Scotland, in collaboration with...
February 2, 2020
A new report by Scotland’s Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW), highlights the profound and long-lasting impacts of flooding on individuals, businesses and communities in Scotland.
February 2, 2020
World Pulses Day (10th February) is a designated United Nations global event to recognise the importance of pulses (chickpeas, dry beans, lentils, dry peas and lupins among others) as a global food. Together with partners across Europe and the...
February 2, 2020
The latest issue of Hutton Highlights, our quarterly review showing how Hutton science is driving the sustainable use of land and natural resources, is now available from our Hutton Highlights pages. Read in our February 2020 issue:
February 2, 2020
Adopting a systems perspective is essential to help agriculture contribute to Europe’s own policy objectives and also international targets such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals. That was one of the key messages of a presentation...
January 1, 2020
The UK Committee on Climate Change’s new report's recognition of agroforestry and peatland restoration as key actions to help deliver the major shift in land use needed to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 has been...
January 1, 2020
A new report co-authored by a James Hutton Institute scientist and published in Nature Sustainability examines the potential impacts on food production of zero-budget natural farming, a farming system that is sweeping India. Zero-budget...
January 1, 2020
Dr Tony Craig has been appointed head of the Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences (SEGS) department, having previously been in the role on an interim basis jointly with Dr Alice Hague. Dr Craig will take the role on a permanent basis at the...
January 1, 2020
Professor Rob Brooker has been appointed to the leadership of the Ecological Sciences department at the James Hutton Institute, following the departure of Dr Helaina Black, who has become an Honorary Associate of the Institute. The group...
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...
December 12, 2019
The experiences of three Hutton members of staff who have chosen Scotland as a place to live and work have been highlighted by their designation as Talent Ambassadors by TalentScotland, part of Scottish Enterprise, the country’s economic...
December 12, 2019
Professor Alison Hester, a senior research scientist within the James Hutton Institute’s Ecological Sciences group in Aberdeen, has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society (RSGS) in recognition of...
December 12, 2019
Lynn Cassells and Sandra Baer, managers of Lynbreck Croft, have picked up the Nature of Scotland 2019 Food and Farming Award, sponsored by the James Hutton Institute, for their success in establishing a 150-acre mixed habitat croft enterprise...
December 12, 2019
‘Erosion’ is partly a natural process where soil particles are transported by our rivers and streams to the sea. ‘Accelerated erosion’ however, is caused by inappropriate land use or land management and this is a global...
December 12, 2019
Our soils are under threat from ever more intensive agriculture and climate changes. Extreme rainfall events such as Storm Frank in 2016 are predicted to become more common: a recent report from the Met Office suggested that there is a 34% chance...
November 11, 2019
James Hutton soft fruit breeder Dr Dorota Jarret has been appointed chair of the International Society for Horticultural Science’s (ISHS) Rubus and Ribes Species and Management working group - the first female scientist, and the...
November 11, 2019
Two researchers based at the James Hutton Institute in Dundee have been named as Highly Cited Researchers in the Highly Cited Researchers 2019 list published by the Web of Science Group.
November 11, 2019
The James Hutton Institute, as part of the EU-funded NEWBIE project (New Entrant netWork: Business models for Innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience in European agriculture), is again calling for applications for the 2019 NEWBIE Award, which...
November 11, 2019
Research by agricultural scientists in Scotland and beyond has shown that intercropping, i.e. growing two or more crop species together in ‘plant teams’, can improve agricultural sustainability by stabilising or increasing crop yields...
November 11, 2019
Scientists of the James Hutton Institute recently visited China on a fact-finding mission to see how the Institute might collaborate with the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) to improve soybean cropping in China through better...
November 11, 2019
A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO) and the James Hutton Institute to promote cooperation in research on plant crop and soil science, agriculture,...
November 11, 2019
A report published by the Expert Advisory Group on Migration and Population says that immigration schemes can be an ‘immediate and direct’ way to tackle depopulation in Scotland and warns of a fall in Scotland’s working-age...
November 11, 2019
Professor Bob Ferrier, Director of Scotland’s Centre of Expertise for Waters and honorary chair at the University of Dundee's Social Sciences School, and Professor Marian Scott, Professor of Environmental Statistics at the University of...
October 10, 2019
A new report commissioned by the Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW) estimates that the restoration of native oyster beds in Scotland has the potential to give a £3.5m boost to the UK economy and create jobs in some of the most...
October 10, 2019
The James Hutton Institute was delighted to welcome Her Excellency Ms Linda Scott, High Commissioner of Namibia to the UK. The visit to the Hutton Dundee site, set up through James Hutton Limited’s membership of the Scottish Africa Business...
October 10, 2019
An innovative research project aims to demonstrate the benefits of using crop species mixtures as a sustainable crop production system. The Sustainability in Education and Agriculture using Mixtures (SEAMS) initiative is providing a platform for...
October 10, 2019
Given the urgency of the climate crisis, it is past time to start driving large-scale change and the James Hutton Institute is well-placed to focus on the implementation of land management options that we know are beneficial for soil organic...
October 10, 2019
A new partnership between the James Hutton Institute and SRUC will put practical skills into the hands of future farmers. Students studying agriculture at national certificate and degree level at SRUC’s Aberdeen campus will now complete...
October 10, 2019
Wading birds are an important part of Scotland’s natural and cultural heritage but, like many species of birds, waders are in decline. Since 1994 curlews have declined by 60%, and lapwings numbers have halved over the same time period. The...
October 10, 2019
Could Farm Business Incubators provide a route into the industry for new entrants in Scotland? This question is set to be the focus of a special NEWBIE business seminar at AgriScot on 20th November. The NEWBIE project is a pan European...
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...
October 10, 2019
Hear the latest practical innovative and sustainable research for arable and mixed farms funded by the Scottish Government, and discuss ideas on how we can support the environment alongside sustainable food production. The meeting will feature...
October 10, 2019
A new study published today in PLOS Pathogens by scientists at the Moredun Research Institute, the University of Edinburgh, Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland and international partners, has shown that a specific toxin produced by naturally-...
October 10, 2019
The 42nd TB Macaulay Lecture, given by Dieter Helm CBE, Professor of Economics at the University of Oxford and Fellow of New College, Oxford, on the topic of how to achieve a green and prosperous land in the face of multiple challenges including...
October 10, 2019
Social scientists based at the James Hutton Institute have pioneered the use of video as a participatory research technique in Scotland, in the context of a project aiming to understand the way the people of Cumbernauld connect with the green...
October 10, 2019
The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 requires every local authority to prepare a food growing strategy for its region to identify areas that could be used to grow food, and to describe how community growing, especially in areas which...
September 9, 2019
The latest issue of Hutton Highlights, our quarterly review showing how Hutton science is driving the sustainable use of land and natural resources, is now available from our Hutton Highlights pages. Read in our September 2019 issue:
September 9, 2019
A new research project involving the James Hutton Institute is aiming to improve the capacity of society and political bodies to respond to the challenges that digitalisation generates in rural areas, agriculture and forestry, and provide a...
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
A joint statement issued by research institutes, community groups and public sector organisations points to credible evidence of ‘green shoots’ of population turnaround in the Scottish islands which as yet does not show up in official...
September 9, 2019
Professor Maria Nijnik, a senior scientist within the James Hutton Institute’s Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences group, has been distinguished with a Scientific Achievement Award by the International Union of Forest Research...
September 9, 2019
The James Hutton Institute has hosted the first of a new series of aquaNOW Audiences on the topic of 'The Philosophy of a Hydro Nation'. aquaNOW Audiences are interactive panel discussions, produced by OOSKAnews, engaging international...
September 9, 2019
The James Hutton Institute is reinforcing its extensive analytical capabilities for research and commercial work through a collaboration with global science and healthcare technology company PerkinElmer, to establish a QSight 420 liquid...
September 9, 2019
After 40 years of reform and ‘opening up,’ China has made remarkable economic progress. However, prosperity has been coupled with environmental degradation and the country has a considerable way to go toward achieving the Sustainable...
August 8, 2019
A ground-breaking research trial conducted by the James Hutton Institute and Kings Crops, a division of Frontier Agriculture, into the impact of green cover crops in Scotland has demonstrated notable benefits for spring barley yields, soil and...
August 8, 2019
Arable Scotland 2 July 2020 Online
August 8, 2019
A James Hutton Institute-led and Scottish Government-funded project to develop a novel decentralised wastewater treatment system in rural India that can be replicated in Scotland and beyond has been shortlisted for a VIBES – Scottish...
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
Ground-breaking research into the soil beneath our feet, just published in the journal Nature, transforms current understanding of life on land by revealing that the world’s largest animal populations are found in high-latitude sub-arctic...
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...
July 7, 2019
It’s the season for a cold afternoon ‘gin & tonic’ on ice. The health impact of one too many is questionable, but what is the environmental footprint of that classically delicious aperitif? An international team of...
July 7, 2019
Projected global population growth requires food production to increase by 70% before 2050 to meet demand. Pests and diseases are a major constraint to providing this food security: between 30-40% of our crops are lost to pathogens long before...
