Scots scientists to spearhead urgent EU research into how climate change is impacting our ability to grow crops

A Scottish scientist is to co-lead an elite project group of 22 European partners, looking to create resilient crops for the future as yield is projected to plummeted by a third due to extremes in temperatures and greater variation in rainfall patterns impacting on soil and the type of crops which can be grown.

Dr Tim George, a Rhizophere Scientist at the James Hutton Institute (The Hutton) in Invergowrie near Dundee; is joined on the five-year, 9m euro project– called ‘Root2Res’ (root phenotyping and genetic improvement for rotational crops resilient to environmental change) - by top soil scientists from the University of Dundee and 20 other organisations from across the European Union (EU) and Africa.

The project, led scientifically by The Hutton and France’s ARVALIS,an agricultural research organization dedicated to arable crops; is funded by the EU’s flagship research program, Horizon Europe. It will look to addressthe climate resilience of soil in combatting rising temperatures and greater variability in rainfall which in turn place stress on crops. Work will also include research into improvingsoil nutrient availability and cutting the greenhouse gases being emitted from soil.

The group- which meets for the first-time next month - will work with crop breeders and farmers from areas in Europe who are under the greatest pressure from climate change induced stress. Investigations will focus on a range of cereal, tuber, beans and peas commonly grown in rotations in Europe.

Dr Tim George, a Rhizosphere Scientist at the James Hutton Institute and lead scientist on the Root2Res programme said: ″There is both a soil and crop crisis developing in Europe. In 20 years’ time, we will need to have more resilient crops which can tolerate extreme temperatures, more variable rainfall and be able to grow inmore marginal soil conditions. Managing the interface between the soil and the plant is where the real battle against climate change is going to play out. I am delighted to be selected to play a major role in such vital and urgent project which is a real coup for The James Hutton Institute″.