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“Only mixed cropping with plants with mixture coexistence histories has the potential to not only reduce competition but also to enable the evolution of facilitative interactions, thereby maximising beneficial effects of enhanced biodiversity” Farmers and land managers can improve agricultural productivity by using crop mixtures and taking into consideration the role of evolution in shaping the plants they grow, new research by James Hutton Institute scientists and partners at ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich has found. Related content Rob Brooker More information from: Bernardo

"This study reveals that protecting the host protein SWAP70 by reducing the activity of NRL1, a negative regulator of immunity, could provide a method to combat late blight disease" Potato blight, caused by the water mould Phytophthora infestans, is the major disease of potatoes worldwide and is thus a threat to food security. New research from the Birch lab in the University of Dundee's Division of Plant Sciences, based at the James Hutton Institute, has discovered a mechanism that could combat late blight disease in potato crops. The findings have been published in Proceedings of the

Scientists of the James Hutton Institute have alerted about the potential impact of extreme weather events - such as the current heatwave - on crop production and have suggested the development of stress-resistant crops as an important resource to preserve food security in the face of increased temperatures. "We are researching potatoes that can withstand significant heat stress as spikes in temperature may become more common" Scientists of the James Hutton Institute have alerted about the potential impact of extreme weather events - such as the current heatwave - on crop production

"One of the event’s seminar sessions is inspired by the recently launched World without Potatoes concept, a new international campaign which aims to remind consumers globally of the myriad benefits of potatoes" The next generation of the potato industry will debate the future of the humble spud at this year’s Potatoes in Practice. Potatoes in Practice is the largest field-based potato event in the UK, held on Thursday 9th August at Balruddery Farm, Invergowrie, near Dundee. The event is organised and hosted by the James Hutton Institute in partnership with AHDB Potatoes, SRUC (Scotland's Rural

“There was collective momentum to develop an international strategy for the characterisation of barley mutant populations and the creation of a central database to facilitate access to these genetic resources for research” The use of barley genetic mutant resources to shed light into fundamental aspects of cereal biology was at the centre of discussions at the second International Barley Mutants Workshop 2018 (iBMW2018), held in Dundee with the attendance of 94 crop scientists from the UK, Europe and beyond. More information from: Bernardo Rodriguez-Salcedo, Media Manager, Tel: +44 (0)1224

A sheep expert at SAC Consulting, part of Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), has been taking livestock farmers through the principles of how to make the most of pasture quality.

"The tunnels will showcase all the varieties to the best standards of a commercial system so visitors can view the plants as they would be in the real world" The James Hutton Institute will showcase its new raspberry demonstration tunnels at Fruit for the Future, the Institute’s annual soft fruit-themed event, on Thursday 19 July 2018 in Invergowrie near Dundee. The new demonstration tunnels will be home to the most promising raspberries selected from the more traditional soil grown breeding plots, both primocane and floricane. Selections will be grown in pots, rather than in the soil, which

‘Green engineering’ techniques that help to stabilise river banks and halt the erosion of fields are to be showcased at a free event organised by the Scottish Government’s Farm Advisory Service (FAS).