A new Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) involving the James Hutton Institute and Davidsons Animal Feeds is exploring the possibilities of protein-rich UK seaweeds to replace some currently used ingredients in the production of ruminant animal feeds, with associated benefits in terms of meat quality and a reduced carbon footprint.

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 statistics.

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 Organizations (IUFRO), on account of outstanding contributions to social science research on forestry, climate change and social innovation in forestry.

Forests are the most important and versatile ecological infrastructure in Europe. Today, they cover 35% of Europe’s landscape, contain a significant share of its biodiversity and provide products and services which support rural economies and boost the wellbeing of urban areas. Forests also provide crucial ecosystem services, supporting the sustainability of critical resources like water and soil, and play a key role in adaptation and mitigation to climate change.

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 water experts and Scottish expertise in global water-related challenges and solutions, filmed before a live audience and streamed online to a global viewership.

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 chromatography – mass spectrometry analysis unit at the Institute’s Dundee site.

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 Development Goals, an international research collaboration including the James Hutton Institute has found.

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 water quality, biodiversity and soil resilience.

The three-year trial assessed ongoing soil conditions and compared yield results from Concerto spring barley. The Concerto was grown on plots previously planted with either green cover crop mixes or control stubble from another barley crop.

Scientists of the James Hutton Institute will meet with European colleagues to discuss all scientific aspects of diversifying agricultural and food systems, on the practical implementation of crop diversification in value chains and on policy-related issues, during the first European Conference on Crop Diversification (Budapest, Hungary, 18-21 September 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 Environment Business award in the Hydro Nation Scotland category.

The Institute is a leading player in water-related research and innovation and hosts the Hydro Nation International Centre, a site of the Water Test Network for North-West Europe and the Scottish Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW), all at its Aberdeen site.