July 7, 2019
Dieter Helm CBE, Professor of Economics at the University of Oxford and Fellow of New College, Oxford, has been announced as the speaker of the 42nd T.B. Macaulay Lecture, presented in partnership by the James Hutton Institute and the Macaulay...
July 7, 2019
The James Hutton Institute has contributed to a body of evidence compiled by the Scottish Industrial Biotechnology Development Group to demonstrate Scotland’s global competitiveness in biorefining and attracting inward investment.
July 7, 2019
The role of grazing in dairy farming the UK has become increasingly contentious; dairy farming in the UK has changed from seasonal housing and grazing to around a fifth of farmers housing cows all year around. This change continues to be...
July 7, 2019
Scientists of the James Hutton Institute have discussed the latest research on arable crops as part of the launch of new event Arable Scotland, including renewed breeding efforts aimed at developing quality crops for defined markets, innovative...
July 7, 2019
An independent report focussing on Scotland’s progress against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals has found that, despite some advances, the country is not on target to achieve a number of the goals and further action is...
June 6, 2019
Richard Gospel, of Hassiewells Farm near Rothienorman, has been announced as the winner of Best Soil in Show at the Royal Highland Show 2019, with Alistair Brunton, of Balmonth Farm by Carnbee in Fife, scooping the Young Farmers prize for a...
June 6, 2019
The James Hutton Institute celebrated its Tay Cities Deal success at this year's Royal Highland Show alongside industry guests and stakeholders, with the support of the Rt Hon David Mundell, Secretary of State for Scotland. The...
June 6, 2019
Professor Colin Campbell, Chief Executive of the James Hutton Institute, has congratulated the Scottish-based vertical farm technology business Intelligent Growth Solutions Ltd (IGS) on attracting £5.4m Series A funding, led by US-based S2G...
June 6, 2019
The latest issue of Hutton Highlights, our quarterly review showing how Hutton science is driving the sustainable use of land and natural resources, is now available from our Hutton Highlights pages. Read in our June 2019 issue:
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...
June 6, 2019
The SEFARI student showcase, an event which shows the diversity and excellence of postgraduate research undertaken across all SEFARI research institutes, took place between the 10th and 11th June, with James Hutton Institute student Auré...
June 6, 2019
The UK’s peatlands are making a significant contribution to our greenhouse gas emissions because of the way they are managed, a major new study has shown. Peatlands occupy 12% of the UK’s land area and store vast quantities of...
June 6, 2019
Oats are an important crop in the UK – even more so due to their increasing popularity as a healthy breakfast choice. Yet unlike other staple cereal crops, such as wheat and barley, R&D investment to improve oat agronomy has been...
June 6, 2019
The James Hutton Institute welcomed over 1300 visitors to its Dundee site during Open Farm Sunday in Invergowrie, the celebration of farming and nature that gives everyone the opportunity to discover the story behind their food. Managed by...
June 6, 2019
A large outdoors model of Scotland, showing where our vegetables are typically grown, will be unveiled at the James Hutton Institute's Living Field in Invergowrie on Open Farm Sunday 2019, 9 June, 11 am to 4 pm. The map was created by...
June 6, 2019
Ambitious plans for the establishment of two open science campuses at the James Hutton Institute’s sites in Dundee and Aberdeen were outlined by the Institute’s Chief Executive, Professor Colin Campbell, at the Scottish Society for...
June 6, 2019
Did you know 92 per cent of people worldwide do not breathe clean air, and that air pollution costs the global economy US$5 trillion every year in welfare costs? Also, are you familiar with the impact of ground-level ozone pollution on staple...
June 6, 2019
Dr Jenni Stockan, a research scientist within the James Hutton Institute’s Ecological Sciences group, has been distinguished by the Royal Entomological Society as the first woman to take the role of Honorary Secretary in the society’s...
May 5, 2019
Ways to achieve the ambitious greenhouse emission targets, as described in the proposed Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill, were at the centre of discussions during a session of the Environment, Climate Change and Land...
May 5, 2019
Scientists of the James Hutton Institute have provided evidence for an investigation conducted by the House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee into the quality and reliability of forensic science within the UK legal system, as part...
May 5, 2019
An online, user-friendly plant health information resource will be launched at Scotland's first-ever Plant Health Conference, which is set to gather representatives from industry, public bodies, government and scientists, all around the...
May 5, 2019
Professor Lorna Dawson, Head of Soil Forensics at the James Hutton Institute and SEFARI Advisor on the Scottish Government‘s Strategic Research Programme 2016-2021, has been recognised with an Expert Witness Award 2019 by specialist...
May 5, 2019
Research by a social scientist based within the James Hutton Institute’s Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences (SEGS) has been featured in a book recently published by the International Labour Organization (ILO), a specialized agency...
May 5, 2019
Capacities for completely replacing animal protein in the human diet are limited and would require “major changes” in the structure of global agricultural food systems, according to new research. A study carried out by Scottish...
May 5, 2019
Three industry organisations have joined forces to launch a brand new field-based arable event for Scotland: Arable Scotland, which is jointly organised by AHDB, the James Hutton Institute and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), will take...
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 (...
May 5, 2019
The James Hutton Institute’s ongoing commitment to advancing the careers of women in science and technology has been recognised through the award of Athena SWAN Bronze status to November 2022, as communicated by an external award review...
May 5, 2019
Nature is declining globally at rates unprecedented in human history — and the rate of species extinctions is accelerating, with grave impacts on people around the world now likely, warns a landmark new report from the Intergovernmental...
May 5, 2019
The James Hutton Institute is teaming up with Soil Association Scotland and Scotland's Rural College for a special crofting meeting of the Plant Teams Field Lab event series on the Isle of Lismore, looking at how intercropping can help...
April 4, 2019
​Scientists from the James Hutton Institute will shortly take part in the world’s largest festival of public science talks, a Pint of Science. The three-day festival begins on 20 May and aims to encourage everyone to head down to a pub to...
April 4, 2019
European citizen renewable energy projects are more diverse now than at any time in the past 50 years, and they are likely to act as incubators for social innovation in all aspects of energy. However, efforts must be made to ensure the...
April 4, 2019
Public authorities are enabling citizens to be better stewards of the environment through greater access to environmental information, but there is a need to improve online information to meet people’s needs.
April 4, 2019
Lynbreck Croft, a 150-acre mixed habitat croft enterprise located in the Cairngorms National Park, has been declared the winner of the NEWBIE UK award for New Entrant Farm Business of the Year and will be presented with their award at the Royal...
April 4, 2019
Oak trees have long had a reputation for supporting a range of biodiversity, however, research published today has uncovered just how many species depend on British oak to survive. The decline of these iconic trees, currently threatened by pests...
April 4, 2019
In urbanised European societies, the role of forests in providing commodities, welfare, health and other social benefits is easily forgotten. But not in Aberdeen: the Granite City has been awarded the title of European Forest City for 2019 by the...
April 4, 2019
A detailed study of the impact of fish farm medicines on Scotland’s seabed, produced by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland (BioSS) - formally part of the James Hutton Group - has...
April 4, 2019
Mr Richard Lochhead MSP, the Scottish Government’s Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science, today visited the James Hutton Institute in Invergowrie to hear about world leading research in land, crop, waters and the...
April 4, 2019
Urban Greenspace provides many benefits to urban residents, including access to areas for recreation and socialising, as well as providing areas for biodiversity, carbon sequestration, or flood regulation. As populations become more urbanised the...
March 3, 2019
The complex landscape of plants and microbe interaction means that food safety specialists should consider fine detail and cannot generalise when carrying out risk assessments, new research by James Hutton Institute scientists has shown. Fresh...
March 3, 2019
Young filmmakers with a passion for nature are being sought for a new competition that aims to encourage businesses to see the benefits of the natural world. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Scottish Forum on Natural Capital (SFNC), of...
March 3, 2019
An eight-year-old campaigner, a social media whizz kid, a budding nature detective and several keen camera trappers have all been recognised as 2019 Young Wildlife Champions by the North East Scotland Biodiversity Partnership, in a drive to...
March 3, 2019
As part of Scotland’s continued efforts to become the world’s first Hydro Nation – one that manages its water environment to the best advantage and uses its expertise at home and internationally - the James Hutton Institute has...
March 3, 2019
The James Hutton Institute has endorsed a statement sent to ministers and MPs calling on the UK to remain part of the EU’s cross-border funding programmes after Brexit. The campaign is supported by a wide range of public and private sector...
March 3, 2019
A Knowledge Transfer Partnership between the James Hutton Institute and Scottish-based agritech business Intelligent Growth Solutions Limited (IGS), has been distinguished with the highest grade of “Outstanding” by the Knowledge...
March 3, 2019
Our annual Postgraduate Student Event, which showcases the excellent science being undertaken by postgraduate students at the James Hutton Institute, took place at the Birnam Arts and Conference Centre, Birnam on Wednesday 6th March and Thursday...
