Science Strategy Science connecting land and people Across the globe, nations are facing growing demands to provide food, energy and water from finite land and natural resources. These challenges are complex, interconnected and ever-changing. The James Hutton Institute has world-class strengths in land, crop, water, environmental and socio-economic sciences. We are structured in a way that allows a broad range of science disciplines to interconnect their work. We operate in partnership with people, organisations and governments to deliver practical solutions for our shared future. The James Hutton Institute vision and mission The James Hutton Institute was formed on 1st April 2011 when SCRI (Scottish Crop Research Institute) and the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute (MLURI) joined forces to create one of the world’s leading scientific organisations focused on land, crops, water and the environment. Our research is supported by the Scottish Government which funds a number of world-class research institutes. We will lead the way in relation to interdisciplinary research which places people at the heart of our approach to solving problems. Our research will be conducted and delivered in partnership with people, organisations and governments to enhance sustainable environmental, social and economic development. We will adopt the ecosystem approach: a strategy for the integrated management of land, water and living resources that promotes conservation and sustainability. We will deliver knowledge, products and services that improve the quality of life. As one of the largest research organisations in Europe we will be influential in setting the agenda for land use and development for the 21st Century. Our aim is to help maintain Scotland’s world-leading reputation for excellence in environmental science. Vision We will be a world leader in research and engagement to deliver evidence-based solutions to the global challenges facing land and natural resource use both now and in the future. Mission To deliver the highest quality integrated and innovative science that contributes knowledge, products and services to meet the multiple demands on land and natural resources. Our values We believe people, particularly our staff, will always be at the heart of a successful and thriving organisation. Our staff have worked together to identify these values shared by everyone at the James Hutton Institute: • We respect and value our people and the people we engage with • We want to make a difference • We strive to be excellent in everything we do • We lead by example • We foster creativity and innovation 2 Strategic aims 2011-2016 Research Themes To target research to meet ongoing and emerging policy and societal demands at local, national and international levels. We will: • embed mechanisms for seeking and sharing external information to steer research priorities and exploit external funding opportunities • collaborate with other organisations to boost research capacity and build international credibility • review on a regular basis our theme structure to match changing external needs. Science Groups To produce leading-edge research of an international standard to make important contributions in our chosen fields of study. We will: • build on existing areas of excellence in plant genetics, genomics, virology, pathology, food biochemistry, isotopic chemistry, soil science, ecology, socio-economics and bioinformatics • expand our capacity in socio-economics, informatics and bioinformatics • use seedcorn funds to develop strategic science areas • use performance management to identify and evolve science disciplines • develop a vibrant and distinctive postgraduate school in strategic and applied research through a network of academic partners including the development of a strong alumni base • implement a range of strategies for enhancing science excellence such as mentoring, internal peer review and joint appointments with other institutes of excellence. 3 Science challenges Land and the ecosystems it supports underpin the provision of food, fuel, clean water and air and many of the cultural experiences that provide for human livelihoods and wellbeing. The provision of these goods and services is supported by ecosystem functions such as climate regulation, nutrient cycling, protection from disease and natural hazards, collectively referred to as ecosystem services. These create a platform on which economic activity occurs, governance regimes are built, resource use is negotiated, land management decisions are framed and lives are lived. Ecosystem services are now seriously threatened by high levels of consumption and ecosystem degradation that contribute to food and energy insecurity, increased vulnerability to natural disasters such as floods and droughts, reduced availability and quality of water, threats to cultural heritage, poor plant, human and animal health and conflict. These challenges will be exacerbated further by environmental change and population growth. Environmental security Globally and as a nation we need to address the scarcity and degradation of environmental assets that support life and wealth creation and to become more resilient to risks and adverse events that are at times beyond our control. Degradation of environmental assets undermines our natural capital and the supporting services that nature provides. Depletion of natural resources (such as soil and biodiversity) and threats from pollution (including environmental change) can also undermine our resilience to extreme events, including natural and human induced disasters. Many of the limits to our use of the natural environment are already being exceeded and many more are not yet quantified (Rockstrom et al. 2009). 4 The biodiversity crisis Global biodiversity is being lost at a rate that is about 1000 times higher than it has been for millennia, largely as a consequence of human-driven environmental changes, with knock-on effects on ecosystem services that are essential for the economy and human wellbeing. This includes individual species extinctions, habitat destruction, land conversion (e.g. for agriculture and development), environmental change, pollution and the spread of invasive species. The International Convention on Biodiversity challenges signatories to adopt new measures to stem the decline in biodiversity by 2020, for example by increasing protected areas coverage to 17% of the land surface by 2020 and ensure that areas under agriculture, aquaculture and forestry are managed sustainably, supporting the conservation of biodiversity. Still much more needs to be done. Environmental change is now emerging as one of biodiversity’s greatest ‘threats’ and the interactions between climate, land use change and other major drivers such as pollution are highly complex and still poorly understood. There are major scientific challenges to be urgently addressed to provide the best possible information on biodiversity management and ecosystem services provision, integrating human, ecological and environmental scientists with policy-makers and other stakeholders. It is essential that biodiversity and ecosystem services are central issues in policy and land use decision-making across the globe and scientists need to provide robust, underpinning information and provide policy- makers with the tools to assess the consequences of different policy instruments on biodiversity and ecosystem services, to aid decision-making. The global Living Planet Index (LPI) monitors more than 7,100 populations of 2,300 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish around the globe. The LPI (shown here by the orange middle line) has declined more than 30% since 1970, suggesting that on average, vertebrate populations fell by nearly one-third during this period. Tropical species (in red) show a sharper decline of almost 60% while Temperate species (in blue) show an increase of 15%, reflecting the recent recovery of some species populations. Source: WWF/ Zoological Society of London. 5 Building on the MLURI and SCRI’s international reputations in biodiversity research across agricultural through to highly natural landscapes, the James Hutton Institute will use an interdisciplinary approach to improve our understanding of the drivers of biodiversity change, the role of biodiversity in key ecosystem services and the best approaches to guiding policy-makers in implementing management change. We will engage with citizens, organisations and governments to develop, implement and monitor innovative approaches to land management and policy assessment, options and scenario frameworks for the restoration and conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services across the globe. Measuring the impacts of agriculture on bird populations. 6 “The history of every Nation is eventually written in the way in which it cares for its soil.” Franklin D Roosevelt, President of the USA. Statement on Signing the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act. March 1, 1936 Soil degradation Soils are a fundamental part of every nation’s natural capital. They perform multiple functions that underpin ecosystem services. In developing countries, they make up 70% of the value of natural capital (Where is the Wealth of Nations, World Bank 2006). Soils are slow to form but they and their functions can be lost quickly as a result of extreme events, improper management or contamination. Soil degradation is a major global problem threatening the sustainability of terrestrial ecosystem services. Different soils