Hutton Highlights, October 2021

Some dates for your diary Date Event Location Notes 22 October 2021 IBH seminar series: Barley Agronomy Online event Speaker: Fiona Burnett, SRUC w/c 1 November COP26 Glasgow Various Hutton activities; more details to come 1-3 November 2021 43rd TB Macaulay Lecture Glasgow By invitation and application only. Contact Nicola.Strachan@ hutton.ac.uk 22 November 2021 IBH seminar series: Barley Phenotyping under stress: challenges and prospects Online event Speakers: Sonia Negrao Nadia Al-Tamimi 1 and 2 March 2022 Crop Production in Northern Britain (CPNB) Online event Look out for more information nearer the time 5 July 2022 Arable Scotland Balruddery Farm Net Zero theme 11 August 2022 Potatoes in Practice Balruddery Farm Look out for more information nearer the time October 2021 23 Comments? The vision is that the Hub would be a collaborative partnership of researchers, knowledge brokers and commercial companies, acting as an interchange that accelerates research, innovation and its translation into new research products and practices along the potato value chain. Professor Lesley Torrance, Director of Science at the Institute, said plans had been under consideration for some time due to the importance of the crop in Scotland and globally; the world’s third most important staple food crop. The potato sector is worth US$93m a year globally, with UK potato production valued at £771m in 2019. “We established Scottishpotatoes.org in 2019 with partners SRUC and SASA, and recently have come together with ADAS to establish Crop Storage Solutions in response to the need for continuity following closure of AHDB Potatoes and the necessity of securing the future of GB potato storage research. It now seems a natural progression to go further and explore the potential to establish a potato innovation and translation hub given the wider industry needs. By working together, we can harness the new technologies, ideas and opportunities to create and deliver solutions” she explains. Although the proposed new hub would be based in Scotland it would have relevance and impact across all nations of the UK and beyond, providing multiple benefits for the potato industry. It’s hoped that it would be the focal point for listening to and understanding industry needs, and then propose, co- construct and deliver solutions and support to growers and other stakeholders in the supply chain. It would also train the next generation in skills needed for the future. “We urgently need to grow varieties adapted to the changing climate and with reduced inputs for sustainable and resilient production systems. To do this, recent advances in breeding technologies can be harnessed to fast track the breeding of new varieties; new developments in modelling, sensors and drone technologies are driving integrated pest management solutions,” Prof Torrance added. The Hub is backed by the Institute’s internationally renowned potato science, which spans fundamental and translational research. The Institute has over 100 potato scientists, many internationally recognised leaders in their fields, and a track record of major discoveries and innovations in potato science. The next steps for the Potato Innovation and Translation Hub include consultations with industry; defining an industry demand statement; commissioning economic and financial analyses; consulting research partners and funders; and outlining a business case for investment in new facilities, people and research programmes. Watch a report by STV News about plans for a Potato Innovation and Translation Hub: https://youtu.be/wL91WPwUznY . Potato Innovation and Translation Hub outlined Speaking at the Potatoes in Practice 2021 event in August, Hutton scientists outlined plans for a Potato Innovation and Translation Hub: a centre of excellence to translate innovation and research into solutions for the potato industry. 22 Hutton Highlights James Hutton Limited Podcast Introducing the Honeyberry to Scotland Laura Paterson, James Hutton Limited, chats with Dr Louise Gamble, former KTP Associate at the James Hutton Institute about the endeavours of the Scottish Honeyberry Growers and their plans to introduce the honeyberry to a wider Scottish audience. Insta: @scottishhoneyberries The International Barley Hub A chat with Professor Robbie Waugh, Director of Research, the International Barley Hub. How did this future centre of global excellence come about and what are Robbie’s plans for taking it forward? Find out more about IBH at www.barleyhub.org Intercropping with Professor Rob Brooker and Doctor Alison Karley A chat with Professor Rob Brooker and Doctor Alison Karley of the James Hutton Institute covering intercrops, the benefits of intercropping and considerations of the impact intercropping can have. For more information about Diversify visit plant-teams.org more about SEAMS at www.hutton.ac.uk Podcasts