Hutton Highlights, February 2021

Senior Hutton scientist and Director of Scotland’s Plant Health Centre 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. His work across both strategic and applied research has brought Ian into regular contact with UK and devolved governments, the public and the industry. He also explores potential solutions to pests and pathogens, particularly in regard to potato blackleg disease and is a globally recognised potato bacterial disease expert. Ian is a cornerstone and leader of the Institute’s internationally- recognised plant health work and has become the ‘go-to- person’ in the potato industry for all things blackleg and soft rot related. More recently he has been working with the industry on a long-term strategy to control PCN. His position at the interface of the science and industry sectors was recognised by his appointment as Director of the Plant Health Centre of Expertise, co-ordinating plant health knowledge, skills, needs and activities in Scotland. He was recently awarded £2M by BBSRC, NERC, Defra and Scottish Government to lead a Bacteria Diseases Initiative grant on blackleg, the most damaging bacterial plant pathogen in the UK. Presenting the award, Chair of AHDB Potatoes Alison Levett said:“Ian’s prominent position in potato disease is unrivalled in the UK academic-industry interface and I am delighted that he is the recipient of this year’s award.” “During my scientific career I have met many people from the potato industry who have taught me a lot about the business, which helps ensure experiments we develop are as relevant as possible to the industry,” says Ian. “If I were advising people just starting out I would say, if you want to make the biggest difference, meet the people who will benefit most right from the start and understand their needs to help inform your research.” For more information on his research visit Prof Toth’s Hutton staff page . The James Hutton Institute has a new Chair of its Board, Dr Ian Gambles, who succeeds Professor James Curran in the role. Ian has been a director of the Institute since 2014 and is also a Forestry Commissioner and CEO of the Forestry Commission, serving on the board of the Commission’s scientific research agency, Forest Research. Ian’s career has spanned both the public and private sectors, including HM Treasury, the Planning Inspectorate and advisory firms KPMG and Deloitte. Accepting his appointment, Ian said: “As the world faces up to the immense challenges of climate change, including food security, environmental resilience and land use change, the deep expertise of our scientists is a critical asset for Scotland and beyond. The value of the Institute’s work deserves wider recognition, and I am committed to supporting it on its ambitious but sustainable path to achieving even greater impact.” “I am delighted that Ian is taking on this role. Ian’s experience, skills and knowledge are ideal for this role and he understands our external environment so well. I am looking forward to working with him as Chair and value the continuity that this appointment ensures at a time of great uncertainty on a number of fronts. It will help us maintain momentum respond nimbly to new imperatives and opportunities, using his assured business, financial and professional experience,” said Chief Executive Colin Campbell. “I would also like to thank and pay tribute to the outgoing Chair, James Curran, who has contributed so much to the Institute and engaged with everyone so well. James will become an Honorary Fellow of the Institute and will continue to interact with us.” Awards, Accolades & Appointments Potato Industry Award 2020 for Hutton expert A scientific team featuring researchers from the James Hutton Institute and Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland (BioSS) scooped the Innovation Award at the prestigious RSPB Nature of Scotland Awards 2020. The team worked with 43 scientists from 18 organisations to establish a ‘world-first’ standardised risk assessment to identify genetic problems in wild species and to monitor and guide management responses to conserve genetic diversity. The new risk assessment presents a scorecard approach for wild species of cultural and socioeconomic importance as a necessary component of a national framework which also encompasses agriculture, horticulture, and forestry. The goal is to promote long-term conservation of genetic diversity and address Aichi Target 13. This states that by 2020, the genetic diversity of cultivated plants and farmed and domesticated animals and of wild relatives, including other socioeconomically as well as culturally valuable species, is maintained, and strategies have been developed and implemented for minimizing genetic erosion and safeguarding their genetic diversity. The Hutton contribution was led by plant ecologist and Ecological Sciences head of department Professor Robin Pakeman, and included our efforts on native plant species and, in particular, crop wild relatives. The project was supported by SEFARI , and led by Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, NatureScot and the University of Edinburgh. The report Scotland’s Biodiversity Progress to 2020 Aichi Targets: Conserving Genetic Diversity – Development of a national approach for addressing Aichi Biodiversity Target 13 that includes wild species is available on the NatureScot website , and a short video produced by RBGE is available to watch online . Nature of Scotland Award for innovative work to protect biodiversity New appointments strengthen Institute Board New Chair of the James Hutton Institute Board of Directors The Institute has made three non-executive appointments, bringing business leader Samantha Barber, former MEP and MSP Aileen McLeod and agricultural expert Ken Greetham to its Board. Samantha Barber specialises in environmental, social and governance leadership, focussing on corporate strategy, sustainability, non-financial risk, governance, culture, and people. She has been a non-executive director with global energy company Iberdrola since 2008 and joined the Board of Scottish Water in 2017. Aileen McLeod was elected as a Member of the Scottish Parliament in 2011 and served as the Scotland’s Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform from 2014 to 2016. In 2019 she was elected as a Member of the European Parliament for Scotland. Aileen is currently a Senior Advisor with The Club of Rome. She has extensive experience in Scottish, European and international policy-making across environment, climate change and the wellbeing economy. As the former Chief Executive of Wynnstay Group plc, Ken Greetham has significant experience in agriculture and its supply chains, corporate planning and the development of commercial businesses. He maintains an active interest in the agricultural industry and sits on the Audit and Risk Management Committee of Harper Adams University. Professor Colin Campbell, Chief Executive of the Institute, commented: “I am delighted to welcome these new Board members who bring further new ideas and perspectives in key areas to the organisation. Our Board reflects the knowledge we need to combine understanding and perspectives, and provide a whole-systems view of how people, environment, agriculture and food interact. Only by doing this will we solve the pressing challenges around sustainable land use.”  All the appointments are the result of open, public recruitment. Since 2015 the Institute has maintained a 50:50 gender balance on its Board since 2015. 6 Hutton Highlights February 2021 7 Comments?