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"This is fantastic news for the green recovery of Deeside and the Cairngorms National Park" Large-scale conservation work across the Dee catchment has been given the green light thanks to a major cash injection of over half a million pounds. A variety of projects comprising floodplain restoration, woodland expansion and peatland restoration will benefit both people and nature, boosting the region’s resilience to climate change, while improving habitats for biodiversity. More information from: Sally Wallis, Dee Catchment Partnership, Tel: +44 ( 0)13398 85436 or mobile +44( 0)7961 980152; or

"Our new five-year corporate plan commits us to tackle these problems and aims to ensure we take every opportunity to do things better. A new more sustainable and fairer world is entirely within our reach" Researchers at the James Hutton Institute have responded to the latest international report on climate change by emphasising their continued determination to address the greatest challenge humanity has ever faced. 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

“Penetrating the plant cuticle and cell wall is the first step in infection, and the cell wall represents the site of the major struggle between host and pathogen” Crop pathogens like Phytophthora infestans – the origin of several European potato famines in the 19 th century - still cause US$300bn worth of damage to global crop production each year and continue to threaten world food security. 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

"Recent advances in breeding technologies can be harnessed to fast track the breeding of new varieties; new developments in modelling, sensors and drone technologies are driving integrated pest management solutions” Speaking at Potatoes in Practice 2021, scientists of the James Hutton Institute have outlined plans for a Potato Innovation and Translation Hub: a centre of excellence to translate innovation and research into solutions for the potato industry. The hub is envisioned as a collaborative partnership of researchers, knowledge brokers and commercial companies, acting as a hub for

“This project is hugely important to the sector and the sector is hugely important to Scotland. It is predicted that if co-ordinated action is not taken now, Scotland’s bulb and potato industries may no longer be viable in the next 30 years due to the reduction in available non-infested land. We cannot let this happen.” A major new project will tackle pests in potatoes through the protection of clean land and the management of land already infested with pests. The project will focus specifically on tackling potato cyst nematode (PCN), which is becoming an increasing challenge, with its