March 3, 2019
Lipids are an essential ingredient in a variety of industries including food and drink, health and biosciences, and play a fundamental role in biological functions such as storing energy, signaling and the structuring of our cell membranes. Nine...
March 3, 2019
Recognising excellence, innovation and outstanding achievement in nature conservation, the eighth annual Nature of Scotland Awards are open for applications until 4 June, with the James Hutton Institute again sponsoring the Food and Farming...
March 3, 2019
Allocation of land rights and struggles for access to land and natural resources are common worldwide. The rise of land reform on the political agenda following Scottish devolution in 1999 is commonly attributed to the relatively unregulated...
March 3, 2019
Professor Lorna Dawson, head of Forensic Soil Science at the James Hutton Institute and advisor to the SEFARI Strategic Research Programme, has been made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE),...
March 3, 2019
A report published by the Expert Advisory Group on Migration and Population has shown that post-Brexit migration policy proposals put forward by the UK Government are likely to increase the demographic challenges faced by Scotland’s...
February 2, 2019
Britain’s iconic oak trees have a reputation for supporting biodiversity, but a changing climate is making them increasingly susceptible to threats from pests and diseases. A research collaboration featuring James Hutton Institute...
February 2, 2019
Registrations are open for the Valuing our Life Support Systems 2019 summit, an independent and inclusive platform for science, policy and business communities to discuss and debate innovative natural capital solutions, which will be held on 21-...
February 2, 2019
Scotland’s agricultural landscape will need to adapt to new levels of variation in climate, policy and local and global markets if it is to successfully tackle the growing trend of climate change; that was one of the key messages of Dr Mike...
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...
February 2, 2019
The Horned Beef Company, Lynbreck Croft and the Scottish Goat Meat Company have been announced as finalists of the newly-launched NEWBIE UK award for New Entrant Farm Business of the Year, due to their unique ability to overcome barriers in the...
February 2, 2019
The James Hutton Institute's commercial subsidiary, James Hutton Limited, has announced a partnership with IPRIS, a global organisation focused on helping companies, universities and government labs manage their intellectual property...
February 2, 2019
Professor Alison Hester, a senior research scientist within our Ecological Sciences group, has contributed to the development of new guidance by the Natural Capital Finance Alliance (NCFA), aimed at helping financial institutions conduct rapid...
February 2, 2019
The latest issue of Hutton Highlights, our quarterly review showing how Hutton science is driving the sustainable use of land and natural resources, is now available from our Hutton Highlights pages. Read in our February 2019 issue:
February 2, 2019
The James Hutton Institute and the Malaysia-based Crops for the Future Research Centre (CFFRC) have agreed to cooperate on aspects of global agricultural sustainability, food security and nutrition, with emphasis on underutilised and novel crops...
February 2, 2019
Imagine a crop that can be used to help secure sufficient food for a growing global population, benefit the environment and brew fantastic beer. There is one – several in fact: pulses. The James Hutton Institute has joined forces with...
February 2, 2019
CLICK BELOW FOR APPLICATION FORM AND RELATED DOCUMENTATION - DEADLINE EXTENDED TO 10TH MAY 2019 Supported by the Glenside Group
January 1, 2019
Creating Natural Connections, a partnership including the James Hutton Institute which seeks to deliver significant improvements to Cumbernauld’s environment over the next four years by building on the success of Cumbernauld Living...
January 1, 2019
Water specialists from the James Hutton Institute and Scottish Water are at the forefront of the Water Test Network, an international drive to unlock innovation potential in the global water industry, which also involves experts in Germany,...
January 1, 2019
Monitoring and evaluation are key elements in the adaptive management of our ecosystems, the process of learning from new experiences and insights to improve how we manage the environment. A research consortium led by the James Hutton Institute...
January 1, 2019
On Burns Night, let’s raise a dram to better barley: scientists based at the International Barley Hub in Dundee have developed a genotyping array that allows the detailed genetic characterisation of any individual barley variety. The array...
January 1, 2019
Researchers based at the James Hutton Institute in Aberdeen have contributed to a study which has found that pollutants cause ‘worrying’ changes in sheep livers.
January 1, 2019
Most of us need to get more fibre into our diets, we now hear, but we’re also told that it’s quite hard to do that. Happily, our scientists have been working on ways to help get past that difficulty, through several strands of...
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
Arable Scotland 2 July 2019 Balruddery Farm, Dundee
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...
December 12, 2018
New gene combinations in barley could prove a budding success for breeders and brewers across the world, according to a new study by plant scientists of the University of Dundee and the James Hutton Institute. The study, published in New...
November 11, 2018
Primary school students will benefit from wastewater treatment and clean water at their school in India thanks to a joint project led by the James Hutton Institute and funded by the Scottish Government. While visiting India, Scotland's...
November 11, 2018
Social scientists of the James Hutton Institute and Scotland's Rural College are seeking people’s views about wellbeing, local issues and quality of life in Scottish communities, in a drive to improve currently-available data and inform...
November 11, 2018
John Dalziel, of Common Farm in East Ayrshire, has picked up the Nature of Scotland 2018 Food and Farming Award, sponsored by the James Hutton Institute, for his efforts to integrate wildlife conservation into his successful farming ...
November 11, 2018
The James Hutton Institute has today welcomed the signing of the heads of terms of the Tay Cities Deal, which is expected to bring a £700 million investment into Tayside and Angus and create 6,000 direct jobs in the area. Included...
November 11, 2018
The James Hutton Institute has won a VIBES – Scottish Environment Business award in the Adaptation to Climate Change category, on account of the work of Hutton researchers in farm innovations to protect the environment, renewable energy...
November 11, 2018
Professor Lorna Dawson, lead soil forensic scientist at the James Hutton Institute, advisor to the Scottish Government on strategic research and SEFARI Gateway lead for the environment, has received her CBE honour from HRH Queen Elizabeth II...
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
Researchers from the James Hutton Institute have contributed to a briefing produced by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) which outlines key drivers of global agricultural trends and the challenge of safeguarding both food...
November 11, 2018
New opportunities for PhD projects at the James Hutton Institute are now being advertised on FindAPhD.com. PhD projects are being offered by all five of our Science Groups covering many aspects of our work. All projects are funded jointly between...
October 10, 2018
National Farmers Union presidents from England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales have agreed to judge a new award for 'New Entrant Farm Business of the Year'. Minette Batters (NFU), Andrew McCornick (NFUS), Glyn Roberts (FUW), John...
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....
October 10, 2018
An improved technique for capturing DNA in crops may give plant breeders huge advantages when it comes to developing varieties that are more resilient to pests and diseases. The technique, known as diagnostic Resistance gene enrichment Sequencing...
October 10, 2018
Introduction The riparian zone occupies the critical interface between land and watercourses where processes have great potential to influence stream and river biogeochemical and ecological conditions and is a key management location. Riparian...
October 10, 2018
An innovation-focused award for ‘New Entrant Farm Business of the Year’ is opening this autumn to UK farmers, crofters and smallholders, as part of a suite of opportunities being offered across Europe to help new entrants develop...
October 10, 2018
A University of Dundee scientist based at the James Hutton Institute has been awarded almost £1.25 million to study the interaction between plants and soil microbes, with the ultimate aim of boosting sustainable food production. Dr Davide...
October 10, 2018
Peatlands store large amounts of terrestrial carbon and any changes to their carbon balance could cause large changes in the greenhouse gas balance of the Earth's atmosphere. There is still much uncertainty about how the GHG dynamics of...
September 9, 2018
The latest issue of Hutton Highlights, the James Hutton Institute's quarterly review, is now available from our Hutton Highlights pages. Read in our September 2018 issue:
September 9, 2018
Researchers from the James Hutton Institute and the Scotch Whisky Research Institute (SWRI) have completed a ten-month InnovateUK funded project resulting in the development of an improved genetic marker that can be used by barley breeders to...
September 9, 2018
Hutton scientist Peter Orrell and his product MycoNourish have been announced as runners-up in the 2018 Converge Challenge, Scotland's leading higher education company creation programme, at a ceremony held yesterday in Edinburgh’s...
September 9, 2018
The transformational power of the first-ever dedicated design museum in Scotland and the only other V&A museum anywhere in the world outside London was beyond doubt, even before it opened. The James Hutton Institute would like to commend and...
September 9, 2018
Over 300 members of the conservation community will meet at the Nature of Scotland Awards 2018 ceremony to celebrate the people and projects that are going the extra mile to support Scottish nature conservation, with the James Hutton Institute...
September 9, 2018
The James Hutton Institute is teaming with Soil Association Scotland and Scotland's Rural College to work with farmers in a Field Lab to trial crop mixtures or ‘plant teams’. Field Labs are free to attend and open to all land...
September 9, 2018
Work by James Hutton Institute water researchers has been reflected in the latest Scotland: The Hydro Nation Annual Report, which provides an outline of activities carried out by the Scottish Government and partners under the Hydro Nation agenda...
