The James Hutton Institute

It’s been great to see some of our vital research being used in The Scottish Government’s National Islands Plan Report for 2024! 📖 Two surveys led by the Hutton are mentioned in the report – our 2020 National Islands Plan Survey, which gathered baseline data about islanders' perceptions of various aspects of island life, and our 2023 Scottish Islands Survey, which was used to measure progress towards the plan's objectives. 🌊🗣️ The report also uses the Scottish Island Regions geography, published by the Hutton in 2023. Congratulations to our researchers Ruth Wilson, Jon Hopkins and Fiona Bender, who led this important work, and thanks to the 3,000+ islanders who contributed their views.👏 Report: https://ow.ly/KSu650VvJaR #IslandVoices #ScotlandIslands #HuttonResearch #NationalIslandsPlan #ScottishIslands

🗺️ 180-year-old maps meet AI! A new collaboration between The James Hutton Institute and the National Library of Scotland has combined artificial intelligence with 180-year-old Ordnance Survey maps to digitally classify and localise over 5 million hectares of historic #Scottish moorland for the first time. By training machine learning models to detect features like bog, moss, and moorland, researchers can now identify areas of peatland that may have been lost or altered, crucial knowledge in the fight against #ClimateChange, as degraded peatlands contribute up to 15% of Scotland’s annual CO₂ emissions. 📍 This innovative work builds on previous efforts mapping grasslands on peat and opens new possibilities for restoration and policy action. 🔗 More: https://ow.ly/e7eZ50VvztH #ClimateScience #Peatlands #DigitalInnovation #Scotland #CarbonEmissions

Hutton expertise has contributed to a new report, published by the British Ecological Society, that brings together the expertise of academics, practitioners and #farmers from across the UK. 🌱🚜 The report explores the evidence that #RegenerativeAgriculture approaches can achieve positive outcomes like improving #SoilHealth, increasing #biodiversity and minimising environmental damage. 📑 More: https://ow.ly/oIaL50VtIlk

📢 The #NatureOfScotland Awards 2025 are now accepting entries, and we’re excited to sponsor the Innovation Award once again. This award celebrates groundbreaking projects that champion #nature conservation in Scotland. If you're leading an innovative initiative that supports our natural environment, we encourage you to apply.  🗓️ Apply by 27 May: https://bit.ly/42fr7fO

🌿🤧 As the #Hayfever season approaches, our scientists are have begun their daily #pollen count, tracking 12 plant & tree species that trigger allergies. They'll also report on air quality & fungal spores until September. With 30+ years in the Met Office UK Pollen Monitoring Network, we are one of the longest-serving members! More: https://ow.ly/xLlv50VsjjH #PollenCount #AllergySeason

Fantastic to see our research on #microplastics in #soil featured by George Monbiot in The Guardian. After four years of sewage sludge spreading, #microplastic levels in fields rose by up to 1,450%, with levels remaining relatively unchanged 22 years after application. #SoilHealth Read more: https://ow.ly/KCEW50VrAk5

Meet Jamie, one of our talented Business Development Managers! Jamie specialises in agri-tech, soft fruits, potatoes, brassica breeding, crop trials and agricultural sustainability. If you're interested in exploring these exciting sectors, don't hesitate to reach out to Jamie for insightful discussions and opportunities. #BusinessDevelopment #AgriTech #SoftFruit #Potatoes #Brassica #CropTrials #Innovation #Agriculture #sustainability

Meet Jamie 👋 He's a Molecular and Computational Biologist working to improve the future of sustainable agriculture at The James Hutton Institute in Invergowrie! 🌱🔬 His research focuses on barley - one of the world’s most important crops - helping to develop more resilient varieties that can adapt to climate change and ensure global food security 🌍💡 Watch Jamie’s story to see how his studies led him to a career in agricultural science 👇 Read more student stories ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eudFpRkb

🗣️ Hear from Ruth Mitchell, Plant Soil Ecologist, at the Hutton as she discusses some of the finding from the #Diversitree project and the importance of #ScotsPine in the UK. The DiversiTree projects combines #woodland managers’ expertise with #ecological knowledge to identify which #tree species and management approaches best deliver diversification that increases resilience. 🌲🌳 The project is funded by UK Research and Innovation via the Future of UK Treescapes Programme. 👉More on the project: https://ow.ly/6BfI50VpO6q 📽️More video content here: https://ow.ly/ypa150VpO6o

New report available: Transformative landscape change to tackle the climate and biodiversity crises: a Scotland-wide zonation for restoration 🌿 🌍 Biodiversity loss and climate change are deeply interconnected, posing risks to ecosystems and human well-being. With over half of global GDP dependent on nature, the need for action is clear—but despite decades of efforts, nature continues to decline. A transformative approach is needed. Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) offer a way forward—restoring ecosystems, capturing carbon, and building climate resilience. But to make them work at scale, we need spatially targeted strategies that identify where restoration efforts will deliver the most benefits. Our new report provides strategic opportunity mapping for Scotland, and can support the Scottish biodiversity Strategy. It highlights over 1.4 million hectares of high-opportunity areas for: 🌲 Expanding woodlands & agroforestry 🌾 Increasing hedgerows & field margins 🐄 Reducing grazing pressure on grasslands & heathlands 💧 Restoring riparian zones for freshwater ecosystems These maps serve as tools to help planners, policymakers, farmers, and investors target limited resources where they can have the greatest impact. (Peatlands are covered in a separate study.) 📖 Read the full report: https://ow.ly/pVph50VpyYS #NatureBasedSolutions #ClimateAction #Biodiversity #Scotland #LandscapeRestoration #SustainableLandUse