The Hutton welcomes members of the Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Groups to learn more about the whisky industry
The Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Groups for Scotch Whisky and Science and Technology visited The James Hutton Institute on 17th March to learn more about the needs, opportunities and challenges facing the Scottish whisky industry and the scientific research being carried out by the Hutton to find solutions to all of these.
Scottish whisky is estimated to be worth £7.1bn to the UK with £5.3bn of this generated in Scotland. Whisky amounts to 77% of Scotland’s food and drink exports.
The sector is acutely aware of its reliance on barley, water, and peat; resources that are increasingly vulnerable due to climate change, the nature crisis and geopolitical uncertainty and which need protecting and enhancing to ensure these natural assets are sustainable in the long-term.
As a research-intensive organisation, the Hutton is focused on translating its research into practical,industry-ready solutions.
The International Barley Hub and Advanced Plant Growth Centre, both housed in the Hutton’s newly opened Crop Innovation Centre, funded as part of a £62m investment through the Tay Cities Region Deal (TCRD) by the UK and the Scottish Governments are helping advance sustainability and drive innovation in the whisky industry in several ways, such as through:
- Studying barley genetics to develop improved varieties through cutting-edge breeding programmes.
- Looking into regenerative land management that supports soil health and sustainable cultivation practices for barley production.
- Researching water resource management to ensure long-term, reliable water supplies for distilleries as well as enhancing biodiversity and carbon storage.
- Working on peatland restoration to maintain vital ecosystems that sustain the industry and contribute to climate resilience.
“The whisky industry is hugely important, not just to our economy in food and drink, but also our tourism, sense of identity and the stewardship of our environment and natural assets. We are fully engaged in trying to be innovative and build on the momentum and good impact of the industry for Scotland.”
Prof Colin Campbell, Chief Executive
Gordon Macdonald MPS, Co-Convenor of the Cross Party Group on Scotch Whisky, said, “The Scotch whisky industry is facing several challenges, including climate change and its impact on water supply during the summer months and also the need for higher yields from barley crops while maintaining the quality of the product.
It was clear from the visit that the James Hutton Institute is up for that challenge and is key to unlocking a more sustainable whisky industry in future years.”
Murdo Fraser MSP, Co-Convenor of the Cross Party Group on Scotch Whisky, added, “It was fascinating to visit the James Hutton Institute and have a tour of the new International Barley Hub. CPG members were able to see for themselves the world-leading scientific research being carried out, particularly in the area of gene editing. The close collaboration between the Institute and the Scotch Whisky industry was evident, as are the clear benefits to the whisky sector and the wider Scottish economy from this project. Our thanks on behalf of the CPG to the staff and students at the James Hutton Institute for accommodating us.”
Professor Colin Campbell, Chief Executive of the James Hutton Institute said, “It was a pleasure to meet the Cross Parliamentary Group and I thank them for all the good questions during the day.
“The whisky industry is hugely important, not just to our economy in food and drink, but also our tourism, sense of identity and the stewardship of our environment and natural assets. We are fully engaged in trying to be innovative and build on the momentum and good impact of the industry for Scotland.”
The groundbreaking work of the IBH and APGC along with the other work on our natural resources is helping to secure Scotland’s natural wealth and strengthen a globally significant industry. The Hutton is working with stakeholders across the supply chain from farmers to industry to processors to create the resilience needed in these times of increasing uncertainty.