September 9, 2018
PhosphoRisk model Phosphorus (P) pollution is a major cause of surface water quality failures in Scotland. However, process-based modelling of P pollution is often hampered by lack of available data that would allow plausible representation of...
September 9, 2018
Background In-stream ‘leaky barrier’ placement (e.g. log jams, flow restrictors) for reducing flood risk downstream has become more common. Accurate numerical modelling of their effects on water flow, is useful for predicting...
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
MycoNourish, a product designed by Hutton scientist Peter Orrell, has been announced as finalist of the Converge Challenge 2018, Scotland's leading higher education company creation programme.
September 9, 2018
Scientists from the James Hutton Institute have found that waters in Scottish rivers are reaching record-breaking warm temperatures, which may have implications for rural economies across the country. By comparing historical records kept by the...
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...
September 9, 2018
There has been public controversy in recent years about indoor dairy farming. Research has found that the public are concerned about environmental and welfare implications of a move away from pasture-based systems towards more year-round housing...
August 8, 2018
After a four-year trial which saw the first harvest of Scottish hops in recent decades, scientists from the James Hutton Institute have created a practical guide booklet for farmers interested in growing the crop, which highlights its commercial...
August 8, 2018
Scottish-based agritech business Intelligent Growth Solutions Ltd has unveiled its first indoor vertical farming demonstration building at the James Hutton Institute near Dundee. The facility, formally opened by John Swinney, MSP for Perthshire...
August 8, 2018
Scientists from the James Hutton Institute are investigating the development of resilient flavour characteristics in UK raspberries, as part of Innovate UK-funded research into new fruit breeding models and decision support tools.
August 8, 2018
Researchers from the James Hutton Institute were named winners in a contest which is considered by some as the world championship in mineralogy. The results and the winners of the 2018 Reynolds Cup edition were presented at the Annual Clay...
August 8, 2018
Researchers from the James Hutton Institute have discovered the apparent benefits of workplace sharing with regards to reducing commuting times and CO2 emissions can be negated by corporate culture and organisational structure. Using an agent-...
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...
August 8, 2018
Agriculture is changing. There is an increasing gap between how food is produced and public knowledge and values about agriculture. Dairy farming in the UK has changed from seasonal housing and grazing to around a fifth of farmers housing cows...
July 7, 2018
Farmers and land managers can improve agricultural productivity by using crop mixtures and taking into consideration the role of evolution in shaping the plants they grow, new research by James Hutton Institute scientists and partners at ETH...
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
Scientists from the James Hutton Institute have alerted about the potential impact of extreme weather events - such as the current heatwave - on crop production, suggesting the development of stress-resistant crops as an important resource to...
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
The use of barley genetic mutant resources to shed light into fundamental aspects of cereal biology was at the centre of discussions at the second International Barley Mutants Workshop 2018 (iBMW2018), held in Dundee with the attendance of 94...
July 7, 2018
The James Hutton Institute will showcase its new raspberry demonstration tunnels at Fruit for the Future, the Institute’s annual soft fruit-themed event, on Thursday 19 July 2018 in Invergowrie near Dundee. The new demonstration tunnels...
July 7, 2018
New farmers can face quite a number of barriers in developing sustainable businesses, including access to land, labour, capital, housing, markets, networks and knowledge. A new Europe-wide research initiative aims to overcome these hurdles...
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...
June 6, 2018
What is the Scottish perspective on rural innovation, looking forward with the recent launch of the Rural Innovation Support Service (RISS)? That was the focus of a workshop organised by the Scottish Representation to the European Union in...
June 6, 2018
The latest cereal varieties and research will be on show at Saphock Farm in Aberdeenshire on Thursday 5th July for Cereals in Practice 2018, the annual cereals-themed event organised by the James Hutton Institute, Scotland's Rural College (...
June 6, 2018
Research by a group of scientists from the University of Dundee and the James Hutton Institute, along with partners from Glasgow and Durham universities, has found that a genetic process known as alternative splicing has a massive effect on the...
June 6, 2018
The James Hutton Institute again took part in Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF) Open Farm Sunday, the annual celebration of the story behind our food and how farming underpins our everyday lives. This time, hundreds turned up at our...
June 6, 2018
Hutton scientist Dr Peter Orrell has won the ‘Ready Steady Pitch’ award of the Converge Challenge 2018 with his MycoNourish product, which uses fungi to act as a secondary root system and improve plant health. The result came after...
June 6, 2018
How can social innovation change the face of rural areas in Scotland? What are the most appropriate approaches, methods and tools to assess social innovation? What does policy support of social innovation mean in the Scottish context? These...
May 5, 2018
Scientists from the James Hutton Institute are supporting the Asian Agricultural Long-Term Experiment (ALTER) with the aim of providing scientific basis and management options for soil sequestration and agricultural sustainability in Asia and...
May 5, 2018
More and more volunteers are waking up to the pervasive problem of plastic pollution in landscapes both home and abroad, and the James Hutton Institute’s Glensaugh Research Farm is no exception. A group of Mearns Academy pupils visited...
May 5, 2018
The latest issue of Hutton Highlights, the James Hutton Institute's quarterly review, is now available from our Hutton Highlights pages. Read in our May 2018 issue:
May 5, 2018
More than 60 experts and stakeholders from the diverse worlds of forestry, horticulture, the environment and agriculture gathered at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to hear about the aims and vision of a new virtual Plant Health Centre for...
May 5, 2018
Land access issues, including limited availability of tenancies, are a critical barrier for new entrants to agriculture in Scotland, according to a new report commissioned by the Scottish Land Commission and authored by James Hutton Institute...
May 5, 2018
A new Knowledge Transfer Partnership involving the James Hutton Institute, its commercial subsidiary James Hutton Limited and the newly launched Scottish Honeyberry Cooperative aims to create a new ‘superfruit’ industry in Scotland...
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...
May 5, 2018
The science of the James Hutton Institute continues to attract the interest of the media. This time, Professor Derek Stewart and Dr Andrew Copus were featured in recent BBC programmes, in which they discussed research on the nutritional qualities...
May 5, 2018
A young Brazilian plant scientist whose research focusses on molecular biology and gene expression has been awarded the prestigious Peter Massalski Prize for Meritorious Research for 2018. Dr Cristiane Calixto is a post-doctoral researcher in...
April 4, 2018
Mr Fergus Ewing MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Connectivity, today visited the James Hutton Institute in Aberdeen to hear about our world leading scientific research in crops and climate change, as well as its commercial impact in...
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...
April 4, 2018
A Hydro Nation scholar carrying out research on common challenges across water, energy and food and their connections to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) presented her PhD research during a session on “...
April 4, 2018
Pulses, the dry, edible seeds of plants in the legume family, which include UK-grown beans and peas as well as chickpeas and lentils, are incredibly sustainable superfoods that can make a unique contribution to global food security due to their...
April 4, 2018
A new short film produced by the North East Scotland Biodiversity Partnership and acclaimed wildlife photographer Pete Cairns offers a glimpse of the incredible biodiversity that the North East of Scotland has to offer, from dolphins and humpback...
April 4, 2018
Researchers from the James Hutton Institute and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), both part of the SEFARI collective, will be among the speakers at this week’s Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Rural...
April 4, 2018
Is urban agriculture a viable alternative for members of the community that are unable to access fresh fruit and vegetables more easily because of social, financial or geographical barriers? An InnovateUK funded research project led by the James...
April 4, 2018
The James Hutton Institute has partnered with Syngenta and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to develop and test a run-off tool app. The tool will advise land managers on the best management practices to reduce run-off and trap...
March 3, 2018
Orla Shortall of the James Hutton Institute’s Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences group has been awarded a British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship. The Fellowship enables early-career academics in the humanities and social sciences...
March 3, 2018
Biodiversity continues to decline in every region of the world, significantly reducing nature’s capacity to contribute to people’s well-being. This alarming trend endangers economies, livelihoods, food security and the quality of life...
March 3, 2018
Popular green spaces in Aberdeen are set to become even greener with the planting of almost 5,000 trees, in an initiative co-ordinated and delivered by the River Dee Trust and the James Hutton Institute-supported Dee Catchment Partnership....
March 3, 2018
New research commissioned by the Scottish Government and conducted by the James Hutton Institute estimates that Scotland’s sparsely populated areas are at risk of losing more than a quarter of their population by 2046 if current demographic...
March 3, 2018
A new website aiming to become a sharing platform for policymakers, researchers, scientists and anyone interested in the use of landscape features to reduce flood risk has been launched today.
March 3, 2018
For generations, rice has been a key crop for the Kelabit people who populate the highlands of Malaysian Borneo – so much so that the slow-growing variety grown in the area shares a name with the region and its main town, Bario. However,...
March 3, 2018
What makes a good scientist? What qualities are assets for success in the highly competitive and challenging environment of science? An outdated stereotype often paints a picture that all scientists are cold, hard, unemotional... and male. This...
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
Professor Steve Albon, an Honorary Research Associate of the James Hutton Institute, has been appointed a member of a new expert panel established by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to examine complex issues related to deer management in the...
