James Hutton Institute

{{Short description|Scottish research institution}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}

{{Use British English|date=February 2016}}

{{Infobox company

| name = The James Hutton Institute

| logo = Thejameshuttoninstitutelogo.png

| foundation = 1 April 2011

| predecessor = {{unbulleted list|The Macaulay Land Use Research Institute and The Scottish Crop Research Institute}}

| hq_location = Dundee

| location_country = Scotland

| locations = 2; Aberdeen and Dundee

| key_people = Professor Colin Campbell, Chief Executive

Professor Deb Roberts, Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director of Science

Alasdair Cox, Director of Operations

Professor Rob Brooker, Director of Science {{cite web |last1=Bell |first1=Matteo |title=Professor Rob Brooker appointed as Executive Director of Science |url=https://www.hutton.ac.uk/professor-rob-brooker-appointed-as-executive-director-of-science/ |website=James Hutton Institute |access-date=4 March 2025}}

Hugh Darby, Director of Finance and Company Secretary

| homepage = {{official URL}}

| subsid = {{unbulleted list|[https://www.huttonltd.com/ James Hutton Limited], |[http://www.bioss.ac.uk/ Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland (BioSS)]}}

}}

The James Hutton Institute is an interdisciplinary scientific research institute in Scotland established in 2011, through the merger of Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI) and the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute. The institute, named after Scottish geologist James Hutton, one of the leading figures of the Scottish Enlightenment, combines existing Scottish expertise in agricultural research, soils and land use, and works in fields including food and energy security, biodiversity, and climate change. With more than 600 employees, the institute is among the largest research centres in the UK.{{cite news | url=http://business.scotsman.com/business/New-centre-to-honour-39father.6619686.jp | title=New centre to honour 'father of geology' | date=9 November 2010 | access-date=18 July 2016 | newspaper=The Scotsman}} It is a registered charity under Scottish law.{{Scottish charity|SC041796|The James Hutton Institute}}

The institute has its main offices in Aberdeen and Dundee with farms and field research stations at Glensaugh and Balruddery.{{cite web|title=FAQs|url=https://www.hutton.ac.uk/about/faqs|website=Hutton.ac.uk|access-date=18 July 2016}} The Dundee site also hosts the Plant Sciences department of the University of Dundee.{{cite web|author1=School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee|title=Plant Sciences|url=http://www.lifesci.dundee.ac.uk/research/ps|website=LifeSci.Dundee.ac.uk|access-date=18 July 2016}}

The James Hutton Institute also formally contains Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland (BioSS) which has staff based in Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen and Ayr. BioSS undertakes research, consultancy and training in mathematics and statistics as applied to agriculture, the environment, food and health.{{cite web|title=BioSS: Home Page|url=http://www.bioss.ac.uk/|website=BioSS.ac.uk|access-date=18 July 2016}} Strategic oversight of the development of BioSS is provided by a Strategic Planning Group composed of senior representatives from BioSS' principal stakeholders.{{cite web|author1=Biomathematics & Statistics Scotland|title=Corporate Plan 2012-2016|url=http://www.bioss.ac.uk/BioSS_Corporate_Plan_2012.pdf|website=BioSS.ac.uk|publisher=Biomathematics & Statistics Scotland|access-date=18 July 2016}}

BioSS and the James Hutton Institute are two of a family of six organisations termed the Main Research Providers for the Scottish Government Rural and Environment Research and Analytical Services Division (RESAS).{{cite web|author1=The Scottish Government|title=Rural Affairs, Food and the Environment - Main Research Providers|url=http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Research/About/EBAR/research-providers|website=Gov.Scot|access-date=18 July 2016}}

In 2012, the institute announced that it was formally joining the Natural Capital Initiative, a leading UK partnership that brings together policymakers, scientists, business, industry to find the most effective ways safeguard important ecosystems and natural capital.{{cite news|title=James Hutton Institute joins the Natural Capital Initiative|url=https://www.hutton.ac.uk/news/james-hutton-institute-joins-natural-capital-initiative|website=Hutton.ac.uk|access-date=18 July 2016|date=17 October 2012}}

Projects led by the institute to establish an International Barley Hub (IBH) and an Advanced Plant Growth Centre (APGC) at the Dundee site have been supported through the Tay Cities Deal with a £62m investment.{{cite news|title=Tay Cities Deal: James Hutton Institute hails £62 million investment as 'huge vote of confidence' for region|url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/dundee/770651/tay-cities-deal-james-hutton-institute-hails-62-million-investment-as-huge-vote-of-confidence-for-region/|website=thecourier.co.uk|date=23 November 2018}} The new Crop Innovation Centre housing the IBH and APGC was opened in 2024 by First Minister John Swinney and Scottish Secretary Ian Murray.{{cite news |last1=Henderson |first1=Brian |title=New crop centre in Invergowrie expected to create 470 Tayside jobs |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/business-environment/farming/5111671/new-crop-centre-in-invergowrie-expected-to-create-470-tayside-jobs/ |access-date=4 March 2025 |work=The Courier |publisher=DC Thompson |date=28 October 2024}}