āWe are delighted to present a new format for Fruit for the Future, which we hope will make it possible for even more people to engage with the latest research and development on soft fruit, and that it can collectively be used as a focal point to meet and interact in a virtual way.ā In recognition of the ongoing COVID-19 situation, Fruit for the Future ā the James Hutton Instituteās long-running soft fruit themed event ā is going virtual for 2020, with updates about new research and varieties delivered through online videos over the course of a week, starting on Monday 24 th August. More
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Our food consumption is guided by perceive norms and the food choices of others around us. In the UK today, unhealthy and environmentally unsustainable diets are most commonly eaten (the norm). One way to encourage dietary change can be to provide information suggesting healthy and sustainable diets are more common than often perceived (norm-based messages). In this study, we built a computer simulation model to study the influence of social networks on behavioural responses to norm-based messages seeking to reduce meat consumption in the workplace. Messages were framed around concerns about
Future food systems will face unique challenges in order to meet the nutritional needs of an increasing population which need to both cater for our lifestyle choices and address our growing environmental concerns. For example, an important issue will be an increased demand for protein, while confronting environmental challenges, such as climate change. We need to consider the environmental consequences of our dietary choices if our food system is to remain secure. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Livewell report; ā Eating for 2 degreesā has outlined opportunities to significantly reduce
āUnderstanding the mechanism of tuber initiation in potato provides a new strategy to increase yields of a crop that is absolutely pivotal for global food security.ā Potato is one of the worldās most important food crops, but the vulnerability of yield levels to plant stresses limit the cropās uptake in some parts of the world, particularly in areas impacted by climate change. This reduces potatoās potential to support food security in such regions. New research by James Hutton Institute plant scientists has found that a specific protein encoded by the potato genome is a key component of
"We intend to apply our expertise in natural product chemistry to investigate the properties of these compounds and find an effective way to make them available to society and hopefully help stop the spread of viral diseases" Natural extracts from brown seaweeds native to the UK have been shown to have antiviral properties that could help stop the spread of viral diseases. Researchers at the James Hutton Institute and AIM-listed partners Byotrol plc have been awarded funding to investigate chemical components from brown seaweeds and identify a way to extract them into effective natural
"The James Hutton Institute is taking a leading role in the design and implementation of the data management activities of an European demonstration farm network for IPM strategies" Agricultural scientists of the James Hutton Institute have been awarded Ā£220,000 by Horizon 2020, the European Unionās research and innovation programme, to find ways to promote the adoption of integrated pest management strategies among an EU-wide network of farmers, and help achieve enhanced profitability with low reliance on pesticides and better pest control. More information from: Bernardo Rodriguez-Salcedo
Moredun Research Institute and Scotlandās Rural College (SRUC) are working together to support the NHS by providing extra capacity for vital testing of samples within their laboratory facilities at Pentlands Science Park in Midlothian. The collaborative team will be using Moredunās specialist high-containment facilities, for working with high hazard group pathogens to enable the safe handling of samples for SARS-Cov-2 testing combined with SRUC veterinary labsā capability to deliver high throughput PCR testing. The team, who would normally be working on delivering diagnostics to support
"The event will feature a virtual site so that anyone can tour the science, specialist and industry expertise that would have been available at the actual in-field event" Arable Scotland 2020, Scotland's newest field event focussing on arable crops, is taking place online on 2nd July 10:00 am and will major on alternative crops and new markets. Registration for the free event is open at www.arablescotland.org.uk. 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
"CREW was able to facilitate this ground-breaking research by providing financial support and coordination to allow a rapid response to a wider collective effort to develop an assay to help tracking SARS-CoV-2 via municipal wastewater" Research funded by Scotlandās Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW) is examining the potential of wastewater testing to help monitor the spread of coronavirus in Scotland. 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 (mobile
āThe conference underlines the need to act beyond immediate needs and concerns, and to take responsibility for those who will follow the current generations, and who will have less time to react to the world bequeathed to themā The International Association for People-environment Studies (IAPS), currently presided by Dr Tony Craig, head of our Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences department, begins its conference today. The conference theme, āRunning out of time: setting the pace for future generationsā, stresses the urgency of progressing towards more sustainable societies, of changes