Professor Peter Gregory has been appointed Chief Executive of East Malling Research (EMR) and will simultaneously take on the role of Professor of Global Food Security at the University of Reading.

Until recently Peter Gregory was the Chief Executive and Director of SCRI where he built strong research collaborations between SCRI and its partners. In his new roles Peter Gregory will spend four days a week at EMR and the remaining day at the University of Reading working with Reading’s new Centre for Food Security and its Director, Professor Richard Tiffin.

Scotland has a brand new research ‘super institute’ with the job of tackling some of the world’s most challenging problems including the impact of climate change and threats to food and water security.

The James Hutton Institute formally launches today at the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and brings together the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute in Aberdeen and SCRI, Scotland’s world renowned centre for crop research and breeding, based at Invergowrie near Dundee.

Staff of The James Hutton Institute in Aberdeen and Dundee have been celebrating the inauguration of the new ‘super-institute’.  Chairman Ray Perman and Chief Executive Professor Iain Gordon addressed staff meetings at both sites.  They were joined by the Chief Operating Officer, Dr Karen Shaw.

A key milestone on the road to the creation of The James Hutton Institute has taken place in Edinburgh. The Chairs of the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute and SCRI (Scottish Crop Research Institute) have signed documents that will clear the way for the creation of the new organisation.

Mr Michael Gibson, Chair of the Macaulay Institute and Mr Peter Berry CMG, Chair of SCRI were joined for the signing ceremony by Mr Ray Perman who was appointed Chair of The James Hutton Institute in March last year.

Scotland’s top scientist has said the new James Hutton Institute can help maintain Scotland’s world-leading position in the areas of food security, land use and climate change.