February 2, 2018
Professor Colin Campbell, Chief Executive of the James Hutton Institute and current SEFARI Chair, has been made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) has announced 66 new UK and International Fellows,...
February 2, 2018
Around 6.3 billion tonnes of plastic waste have so far been generated globally. Almost 80% of it goes into landfill or natural environment. Given the harm this causes, especially in the marine environment, the need to do something is urgent.
February 2, 2018
As the world’s population tries to adapt to climate change, many industries are still heavily reliant on fossil fuel resources to make components in the pharmaceutical, food, cosmetics and other sectors – but the plant kingdom, and...
February 2, 2018
The latest issue of Hutton Highlights, the James Hutton Institute's quarterly review, is now available from our Hutton Highlights pages. Read in our February 2018 issue:
February 2, 2018
A new raspberry variety, with exceptional fruit quality and high productivity, was presented at the Scottish Society for Crop Research and Bulrush Soft Fruit Information Day and Winter Meeting 2018. The new rasp, named Glen Carron, was...
February 2, 2018
Scientists from the James Hutton Institute have developed a screening system which uses transparent soil technology to help fight nematodes - microscopic worms that are harmful to plants, damaging about 10% of susceptible crops and causing...
February 2, 2018
Dundee’s position as an international hub for research into cereals – particularly barley – has been given a boost with the award of a grant which will create new connections with Australia. The award of a £150,000 from...
February 2, 2018
Plants play essential roles in our lives from recreation and tourism to the economics of timber and crop production. However, the potential for harm from pests and diseases is ever present. Besides the many pests and pathogens that currently...
January 1, 2018
China's North Plain is one of the country's most important - and densely populated - agricultural regions, producing crops such as corn, cereals, vegetables and cotton. A research project led by the James Hutton Institute and China...
January 1, 2018
A report published today and co-authored by James Hutton Institute scientists recommends ways to count mountain hares. The scientific study compared a range of methods to count individuals, and determined the most effective, reliable and cost-...
January 1, 2018
Blowing up landmines and other undetonated explosives may be safer and more environmentally friendly than physically removing them from contaminated land, according to new research carried out by the University of Dundee, in partnership with...
January 1, 2018
Dr Mark Brewer has been appointed new Director of Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland (BioSS). BioSS is based within the James Hutton Institute and works collaboratively with the other Scottish Environment, Food and Agriculture Institutes (...
January 1, 2018
Euan Caldwell, Head of Farm, Field and Glasshouses at the James Hutton Institute, has been recognised with the prestigious Royal Agricultural Society of England’s Technology Award at the Society’s 2017 award presentation for his and...
January 1, 2018
Evidence of significant barriers to women’s careers in Scottish agriculture has been presented at the Scottish Parliament by social researchers from Newcastle University and the James Hutton Institute. The presentation, sponsored by MSPs...
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.
January 1, 2018
A University of Dundee scientist based at the James Hutton Institute has been awarded more than £600,000 to study an increasing problem with the cereal crop barley that impacts the commercially important malting process and the shelf-life...
January 1, 2018
The damage that climate change could cause to nearly one-fifth of Scotland’s coastline, and the steps that could be taken to mitigate it, will be forecast in a new two-year research project funded by the Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW...
December 12, 2017
The James Hutton Institute has published its Annual Accounts for the financial year to April 2017. In a tough financial climate with challenges arising from ongoing austerity and uncertainty around Brexit consequences, the James Hutton...
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
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...
December 12, 2017
In addition to more traditional seasonal dishes, there are good reasons to add some soft fruit to Christmas meals to enjoy extra health benefits, scientists at the James Hutton Institute have said. Researchers at the Institute have teamed with...
December 12, 2017
Professor Alison Hester, of our Ecological Sciences group, has been appointed as member of a new independently-led group which aims to ensure grouse moor management practices are not only sustainable but are legally compliant. The group has...
December 12, 2017
Scientists from the James Hutton Institute took part in the Scottish Government’s Hydro Nation delegation in support of a visit by Scotland's Deputy First Minister, John Swinney MSP, to India from the 4th to the 7th of December. The...
December 12, 2017
Matt Aitkenhead & Cathy Hawes Soil is vital to our survival. We need it to grow our crops, feed our livestock, maintain our water supply and provide a home for biodiversity. However, because we do not see it doing these things, we forget...
December 12, 2017
Soil scientists from the James Hutton Institute, along with colleagues at Cranfield University, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, have contributed to the development of the first Global Soil Organic...
November 11, 2017
The James Hutton Institute was proud to present an award at the prestigious RSPB Nature of Scotland Awards in Edinburgh last week. As sponsor of the Food & Farming category, the Institute supports the awards’ promotion of '...
November 11, 2017
New opportunities for PhD projects at the James Hutton Institute are now being advertised on FindAPhD.com. PhD projects are being offered by all five of our Science Groups covering many aspects of our work. All projects are funded jointly between...
November 11, 2017
A senior scientist from the James Hutton Institute has again been distinguished as a Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate Analytics. Professor Philip J. White, from our Ecological Sciences group, has been included in the Highly Cited Researcher...
November 11, 2017
Scottish farming needs to attract a steady flow of young farmers and new entrants to maintain the vitality of its agricultural sector. The available statistics show that most farmers (54.92%) are over 55 years of age. The proportion of young...
November 11, 2017
Research from the James Hutton Institute will be utilised in a new initiative, with a potential spend of 1.2 billion dollars, aimed at tackling climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in India. One of the major impacts of...
November 11, 2017
Technology used on early space missions is being revived by two Fife companies to provide clean water for 100,000 people in Pakistan, with help from the James Hutton Institute and National University of Science and Technology in Islamabad. The...
November 11, 2017
Peat bogs are useful to society in many ways – they regulate our water flows and sequester greenhouse gases while serving as a historical archive of our past and protecting unique plant and animal species. However, many peat bogs have been...
November 11, 2017
For the first time in many years, red squirrels have been spotted at the James Hutton Institute's Craigiebuckler site and near the University of Aberdeen— a promising sign that this charismatic species is making a comeback in Aberdeen....
November 11, 2017
Professor Maria Nijnik, a senior scientist at the James Hutton Institute’s Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences group, has been appointed a Scientific Advisory Council member of EURAC, a research centre based in Bolzano, Italy, whose...
November 11, 2017
Researchers from the James Hutton Institute and partners have produced an evidence review on river and floodplain management, as part of an Evidence Directory recently launched by the Environment Agency. The Directory aims to provide better...
November 11, 2017
Did you know products developed at the James Hutton Institute and its forebears are familiar names on supermarket shelves, including popular raspberry varieties such as Glen Ample and Glen Lyon? Also, were you aware of the fact that fifty per...
November 11, 2017
As an accredited Living Wage employer, the James Hutton Institute welcomes the increase in UK and London rates announced by the Living Wage Foundation as part of Living Wage Week (November 5th-11th 2017). In its second full year as part of a...
November 11, 2017
The James Hutton Institute is pleased to announce that Dr Andy Kindness has taken over the leadership of the Environmental and Biochemical Sciences group from 1st November. The Institute’s Environmental and Biochemical Sciences group...
October 10, 2017
The James Hutton Institute celebrated reinforcing its extensive analytical chemistry capabilities for research and commercial work with a launch evening and ribbon cutting for their new Thermal Ionisation Mass Spectrometer. The £500K...
October 10, 2017
Following a recruitment exercise, the James Hutton Institute is pleased to confirm the appointment of Professor Lesley Torrance and Professor Deborah Roberts to the posts of Directors of Science on a permanent basis with immediate effect.
October 10, 2017
Researchers at the James Hutton Institute have become important partners in a project which aims to improve green spaces in a Lanarkshire town. Cumbernauld Living Landscape, a partnership between the Scottish Wildlife Trust, North Lanarkshire...
October 10, 2017
Scientists from the International Barley Hub have discovered a genetic pathway to improved barley grain size and uniformity, a finding which may help breeders develop future varieties suited to the needs of growers and distillers.
October 10, 2017
The SIFSS (Soil Indicators for Scottish Soils) app has recently been updated to improve usability. Aimed at growers, farmers and land managers in Scotland, the app allows them to quickly identify soil type in their area.
October 10, 2017
The team behind Scotland’s Environment Web, a James Hutton Institute-supported website aiming to be a ‘one-stop’ resource to access a variety of information resources on the Scottish environment, have launched a newly redesigned...
October 10, 2017
Why is this needed?
October 10, 2017
Is economic growth the solution to our challenges? Will it really deliver prosperity and wellbeing for a rapidly growing global population and allow us to live on a planet with finite resources? Should our prosperity be measured by the size of...
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
The Scottish Forestry Strategy’s stated aim is to make forestry a central part of Scotland’s culture, economy and environment, allowing people to benefit from Scotland’s trees, woodlands and forests. However, are the right...
September 9, 2017
Researchers at the James Hutton Institute and the University of Aberdeen are exploring the relationship between ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi and native tree species in Scotland. The study will also determine which climatic and environmental...
