James Hutton Institute sends grave warning to Scottish Government over impact of cuts on climate resilience and food security

Staff said the financial cuts will result in job losses in some of the Institute’s leading research centres.

A leading research institute in Scotland has warned about the risks financial cuts will have on the country’s food security and resilience in the face of the climate changing.

The James Hutton Institute said it is facing a slash in funding that equates to £628,000, equivalent to some 12 to 14 full-time jobs, to its Strategic Research Programme, with more cuts to happen again next year.

Staff said this will impact the centre’s efforts in providing sound scientific evidence to support progressive policies in Scotland on climate, nature and our valued food and drink sector.

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They said cuts will impact the JHI by hindering new jobs at its £62million International Barley Hub, which opened last year, and its Advanced Plant Growth Centre, both of which aim to establish Scotland as a leader in global food security and crop resilience.

Details from an economic impact assessment released in a Freedom of Information (FOI) request on communications between the Scottish Government and the Institute claim the JHI generates £12.75 to the economy for every £1 it receives from Scottish Government.

Professor Colin Campbell, chief executive of the JHI, said this is “an incredible multiplier, with the potential to increase, but only if we are able to continue to explore our science and exploit the opportunities it offers.”

The institute has warned of the impact of the cuts

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An email cited in the FOI went on to explain the impact of funding cuts, which would result in job losses at the JHI and the “stifling” of the Institute’s ability to recruit the skills and talent needed to deliver the science in its newly purpose-built innovation centres.

The email, from Prof Campbell, read: “This (the cuts), on top of existing inflationary pressures, means that we are now faced with the very real prospect of having to make job losses and stop investing in new initiatives like the flagship International Barley Hub and Advanced Plant Growth Centre.

"This comes on top of cuts in nearly all previous years and we are informed with will be more cuts next year.”

Colin Campbell

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Speaking to The Scotsman, he added: “At a time when the world is experiencing climate and nature crises exacerbating the insecurities around food, energy and water unlike anything known before; our world-leading research into finding practical and sustainable solutions for crops and land use is more critical than ever.

“These cuts year-on-year have profound consequences for our ability to deliver against key initiatives for Scotland and the UK; which ultimately will have both a human and economic cost for Scotland and beyond. We are doing everything we can to avoid this”.

He said since being informed of the cuts several months ago, the JHI has been in “constant dialogue” with Scottish Government to explore all options available to us to minimise their impact.

In response, the Scottish Government said it values the work of the JHI, citing a core grant of more than £21 million for the Institute and a £17 million sum paid towards the establishment of the International Barley Hub and Advanced Plant Growth centre through the Tay Cities Deal – an investment in Scotland’s agri and biotech sectors.

The James Hutton Institute is also set to receive a £2.5 million for the Centres of Expertise on Plant Health; Water and Flooding; and Knowledge Exchange.

A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said devolution has made the financial situation in Scotland challenging, adding: “The shocks of over a decade of austerity, a hard Brexit, the COVID pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis, pressures on public sector pay, and the war in Ukraine combined have placed extreme inflationary pressure on the public finances.

“In this challenging context, tough choices have to be made and all parts of the public sector are being asked to be more efficient and prioritise resource where it is needed most.

“This Government will continue to manage Scotland’s finances prudently while providing the broad range of high quality public services people expect. We will also continue to press the UK Government to provide sufficient funding and powers to meet the scale of challenges we now face.”

A UK Government spokesperson said the Scottish Government is well-funded to deliver on its devolved responsibilities with its record £41 billion per year settlement – the largest since devolution, adding: “The renewed Fiscal Framework announced last week also gives the Scottish Government greater certainty and flexibility to manage its Budget and deliver high-quality public services for Scotland and its people.”