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This conference brings together stakeholders from across the sectors of Horticulture, Forestry, Agriculture and the Natural Environment and is a great opportunity for organisations and individuals to share and discuss their plant health issues and catch up on the latest policies relevant to Scotland. The conference last year was very well received by its 120 delegates and, with 2020 being designated as the International Year of Plant Health, we hope that your participation will help to make next monthâs event even more of a success! The draft programme can be found here. Attendance is by
"Sustainability and the twin issues of climate and biodiversity set the scene but solutions will be the focus of the day" By Professor Fiona Burnett, Co-chair, Arable 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). read more
2019 was an important year for Scotland's islands, with the development of The National Islands Plan, an increased focus on repopulation, and concern about the consequences of Brexit. An award from SEFARI Gatewayâs Responsive Opportunity Fund allowed The James Hutton Institute, CoDeL, Community Land Scotland and SRUC to undertake some timely research, gathering positive examples of recovery and growth from across the islands. Through collaboration with islanders and island representatives, the Islands Revival project identified what was driving these pockets of recovery and made policy
"This research will help demonstrate the first known mechanism controlling recombination in barley and promises to reveal a new way to influence the breeding of large genome crops" Dr Isabelle Colas, a scientist of the International Barley Hub, has been awarded a New Investigator grant worth ÂŁ400k by UK Research and Innovation to explore a genetic pathway to improved barley crops, with the ultimate aim of helping breeders develop future varieties suited to the needs of growers and industry. More information from: Bernardo Rodriguez-Salcedo, Media Manager, Tel: +44 (0)1224 395089 (direct line)
"It is vital that this carbon benefit is realised in the short term to address the climate crisis" An initiative supported by the James Hutton Institute has set its sights on developing methods for measuring soil carbon with a cost-effective commercial tool to help UK farmers tap into the carbon credits market. Agricarbon, led by Invergowrie farmer Stewart Arbuckle, has funding from Heathrow Airport, which aims to be one of the worldâs first aviation hubs to become carbon neutral for its infrastructure and the first to target zero-carbon by the mid-2030s. More information from: Bernardo
"This is not simply a story of a new gin but is in fact another great example of Scottish teamwork and ingenuity. NĂ dar is fully provenanced as a sustainable Scottish product" The worldâs first âclimate-positiveâ gin has been created by UK scientists â using the humble garden pea. Five years of research at Abertay University and the James Hutton Institute in Scotland, in collaboration with Arbikie Distillery, has culminated in todayâs release of new gin NĂ dar. More information from: Bernardo Rodriguez-Salcedo, Media Manager, Tel: +44 (0)1224 395089 (direct line), +44 (0)344 928 5428
Introduction Pollinating insects, like bees and hoverflies, face a range of pressures including climate change and the loss of high-quality habitats as a result of agricultural intensification. Consequently, in some parts of Europe pollinators are now struggling to find the resources they require. With 84% of the major crops worldwide - including those used for food and medicine - and 88% of flowering plants relying on insect pollinators, we need to act now to prevent further loss. Currently, over 70% of Scotlandâs total land area is used for agricultural production, ranging from intensively
Are urban community food growing projects the answer to the problem of food poverty and the seemingly ever-increasing number of food banks? We conclude that they arenât, but that they are an important response to wider challenges of poverty, loneliness, exclusion and a decline in community investment. The dramatic increase in the number of food banks in the past decade (see Trussell Trust and Human Rights Watch ), in response to austerity linked poverty in the UK, risks them becoming an accepted way for individuals and families to access emergency food aid. Food banks provide food aid to