September 9, 2017
Research into organic phosphorus is key to ensure future food security and environmental sustainability, according to an international group of scientists led by researchers at the James Hutton Institute, Lancaster University’s Environment...
September 9, 2017
The James Hutton Institute is reinforcing its extensive analytical chemistry capabilities for research and commercial work through an £500K investment on a new Thermal Ionisation Mass Spectrometer, which will allow the Institute and its...
September 9, 2017
Is economic growth the solution to our challenges? Will it really deliver prosperity and wellbeing for a rapidly growing global population and allow us to live on a planet with finite resources? Should our prosperity be measured by the size of...
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...
September 9, 2017
Soil scientists at the James Hutton Institute are working to create the first unified digital map of soil properties within Great Britain, a development which will contribute to worldwide Global Soil Map projects and improve the data available to...
September 9, 2017
A research collaboration between REMIN, the James Hutton Institute, James Hutton Limited and a group of Tayside soft fruit growers led by Arbuckle's of Invergowrie has been awarded funding to investigate the economic potential of honeyberries...
August 8, 2017
The potential offered by social innovation to improve the livelihoods of remote forest-dependent communities will be at the centre of discussions during a special session of the 125th Anniversary Congress of the International Union of Forest...
August 8, 2017
James Hutton Limited's dedicated lipid laboratory, Mylnefield Lipid Analysis, has claimed first place in the GOED Nutraceuticals Series of the American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS) Laboratory Proficiency Program (LPP), the world's...
August 8, 2017
Native plants need a helping hand if they are to recover from invasive rhododendron, Scottish ecologists have discovered. A new study in the Journal of Applied Ecology reveals that – even at sites cleared of rhododendron 30 years ago...
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
An enterprising plant scientist and master distiller with links to the James Hutton Institute and Abertay University has been chosen as one of Farmers Weekly’s first-ever Rising Stars. At just 35, PhD student Kirsty Black manages Arbikie...
August 8, 2017
A Blueberry Breeding Consortium including members from three European countries held its inaugural meeting at the James Hutton Institute in Dundee yesterday. The new consortium will fund a blueberry breeding programme which will deliver new and...
August 8, 2017
Major changes in agricultural practices will be required to offset increases in nutrient losses due to climate change, according to research published by a scientific consortium including the James Hutton Institute.  To combat repeated,...
August 8, 2017
A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Ukrainian National Forestry University (UNFU) and the James Hutton Institute to promote cooperation in scientific research on sustainability, ecosystem service issues, climate change,...
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,...
July 7, 2017
The important role soil can play in forensic investigations has again been highlighted by the involvement of the James Hutton Institute’s soil forensics team in a high-profile case, this time the enquiry by South Yorkshire Police into the...
July 7, 2017
The James Hutton Institute will be hosting a BioBlitz event at its site in Craigiebuckler on Friday 28th July - come and help ecologists identify as many species of plants, animals and fungi, in a race against the clock to learn as much as...
July 7, 2017
Christopher Schulz, a PhD candidate in Geography at the University of Edinburgh, the James Hutton Institute (Aberdeen) and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), Edinburgh, recently became the first scholar of the Hydro Nation Scholars programme to...
July 7, 2017
The blueberry aphid, Ericaphis scammelli, has been detected during routine aphid surveys by SASA and is thought to be widespread across Scotland. It is also known to occur in other parts of the United Kingdom and Europe. The pest can be found...
July 7, 2017
The profile of bere barley, its potential as a source of traits for human and environmental health and as a source of living heritage was highlighted at an event recently held on and around the mainland of Orkney, featuring a range of lectures,...
July 7, 2017
The potential of social innovation to tackle depopulation in rural areas of Europe and beyond was the focus of a presentation offered by James Hutton Institute social scientist Professor Maria Nijnik at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam, with HM...
July 7, 2017
Join us at Saphock Farm in Aberdeenshire on Thursday 6th July for the 2017 issue of Cereals in Practice, the annual showcase of variety trials and research organised by us, SRUC (Scotland's Rural College) and the Scottish Society for Crop...
June 6, 2017
Research by Newcastle University and the James Hutton Institute has found that women play a major role in Scottish agriculture, participating in the full range of farming activities. However, barriers remain to their entry into the industry,...
June 6, 2017
Professor Colin Campbell, Chief Executive of the James Hutton Institute, has announced plans to establish a James Hutton Foundation which will celebrate James Hutton’s contributions to science and become a new membership organisation for...
June 6, 2017
Context
June 6, 2017
To help reverse the widespread declines in biodiversity seen over the last century, a range of agri-environmental schemes have been run in Scotland; currently efforts fall under the Agri-Environment and Climate Scheme (AECS) that forms part of...
June 6, 2017
Management of the uplands is largely carried out through manipulating the numbers of livestock and of wild herbivores such as red deer. Changes in livestock numbers over recent years have been driven through changing methods and rates of...
June 6, 2017

Crop Diversity (Project)

Introduction
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
Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) is an essential part of the process of adaptive management, the process of learning from our actions in order to update and improve future ecosystem management.  Across Europe we have a number of...
June 6, 2017
The James Hutton Institute welcomed over a thousand visitors to its Dundee site during Open Farm Sunday, the celebration of farming and nature that gives everyone the opportunity to discover the story behind their food. Managed by Linking...
June 6, 2017
A new research initiative led by Scotland’s James Hutton Institute is set to explore innovative mixed-species crop systems, or ‘plant teams’, in a drive to tackle a global challenge: how to feed a growing population from finite...
June 6, 2017
Legumes are a very special type of crop; they are not only a source of highly nutritious food and feed but legumes require no inorganic nitrogen fertiliser, which means they have major advantages as a more sustainable crop. Despite their benefits...
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...
June 6, 2017
The James Hutton Institute has joined more than 30 universities and research institutions from across the UK in backing a pledge to support their technicians. The Technician Commitment is a sector-wide initiative led by the Science Council and...
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
Research by James Hutton Institute scientists to explore issues associated with land use in Scotland has been featured in the May 2017 issue of National Geographic magazine. The article, titled “What Will Become of Scotland Moors?...
May 5, 2017
The James Hutton Institute has announced four new non-executive Board appointments, bringing plant scientist Professor Alyson Tobin, communications expert Elizabeth Wade, conservation specialist Susan Davies and farmer George Lawrie to its Board...
May 5, 2017
Bere barley, a type of barley thought to be the oldest cereal in continuous commercial cultivation in the far north of Britain, may hold key genetic resources to allow plant breeders to tackle issues of agricultural sustainability and...
May 5, 2017
  Soils provide a range of benefits for society including growing crops and timber, regulating water flow, and storing carbon. However, these functions face threats from soil erosion, compaction, contamination, and losses to urban...
May 5, 2017
May 5, 2017
May 5, 2017
Managing ecosystems to avoid exceeding national, and ultimately planetary, boundaries will inevitably involve trade-offs and synergies between different ecosystem services. Maximising one benefit (e.g. provision of food) may be traded-off against...
May 5, 2017
The James Hutton Institute and the University of Dundee are taking part in the international Fascination of Plants Day on Sunday 21st May with a celebration of the power of plants. The free 'Plant Power’ event set amidst the...
May 5, 2017
Tim Jackson, Professor of Sustainable Development at the University of Surrey and Director of the Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity (CUSP), has been announced as the speaker of the 40th T.B. Macaulay Lecture, to be presented...
May 5, 2017
Lyme disease – an infection contracted from the bite of an infected tick– is an important emerging disease in the UK, and is increasing in incidence in people in the UK and large parts of Europe and North America. A new study,...
May 5, 2017
Scientists from the International Barley Hub working in collaboration with brewing industry partners have unravelled the genetic secrets of Golden Promise, a popular malting barley variety in the 1970s and 1980s, in a drive to develop future...
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,...
April 4, 2017
April 4, 2017
What makes a system resilient, and how can we manage for resilience?
April 4, 2017
Using a range of innovative tools and techniques, our research explores the impact of management interventions on ecosystem services. We focus on the ecosystem services provided by woodland and semi-natural (upland) habitats. Our work on...
April 4, 2017
An international scientific consortium has reported the first high-quality genome sequence of barley, a development which will assist crop breeders in developing more resilient barley varieties suited to the requirements of the brewing,...
April 4, 2017
Research by a PhD student jointly funded by the James Hutton Institute and the University of Aberdeen has won the Student Paper Competition at the American Association of Geographers (AAG) conference held in Boston, USA, earlier this month....
April 4, 2017
A Hutton-led research project studying social challenges faced by rural areas across Europe and the wider Mediterranean area was presented at the fifth CRISES (Centre de recherche sur les innovations sociales) international conference, held in...
April 4, 2017
April 4, 2017
According to recent media reports the European Commission seems poised to ban some of Europe’s most widely used pesticides to protect bees and other pollinators, but is the move likely to have an impact on food production and security?...
April 4, 2017
The North East Scotland Biodiversity Partnership (NES BP) celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2017, and to mark the occasion it organised its first-ever Biodiversity Champions Award prize giving ceremony to recognise the efforts of local...
