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Read the news archive from the James Hutton Institute. News here are more than three months old.

L-R: Dr Liz Dinnie, PhD student Josephine Heger and Prof Flora Douglas
Thursday, January 13, 2022

Research on impact of COVID-19 on food practices

The James Hutton Institute and Robert Gordon University (RGU) are carrying out research on how COVID-19 restrictions impacted behaviours around food related practices, through a PhD studentship awarded by the Macaulay Development Trust.

Blue light is important for plants but it inhibits immunity to late blight
Wednesday, January 12, 2022

Blue light inhibits immune response of potato to late blight disease

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 more susceptible to potato late blight, a research team has discovered.

Prof Colin Campbell and Prof Deb Roberts in BBC Scotland's Resolutions 2022
Saturday, January 01, 2022

Rethink our relationship with nature to avoid worst of climate change and pandemics

Society needs to rethink 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.

Computer impression of the proposed GHG observatory at Balruddery farm
Thursday, December 23, 2021

Plans afoot for UK’s first purpose-built greenhouse gas observatory in Scotland

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 Dundee.

Five new potato varieties have been approved for release in Malawi
Thursday, December 23, 2021

Five new climate and disease resilient potato varieties approved for release in Malawi

Five climate and disease resilient potato varieties developed by the James Hutton Institute-led Quikgro research project have been approved for release in Malawi. It’s hoped that the new varieties will contribute to economic growth and prosperity along the whole potato supply chain in the region.

Potato roots affected by PCN
Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Assessing durability of potato breeding lines against PCN threat

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.

A festive meal (Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay)
Monday, December 20, 2021

Why Covid is not a good stress test of our food supply chains' resilience

Will there be turkeys for Christmas? In spite of some likely strains due to Brexit, labour shortages and the disruptions of COVID-19, the answer is a fairly safe yes. Yet this is perhaps surprising, writes Hutton scientist Mike Rivington, describing the results of research on the impact of COVID-19 in our food supply chains.

Seed banks are a hidden stock for plant diversity
Friday, December 17, 2021

Global patterns of potential future plant diversity hidden in soil seed banks

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 Hutton scientist Prof Robin Pakeman (Ecological Sciences) has brought together research on the density and diversity of seed banks to understand global patterns.

No soil means no life (Photo: Nikola Jovanovic/Pixabay)
Tuesday, December 07, 2021

World Soil Day: Celebrating all that soils can do for us

COP26 highlighted more than ever that we must reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and become more sustainable before it’s too late, and soil is a key component in this battle, write Hutton scientists Ken Loades, Roy Neilson, Tracy Valentine and Nikki Baggaley to mark World Soil Day.

Maize sprouts in a field (Photo by Roman Synkevych on Unsplash)
Thursday, December 02, 2021

Plants for the Future: sustainable and innovative agricultural systems

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 towards more environmentally and socio-economically sustainable agricultural systems.

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Printed from /news/archive?page=10 on 03/06/23 06:28:41 PM

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.