Roy is a soil ecologist at the James Hutton Institute where he leads the Plant-Soil Interactions Research Group [2] within the Ecological Sciences Departments [3] and is the Hutton lead for the Centre for Agricultural Sustainable Innovation (CASI) [4].
Roy has a long-standing interest in the impact of land use change, management practices and environmental drivers on soil function and biodiversity to support resilient production ecosystems.
Roy is a strong advocate of strengthening the evidence base to support informed decision-making, practice, and adoption of land management practices to maintain and protect soil function and its biodiversity, and this includes the development of indicators to monitor change.
In addition to Scottish systems, Roy has worked in agricultural, forest and natural systems in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
His research is captured in over 150 peer-reviewed research papers, seven book chapters and several reports.
Roy is a member of the following committees/panels:
Science advisory group of WG2 of the International Network on Soil Biodiversity [6] managed by UN-FAO
The NatureScot Scientific Advisory Committee Expert Panel [7]: JNCC Soil Health Indicator Expert Panel
A vice-chair of the Sustainable Agriculture working group of the European Technology Platform [8]
Steering Committee of the Angus Council Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan [9] (SECAP)
Roy sits on the editorial boards of Biology and Fertility of Soils [10] (2018-), Soil Biology & Biochemistry [11] (2020-) & Soil Use and Management [12](2017-2022)
Engaging citizens in soil science: the road to healthier soils (ECHO)(2023-2027): An Horizon Europe funded project, will engage EU citizens in soil health increasing their knowledge, by generating new data on the health status of EU soils to complement existing soil mapping and soil monitoring in EU Member States, and awareness on the ecological and societal importance of soils.
Climate-smart resilience through diversified cropping systems – Identifying springboards in Nordic and Baltic agriculture [13] (AgroMixNorth) (2023-2027), funded by NordForsk, the project is constructed around the central hypothesis that diversified cropping systems, due to their spatial and temporal niche complementary, are more climate-smart and resilient cropping systems compared with mono-culture systems.
Healthy Soils for a Green Recovery [14] (2022-2027) funded by Scottish Government and aims to strengthen the evidence base to support and inform decision-making, practice and uptake for sustainable management and minimization of degradation and loss of Scotland’s soils, considering both their intrinsic value and the benefits (ecosystem services) that they provide.
IPMWorks [15] (2021-2026), funded by the European Union, is an EU-wide farm network demonstrating and promoting cost-effective IPM strategies.
A decision support tool for potato blackleg disease [16] (DES-BL) (2020-2024), funded by BBSRC, aims to develop tools to help farmers, agronomists and policymakers manage the disease.
Nematode diagnostics [17] (2004-present), through James Hutton Limited, we deliver a commercial diagnostic service for the identification of free-living nematode species relevant to UK agriculture. We also provide a detection service for Tobacco Rattle Virus.
Roy also contributes to two further projects:
The Effects of Grass Seed Intentionally containing Endophytes on the Environment (EndoScot) (2020-2024), funded by the Scottish Government, and will develop a risk framework for future products that may contain endophytes.
Are chitin amendments to soil a means to control potato cyst nematodes? (2023-2024), funded by BBSRC, which is an industry collaboration to determine the efficacy of chitin-amended compost derived from waste products for the control of potato cyst nematode.
Committees
Current students
Beth Evans - Can UK agroforestry systems contribute to improved soil function in agri-environments? Funded by ACCE DTP [18] and partnered with the National History Museum and the University of York.
Vongai Chekanai - Utilisation of single and multiple species cover crops for the suppression of soil borne nematodes of Narcissus. Co-funded by the James Hutton Institute and a consortium of industry partners from the UK Narcissus sector and partnered with Harper Adams University.
Francis Kawayla - Optimisation of partial biofumigation for the management of potato cyst nematodes. Funded by SAI CTP [19] and partnered with Harper Adams University
Starting October 2023
Kira Lutter- Moving to net zero barley production. Funded by Baritone CTP [20] and partnered with Glenmorangie and the University of Dundee.
Ruth Taylor - The role of agricultural co-ops in driving change supporting the climate challenge. Funded Baritone CTP [20] and partnered with SAOS and the University of Dundee.
Links:
[1] https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4544-2227
[2] https://www.hutton.ac.uk/research/departments/ecological-sciences/our-science/plant-soil-ecology
[3] https://www.hutton.ac.uk/research/departments/ecological-sciences
[4] https://investinangus.com/tay-cities-deal/the-angus-fund/agri-tech/centre-for-agricultural-sustainable-innovation-casi/
[5] https://www.ukri.org/who-we-are/bbsrc/board-and-panel-membership/research-committees/committee-and-pool-membership/
[6] https://www.fao.org/global-soil-partnership/netsob/ar/
[7] https://www.nature.scot/about-naturescot/board-directors-and-committees/scientific-advisory-committee/sac-expert-panel-members
[8] https://www.etipbioenergy.eu/supporting-initiatives-and-platforms/related-european-technology-platforms-and-jtis/plants-for-the-future
[9] https://www.angus.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2021-11/Angus%20Sustainable%20Energy%20and%20Climate%20Action%20Plan.pdf
[10] https://www.springer.com/journal/374
[11] https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/soil-biology-and-biochemistry
[12] https://bsssjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/14752743
[13] https://www.slu.se/en/departments/soil-environment/research/research-projects/agromixnorth/
[14] https://sefari.scot/research/projects/healthy-soils-for-a-green-recovery
[15] https://ipmworks.net/
[16] https://bacterialplantdiseases.uk/des-bl/
[17] https://www.huttonltd.com/case-studies/free-living-nematode-diagnostic
[18] https://accedtp.ac.uk/
[19] https://www.ctp-sai.org/
[20] https://www.dundee.ac.uk/phds/funding/baritone-collaborative-training-partnership