March 3, 2017
Businesses, charities, communities and policy-makers will benefit from easier access to environmental and agricultural research carried out in Scotland, thanks to a collective launched today. The collective – called Scottish Environment,...
March 3, 2017
Innovative soft fruit research taking place at the James Hutton Institute, including variety development and the investigation of nutritional aspects of berries, was the focus of a talk offered by Jamie Smith, Business Development Manager of...
March 3, 2017
Scientists from the James Hutton Institute have been involved in a three-year community research project to deliver a new online service to help better manage the quality of water and ecosystems in the UK. The service, recently launched at an...
March 3, 2017
Specimens of Mutilla europaea, a rare species of parasitoid wasp commonly known as ‘velvet ants’ because of their distinctive appearance and similarity of females to ants, have been sighted in Scotland for the first time in 32 years...
March 3, 2017
This Work Package addresses the challenge of protecting and restoring our natural capital – our biodiversity and ecosystems - by combining information on ecosystem function, delivery of benefits, resilience, and management practices.
March 3, 2017
The work package combines evidence from catchment sites and experimental studies, catchment-scale modelling (assessing current water quantity and quality responses to pressures and predictions of future change), case studies of water issues...
March 3, 2017
Our soils provide many services or functions,  for example soils are essential for crop production but they also play an unseen role in limiting diffuse pollution to waters, storing organic carbon and reducing Green House Gas emissions to...
March 3, 2017
Professor Lorna Dawson, a forensic soil scientist based at the James Hutton Institute, has joined a team of Police Scotland detectives as they commence a full scientific examination of a site in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire as part of the...
March 3, 2017
Fungi are immensely important to humanity and the planet we live on. They belong to their own kingdom, provide powerful medicines including antibiotics, regulate many processes in soils and also provide society with numerous food and drink...
March 3, 2017
Ecosystem services – the flows of resources such as clean air, water, food, materials and mental restoration generated by the interaction of humans and nature – are the subject of significant research efforts by scientists throughout...
March 3, 2017
Our natural resources benefit society in many ways. Therefore, to achieve economic, social and environmental sustainability, management of natural resources must connect and consider multiple goals and issues.  However, many existing...
February 2, 2017
Samples from Scotland’s National Soil Archive hosted at the James Hutton Institute in Aberdeen have been used for the art/science project Geologic Intimacy (Yu no Hana) by artist Ilana Halperin, which highlights the historical connections...
February 2, 2017
The James Hutton Institute today announced the appointment of Mr Archie Gibson, a leading ambassador for Scottish agriculture, to its Board of Directors as a non-executive director. Mr Gibson is the executive director of Agrico UK Ltd, a...
February 2, 2017
Scotland’s environment faces many challenges including a changing climate, invasive species, pollution and changes in the way our land and seas are managed, and ecological research is at the heart of solutions to help policymakers,...
February 2, 2017
The Commonwealth Potato Collection (CPC), a unique repository of potato germplasm held in trust by the James Hutton Institute with support from the Scottish Government, has made the first-ever seed deposit by a UK institution into the Global Seed...
February 2, 2017
Consumption of berries may have beneficial effects on health related to type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, neurodegenerative diseases and cancers. The beneficial effects may be due to the presence of protective polyphenol...
February 2, 2017
A research collaboration featuring scientists from the James Hutton Institute, Newcastle University and the University of Aberdeen has uncovered evidence that man-made pollutants have now reached the most remote habitats of our planet.
February 2, 2017
Glen Dee, a late season floricane raspberry variety bred at the James Hutton Institute and licensed by James Hutton Limited, has been shortlisted in the 'Best New Variety: Top/Soft Fruit' category of the Horticulture Week UK Grower Awards...
February 2, 2017
More than £1.8 billion of planned investment will form the basis of the Tay Cities Deal which could create up to 15,000 jobs for the region. Among over 50 projects included in a submission document revealed today at the James Hutton...
February 2, 2017
The Commonwealth Potato Collection (CPC), an invaluable repository of potato germplasm held in trust by the James Hutton Institute with support from the Scottish Government, is set to make the first deposit of plant genetic material by a UK...
February 2, 2017
Significant efforts and resources have been deployed to mitigate rural diffuse pollution through regulatory, guidance and voluntary measures. Despite these ongoing efforts, rural diffuse pollution remains a persisten problem. In Scotland, the...
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...
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...
January 1, 2017
Certain Scottish honeys have shown antimicrobial activities equal to that of commercial ‘super-honeys’ and may be useful in the ongoing fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, scientists at the James Hutton Institute and Queen...
January 1, 2017
Deer are iconic species in Scotland and provide a key ecological resource for the tourism, hunting and food industries. However, at high densities their impact can be detrimental to some habitats. Are the right policies and incentives in place to...
January 1, 2017
The concept of ‘nature-based solutions’ has been featured in the latest editorial of influential publication Nature, citing a paper co-written by James Hutton Institute scientists as a key resource in developing the notion of NBS.
January 1, 2017
Researchers at the James Hutton Institute and collaborators from across Europe have announced the start of a project which aims to increase farmers’ access to demonstrations of best practices and innovation in agriculture. Funded by the...
December 12, 2016
Mrs Sheena Lamond, a longstanding member of staff and part of the James Hutton Institute’s Cell and Molecular Sciences group in Dundee, has been recognised in the 2017 New Year Honours list.
December 12, 2016
New plant breeding technology is being used by the James Hutton Institute to help blueberries thrive in the Scottish climate, the Scottish Government's Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham has announced. Part of a significant programme...
December 12, 2016
Researchers at the James Hutton Institute and the University of Aberdeen are collaborating on a three-year research project to understand the long-term impacts of flooding on people and communities, one year on from the December 2015 and January...
December 12, 2016
Planting peas and other legumes alongside cereal crops could help make farming greener, ecologists at the James Hutton Institute say. Intercropping, as it's known, could cut greenhouse gas emissions by reducing dependence on fertiliser, as...
December 12, 2016
Scientists have developed an improved technique for capturing longer DNA fragments, doubling the size up to 7000 DNA bases that can be analysed for novel genes which provide plants with immunity to disease. By using the RenSeq method,...
December 12, 2016
Professor Jeff Wilson, Honorary Research Fellow of the James Hutton Institute, has been presented with the Collins Medal at the President’s Lunch of the Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
December 12, 2016
An analysis commissioned by the James Hutton Institute has calculated that the Institute delivers £12.75 of economic benefit for each £1 received in funding from the Scottish government - a substantial economic impact and an...
December 12, 2016
Often portrayed as pulling Santa’s sleigh, reindeer are a Christmas staple. Now, ecologists have found that reindeer are shrinking due to the impact of climate change on their food supplies. Speaking at the British Ecological Society...
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...
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
Objectives To work with a range of regional to national level stakeholder involved in the management of land and water resources in Scotland to understand what is needed to aid landscape scale outcome-based approaches.  
December 12, 2016
Scientists at the James Hutton Institute have welcomed the Scottish Government's decision to allow beavers to remain in Argyll and Tayside as a protected species, but warned continued long-term monitoring and active management in...
November 11, 2016
The James Hutton Institute’s Annual Review for 2015-16 has been presented by Chief Executive Professor Colin Campbell. The document presents an overview of the financial and biographical status of the Institute as well as a summary of...
November 11, 2016
The James Hutton Institute is taking part the Aberdeen Ambassador Network (AAN), a programme designed to encourage professionals and academics to bring high-profile conferences and exhibitions to the North East of Scotland.
November 11, 2016
The inventiveness and effort of staff at the James Hutton Institute were recognised with a score of awards - including the top prize - at the Perthshire Chamber of Commerce Business Star Awards, held at the Crieff Hydro with over 300 guests from...
November 11, 2016
A practical ‘magic margins’ solution to soil erosion devised by the James Hutton Institute’s Farm, Field & Glasshouse team won the Innovation Award at the RSPB Nature of Scotland 2016 Awards prizegiving ceremony, held at the...
November 11, 2016
St Andrews Brewing Company, a locally-owned Scottish brewery producing craft beer in Fife, has partnered with the James Hutton Institute to develop Harvest Beer, a wholly Scottish beer featuring hops grown at the Institute’s Mylnefield Farm...
November 11, 2016
A research consortium including the James Hutton Institute and AHDB Horticulture is developing a cutting-edge new technology system which can remotely monitor soft fruit crops for stresses. The InnovateUK-funded research aims to produce an...
November 11, 2016
Dr Kerry Waylen, a social scientist based at the James Hutton Institute’s Social, Economic and Geographic Sciences group in Aberdeen, has been invited to speak at a Science Forum preceding the next meeting of the Convention on Biological...
November 11, 2016
Scientists, plant health officials, representatives from farmers’ organisations and potato growers from Scotland and Kenya participated in a workshop held in Nairobi to discuss findings from BBSRC and Scottish Government funded research on...
November 11, 2016
A publication co-edited by a James Hutton Institute scientist is at the top of the most-read electronic books of 2016, according to influential research network Frontiers. The book, titled Plants as alternative hosts for human and animal...
