"Hosting the event for the first time, Donald Barrie and his team presented a perspective on Hutton farming and agricultural practice that is less familiar to the public" The James Hutton Institute again took part in Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF) Open Farm Sunday, the annual celebration of the story behind our food and how farming underpins our everyday lives. This time, hundreds turned up at our Glensaugh farm on Sunday 10th June to experience a stunning managed upland environment with geological formations, agroforestry, sheep grazing, bracken and heather, woodlands, small lochs and
“Doing nothing is not an option” was the unanimous opinion of the farmers, vets and sheep health experts participating at a workshop to discuss the way forward to control OPA held at Moredun on Tuesday 5 th June.
"Lorna and Anne thoroughly deserve these honours which acknowledge their contributions to the Institute and society" Professor Lorna Dawson, lead soil forensic scientist at the James Hutton Institute, advisor to the Scottish Government on strategic research and SEFARI Gateway lead for environment, has been made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. She is joined by longstanding Hutton member of staff Anne Pack, who has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM). More information from: Bernardo Rodriguez-Salcedo, Media Manager, Tel: +44 (0
"There is a close relationship between Scotland’s first-class agricultural sector, its high-quality food and drink and its world-class research organisations" The Royal Highland Show (21-24 June 2018) is one of Scotland's most iconic events and showcases not only the very best of farming food and rural life, but also the research and innovation that underpin Scotland’s food and drink sector and supports its first-class reputation both at home and abroad. The James Hutton Institute’s world leading research in crops, land and the environment will be at the Show through exhibits covering plant
"Dr Orrell’s MycoNourish product customises the interactions of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plant roots to suit specific production systems" Hutton scientist Dr Peter Orrell has won the ‘Ready Steady Pitch’ award of the Converge Challenge 2018 with his MycoNourish product, which uses fungi to act as a secondary root system and improve plant health. The result came after three days of comprehensive business training to showcase the most innovative ideas emerging from Scottish universities, and the ‘Ready Steady Pitch’ challenge saw entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to a panel of experts and
"In fields as diverse as community land ownership, social care, social housing provision, cultural services and environmental projects, social innovation is driving place-based rural development" How can social innovation change the face of rural areas in Scotland? What are the most appropriate approaches, methods and tools to assess social innovation? What does policy support of social innovation mean in the Scottish context? These questions along with many others were at the heart of a workshop held at the James Hutton Institute in Aberdeen and led by researchers of the EU-funded SIMRA
Soil “It’s important that we develop a database of research into the subject and examine its potential for success. Is it possible that the small change in soil sequencing can compensate for the greenhouse gas emissions produced by other sectors in the region?" Scientists of the James Hutton Institute are supporting the Asian Agricultural Long-Term Experiment (ALTER) with the aim of providing scientific basis and management options for soil sequestration and agricultural sustainability in Asia and beyond. The organisation, launched in March 2017, consists of several scientists working on long