Hutton hosts leading figures at Royal Highland Show

28 June 2023, UK: The Royal Highland Show is an extremely important event as it’s an opportunity for us to speak with our many stakeholders about the issues that matter to them and to showcase our latest developments to support agricultural resilience and the sustainability of our natural resources. This year allowed us to introduce our plans for a National Potato Innovation Centre, which we consider critical if we are to safeguard the future of the potato and gave us the opportunity to speak to our visitors about the centre and to encourage them to make a pledge of support. All in all, it was a terrific four days and my thanks to all involved at the RHS for facilitating this event which is integral to our rural economy.

Independent research organisation, The James Hutton Institute has hailed this year’s Royal Highland Show (RHS) a success, with visits to its marquee from leading figures across UK and Scottish Government and further afield.

Highlights at the leading Scottish agriculture event, included First Minister Humza Yousaf getting his hands dirty to learn about soil science at the Hutton’s Royal Highland Education Trust stand, and meeting Hutton Chief Executive Colin Campbell.

The Hutton also launched its plan for a National Potato Innovation Centre at the event and unveiled the Tom v4 agri-robot, which will be used for research in partnership with the National Robotarium at Heriot-Watt University.

Hutton Chief Executive Colin Campbell says, “The Royal Highland Show is an extremely important event as it’s an opportunity for us to speak with our many stakeholders about the issues that matter to them and to showcase our latest developments to support agricultural resilience and the sustainability of our natural resources.”

“This year allowed us to introduce our plans for a National Potato Innovation Centre, which we consider critical if we are to safeguard the future of the potato and gave us the opportunity to speak to our visitors about the centre and to encourage them to make a pledge of support. All in all, it was a terrific four days and my thanks to all involved at the RHS for facilitating this event which is integral to our rural economy.

Throughout the RHS, which was expected to be attended by at least 200,000 people at the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh, there was constant stream of high profile visits to the Hutton marquee.

The UK Government’s Secretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack MP visited and made a potato centre pledge and the Scottish Affairs Committee, chaired by Pete Wishart MP held a sit-down meeting, followed by a tour of its exhibits and discussions with Hutton scientists. The committee is considering Scotland’s impact on scientific research and its global reputation in the scientific community as part of the Scotland and Scienceinquiry.

Mark Spencer, Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, visited and spoke at length with Colin Campbell and newly appointed National Potato Innovation Centre director Professor Ian Toth.

Lorna Slater, the Scottish Government’s Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, attended the Hutton reception as a special guest, alongside Ariane Burgess MSP, Clare Adamson MSP and Christine Jardine, MP.

Following an introduction from Hutton Chair, Ian Gambles; Ms Slater delivered a speech linking agriculture and biodiversity and also made her pledge. Chair Elect Susan Davies concluded the event, remarking on how much had already been achieved thanks to the £62 million investment from the Tay Cities Region Deal in the International Barley Hub and Advanced Plant Growth Centre and spoke about future plans.

During the show, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Scotland, Minister John Lamont also presented the Hutton’s Best Soil in Show Award to worthy winner, Duncan McAllister of Glenbarr Farms.

A delegation from the Chinese Consulate General, accompanied by James Brodie of CBBC and Ally Caulfield from RHASS visited and took in the various interactive displays in the tent on issues such as our plant research around barley, soft fruit and potatoes, vertical farming, climate positive farming, use of virtual reality and gamification to help crofters with disease control measures, river catchment hydrology and soil analysis.

Visitors to the marquee were able to avail themselves of tasters at the Hutton’s Tasting Station of the climate positive gin and vodka which we have developed alongside Arbikie distillery, or a Ribena mojito (the Hutton is responsible for developing the blackcurrants that Ribena uses in their drink sold in the UK). Glen Ample and Skye raspberries which we have developed for commercial usage were also available to sample.

They were also able to get close up to the Tom v4 robot. Using funding from The National Robotarium, the Hutton now has access to the robot, which will be used in its test facilities to demonstrate benefits to farmers.

Outside the marquee, Professor Derek Stewart, Director of the Hutton’s Advanced Plant Growth Centre (APGC), and Donald Barrie, farm manager at the Hutton’s Glensaugh research farm, also gave speeches at the President’s Initiative Marquee.

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