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
Representatives from James Hutton Limited, the James Hutton Institute’s commercial subsidiary, and the Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW) are to take part in the TECH Summit 2016, which will see thought leaders, businesses, educational...
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,...
November 11, 2016
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland, Lord Dunlop, held a roundtable discussion today at the James Hutton Institute's Invergowrie site near Dundee, on the implications of Brexit for research and innovation. Lord Dunlop...
November 11, 2016
How can social innovation change the face of marginalised rural areas in Europe and beyond? What are the most appropriate approaches, methods and tools that can be used for assessing social innovations? What does policy support to social...
October 10, 2016
Drs Hazel Bull and Lionel Dupuy, from the James Hutton Institute, joined fellow scientists from across the UK in sharing crop research updates at the New Frontiers in Crop Research Conference, organised by the Biotechnology and Biological...
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...
October 10, 2016
The contribution crofters and island farmers make to managing land of high nature value will be the focus of a short film and following panel discussion planned for 7.30 pm on Thursday 10th November in the Aros centre, Portree on Skye.
October 10, 2016
The publication of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals in 2015 was the expression of a global consensus to follow a pathway to a better future. The 17 goals and the 169 targets indicate areas where progress is needed and show...
October 10, 2016
Payment for Ecosystem Services (PESS) schemes are based on voluntary payment arrangements between individual beneficiaries and service providers to establish or increase the supply of an ecosystem service.
October 10, 2016
Women who are current or former students of agriculture and related courses (including agricultural economics, rural business management, equine and horse care, and large animal veterinary practice) at college or university level in Scotland are...
October 10, 2016
A new look version of the Scotland’s Soils website has been launched, in a drive to promote access to information on one of Scotland’s most valuable natural assets.
September 9, 2016
A new report on river restoration and biodiversity, published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and by Scotland's Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW), describes the importance of rivers in the UK and Ireland for...
September 9, 2016
Soil isn’t just dirt: it’s the ideal trace material, as it sticks when wet and can be highly distinctive. That’s what Professor Lorna Dawson, Head of Soil Forensic Science at the James Hutton Institute in Aberdeen, said after...
September 9, 2016
Changes in temperature can greatly affect the rate at which aquatic organisms such as algae process inorganic carbon present in streams and waterways, an international team of researchers has found. The study, which saw researchers explore...
September 9, 2016
More needs to be done to promote sustainable food production if we are to solve the apparent conflict between the interests of nature and those of modern agriculture, according to researchers at the James Hutton Institute. This warning comes in...
September 9, 2016
Bioinformaticians at the James Hutton Institute are contributing to a major research effort which seeks to deliver better maize and wheat varieties to over 40 countries around the world, with the aim of improving resilience to farmers’...
September 9, 2016
The launch of a massive, European-wide project aiming to involve tens of thousands of ‘citizen scientists’ in a drive to empower growers with knowledge on sustainable practices and make a vital contribution to global environmental...
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
There have been decades of calls for more joined up approaches to water and catchment management, i.e. approaches that integrate multiple interests and objectives.  However, integration is a word that can be interpreted in many ways, and...
August 8, 2016
Green prescribing by doctors and other health professionals could be a valuable way of helping older people reap the benefits of outdoor recreation. The idea is among a number of recommendations contained in a new report commissioned by the...
August 8, 2016
Climate change and forestry research from James Hutton Institute scientists has been featured in two influential publications: Forestry for a low-carbon future – integrating forests and wood products in climate change strategies, edited by...
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
Despite a soggy start to the day, more than 700 farmers, scientists, policymakers and potato industry representatives visited the James Hutton Institute’s Balruddery Farm to take part in Potatoes in Practice 2016 - the largest field-based...
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-...
July 7, 2016
How did barley, a plant native to the Middle East and South-Western Asia, become able to be grown on land from just below the Arctic Circle to the equatorial highlands and southerly latitudes? The answer lies in the combined forces of evolution...
July 7, 2016
An international team of researchers from leading institutions in Scotland, Germany, Israel and the USA has succeeded for the first time in sequencing the genome of 6,000 year old barley grains from the Copper Age (the Chalcolithic). Their...
July 7, 2016
A Dundee and Manchester collaboration has found out more about one of the most abundant biological substances on the planet. Dr Piers Hemsley from the University of Dundee and James Hutton Institute, and Professor Simon Turner from the...
July 7, 2016
A collaboration involving the James Hutton Institute and the University of Aberdeen has been awarded approximately £450K to carry out two research projects into building resilience to drought in Ethiopia and the interaction between organic...
July 7, 2016
Farmers, agronomists, representatives of the food and drink industry and scientists will come together next week (Thursday 14th July, 4.00 to 6.30pm) at the James Hutton Institute’s Dundee site to take part in Fruit for the Future, the...
July 7, 2016
Four new projects addressing challenges in soil and water management across whole rotations have been awarded £1.2m in funding from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB). The interrelated projects will form a five-year...
June 6, 2016
Cereals industry representatives, farmers, agronomists and scientists from all over Scotland and beyond are expected to descend on Saphock Farm near Oldmeldrum next week (Tuesday 5th July, 2.30 to 7.30pm) to take part in Cereals in Practice 2016...
June 6, 2016
The James Hutton Institute and vertical farming entrepreneurs Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS) have agreed on plans to establish a futuristic farming facility at the Institute’s site in Invergowrie near Dundee. It is predicted that the...
June 6, 2016
Mr Chris Law, MP for Dundee West, visited the James Hutton Institute in Invergowrie to learn about exciting and innovative scientific research that is having considerable impact at home and abroad, as well as its commercial potential for...
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...
June 6, 2016
Scientists at the James Hutton Institute have backed calls for the implementation of a long-term strategy to tackle flood prevention. The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee have today published their “Flooding: Cooperation...
June 6, 2016
Scientists at the James Hutton institute have welcomed the findings of a report published by the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee on the health of UK soils. Soil is of fundamental importance to society yet remains one of our most...
May 5, 2016
Scientists from across Europe and the wider Mediterranean area met at the James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen, to mark the start of a 4-year project addressing some of the most important social challenges faced by rural areas. The Social Innovation...
May 5, 2016
Risk modeller Dr Rupert Hough has been appointed to the leadership of the Information and Computational Sciences group at the James Hutton Institute, following the semi-retirement of Dr David Marshall. The James Hutton Institute's...
May 5, 2016
As part of its commitment to environmentally sustainable farming, the James Hutton Institute, one of Scotland’s LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) Innovation Centres, invites farmers to attend the LEAF Technical Day 2016, on 9th June...
May 5, 2016
The potential of ecosystem services-based approaches for sustainable water resource management has been highlighted in a book co-edited by researchers from the University of Leeds, the James Hutton Institute, the James Cook University and UNESCO...
May 5, 2016
Two young scientists based at the James Hutton Institute in Dundee have been jointly awarded the Peter Massalski Prize for meritorious research.
May 5, 2016
A research project that aims to develop mycological capacity and promote sustainable resource management in the Lao People's Democratic Republic has made significant progress, with two researchers from the National University of Laos (NUoL)...
May 5, 2016
The latest research on water suggests that global demand will increase by 55% by the 2050s and the world could suffer a 40% shortfall in 15 years unless dramatic changes are made in water use and managing water resources. However, are the right...
May 5, 2016
The James Hutton Institute and the University of Dundee are coming together in the name of ‘Plant Power’. They will be hosting an event on Saturday May 21st at Dundee Botanic Garden to highlight how fascinating plants are and how...
April 4, 2016
Renewable energy and sustainability will be in focus next week at All-Energy 2016 - the UK’s premier event for alternative energy sources and associated technologies – and multi-disciplinary experts from across the James Hutton Group...
April 4, 2016
Scientists in Brazil and the UK are joining forces to help solve urgent food and energy security issues in South America's most populous country, by establishing a virtual centre that will investigate how to reduce the use of fertilisers and...
April 4, 2016
An upcoming book co-edited by a James Hutton Institute entomologist and environmental researcher will provide an in-depth look into the contribution of wood ants to woodland ecosystem functions and processes.
April 4, 2016
Following on from TV series "How to Stay Young”, whose first episode was broadcast last night on BBC One, scientists at the James Hutton Institute are pleased to see that the message is getting through about the many health benefits of...
April 4, 2016
An old coal mine in Lanarkshire could soon be springing back into life and once again provide heating for people’s homes thanks to geothermal power. A joint effort by North Lanarkshire Council and the James Hutton Institute hopes to bring a...
April 4, 2016
Scotland’s Environment Web, a website that aims to be a ‘one-stop’ resource to access a variety of information resources on the Scottish environment, has been shortlisted for the LIFE Citizens’ Award for Environment at the...
April 4, 2016
Ongoing research by the James Hutton Institute, Rothamsted Research and Lancaster University is shedding light into the dark world of roots and soils, by focusing on the potential of plants to harness the phosphorus (P) already present in soils...

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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.