“We are interested in a wide range of crop traits including those that might be seen as public-good traits such as reducing the environmental impact of fertilisers, pesticides and greenhouse gas emissions, and gene editing is an important tool to help deliver the crops needed for the future” The James Hutton Institute has welcomed plans unveiled by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to consult on gene editing, a technique which could unlock benefits to nature, the environment and help farmers with crops resistant to pests, disease or extreme weather and to produce
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"The aim is to highlight how researchers, farmers and other stakeholders are working together to design, test and provide practical solutions for multi-species intercropping" The potential of innovative mixed-species crop systems to increase the sustainability of food production will be under the spotlight at an online conference focussing on the latest findings on intercropping research from lab to field. More information from: Bernardo Rodriguez-Salcedo, Media Manager, James Hutton Institute, Tel: +44 (0)1224 395089 (direct line), +44 (0)344 928 5428 (switchboard) or +44 (0)7791 193918
“With this work we hope to provide evidence for improved advice and guidance on buffer design options and their effectiveness at field and catchment scale. Demonstration studies would increase awareness and potential uptake as part of a shared agenda with Natural Flood Management communities” River corridors exemplify places in busy farmed landscapes where researchers and land managers can use environmental measures for multiple benefits. These areas often fringe the main working points of the farm but are important interface zones between land and water. More information from: Bernardo
“We must unlock the benefits of this investment with urgency and so look forward now to working with the Scottish and UK Governments and our partners in Tayside to finalise a workable funding schedule over the coming weeks. The value in these projects is directly linked to their being able to be built and delivering early: they can’t wait three or six years.” The James Hutton Institute has today welcomed the signing of the Tay Cities Deal, hailing it as a huge vote of confidence in Tayside, while also highlighting the urgency of innovation projects funded by the Deal including the
Arable crops like wheat and barley, are frequently under attack from diseases, weeds, insects and slugs. These lead to reductions in yield and affect the profitability of farms and the price of produce. To protect crops there is a heavy reliance on pesticides. We are currently researching ways to maintain crop yields and bring wider environmental benefits in an approach known as integrated pest management (IPM). This is a holistic approach to management which maximizes profitability and minimises any negative impacts on the environment. Through surveys and workshops, we created a way of
“The camouflage mismatch of mountain hares is really surprising and worrying, and suggest that some wild animals can’t adapt quick enough to match the rate of climate change” Mountain hares in Scotland show increasing camouflage mismatch due to less snowy winters, according to a new study carried out by an international research team including the James Hutton Institute. Mountain hares are one of multiple species that moult from a dark coat in summer to a white coat in winter to maintain camouflage against snowy landscapes. But due to climate change, the duration of snow cover is decreasing
Mayan Gold “We had a good harvest of Mayan Gold and Vales Sovereign potatoes this year despite all the disruptions due to COVID19, and given it has been a hard year for many we saw this as an opportunity to do something positive and help communities across Tayside” Mayan Gold and Vales Sovereign potatoes developed in Tayside by the James Hutton Institute and grown on Hutton research farms as part of a long-term trial of sustainable cultivation methods are being donated to food banks across Tayside in time for Christmas. More information from: Bernardo Rodriguez-Salcedo, Media Manager, Tel: +44
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated our need to use new digital technologies to communicate. Video conferencing has quickly become the preferred communication avenue for colleagues and families – we’ve all become Zoom experts, Teams champions and WebEx authorities. Online forums have refocused to answer questions such as: does Teams have breakout rooms? Where is the WebEx whiteboard? How do you get out of the Zoom waiting room? Although working from home has had less effect on the farming community, farmers have been impacted in other ways. The lack of summer events, such as cancelled
“This project is building on years of work by members of my team, past and present, and without them this would not have been possible” Dr Jorunn Bos, a principal investigator in the Division of Plant Sciences of the University of Dundee at the James Hutton Institute, has been awarded a prestigious European Research Council Consolidator grant worth almost €2 million to explore novel ways to provide plant protection against insects. The project APHIDTRAP, led by Dr Bos, will explore new directions to answer important questions on how insects such as greenfly and blackfly, commonly known as