Hutton Highlights, October 2021

Contents 04 New Scottish knowledge portal to offer access to wealth of research 06 Awards, Accolades & Appointments 08 Building work underway on Barley Hub and Advanced Plant Growth Centre 10 How can trees help reduce UK greenhouse gas emissions? 12 Support to protect Scotland’s coastlines 14 Funding boost for nature and climate adaptation in Deeside 16 Seaweed feed researcher shortlisted for prestigious KTP leadership award 18 Hutton scientists welcome National Food Strategy report 20 National Islands Plan survey paints mixed picture of life in Scottish islands 22 17 08 11 20 2 Hutton Highlights October 2021 3 The James Hutton Institute magazine team Gillian Stirton, Bernardo Rodriguez-Salcedo, Adam Walker, Sarah Horne editor@hutton.ac.uk The James Hutton Institute is a well-respected and globally recognised research organisation delivering fundamental and applied science to drive the sustainable use of land and natural resources. @JamesHuttonInst /JamesHuttonInstitute /JamesHuttonInstitute Looking ahead to COP26 Welcome to the latest edition of Hutton Highlights, published just ahead of the COP26 in Glasgow which we hope so much will define a decade of action to tackle the climate and nature crisis we all face. This edition features work on the threats we face due to climate breakdown but also some of the solutions. At COP26 with our partners the Macaulay Development Trust we will be privileged to host Christiana Figures as the TB Macaulay Lecturer. She is renowned for her tireless work on getting the consensus around the Paris Agreement and for her Climate Optimism. Our own approach has been changing to match this outlook with more emphasis on the most transformative solutions and by undertaking more Action Research where we test interventions at larger scale working with the people most affected such as the Beltie Burn Restoration project, that has been nominated for a Nature of Scotland Award, and the whole farm systems change we are researching on our farms. We are also undergoing our own transformation with major new building works at Invergowrie. These together with investments at Craigiebuckler will open up our campuses even more and will mean we are working with a even wider range of people and businesses to undertake the actions needed and to bring about a better future for next generation. As always do get in touch on any of the following pages to let us know what you think and how we can do more. Comments? SEFARI activity Introduction Professor Colin Campbell, Chief Executive of The James Hutton Institute /company/james-hutton-institute A new booklet has been published highlighting the impacts of the Centres of Expertise who provide responsive work on climate change, animal disease outbreaks, plant health, water, knowledge exchange and impact. Gateway has been successful in winning several bids to hold events during COP26 and will work with the UK and Scottish governments, Scotland Food and Drink and EU Clima on Blue and Green Zone events as well as developing a University of Glasgow knowledge exchange event with the Centres of Expertise. Additional COP26-focussed activities include supporting the Climate Beacons Tayside project and various related innovative knowledge exchange projects. One such Innovate KE project, led by colleagues Lorna Cole (SRUC) and Lorna Dawson (Hutton & SEFARI Gateway) is adding climate change research examples to the already popular SEFARI virtual farm tours w hich are available on Google Earth. Also don’t forget there is still time to submit your water videos in the CREW led ‘ Waterwall in Motion ’ competition to highlight how Scotland, as a Hydro Nation, is leading the way in water-inspired activities, research, technology and management. Two Hutton staff members will lead new SEFARI Fellowships. Rupert Hough is working with Environmental Standards Scotland, a new independent body, to establish post-Brexit environmental governance arrangements in Scotland; while Mohamed Jabloun will partner the Scottish Government in efforts to establish a crop yield- prediction model and map for Scotland. Showcasing Scotland’s science and innovation at COP26.