b'mance with fibre quality in textiles. TheBeyond conservation, the collection iswith Aarhus University and NordGen, impact is amplified when different disci- used in breeding programs: wild potatoesthe Nordic Genetic Resource Centre, the plines interact. adapted to high-altitude cold, semi-desertproject is testing 200 oat varieties and lan-The Hutton also plays a role indryness, or the humidity of cloud forests aredraces collected over the past century. These Scotlands economic and research infra- being crossed with commercial varieties. Inare being grown in diverse environments structure, hosting two major innovationparallel, the Hutton coordinates the Fightunder organic systems to identify which centres: the Advanced Plant GrowthAgainst Blight (FAB) network, which helpsgenetic traits lead to greater yield stability Centre (APGC) and the InternationalUK growers avoid an estimated 4.5 mil- and consistent nutritional quality.Barley Hub (IBH). Both were created withlion in annual losses by providing data onAs Dr. Joanne Russell, who leads the the University of Dundee and supportedlate blight strains and guiding fungicideHuttons contribution, explains: The pro-by the Tay Cities Region Deal, a 62 mil- use. Without FAB, blight losses could beject brings together experts in plant genet-lion investment jointly funded by the UKat least 7% higher. ics, agronomy, and mathematics to harness and Scottish governments. These centresTogether, the CPC and FAB illus- the unique properties of oat, with its low are not only about facilities; they representtrate how long-term genetic conservationcarbon footprint and significant nutritional a commitment to combining advanced sci- and real-time monitoring complement oneand health benefits. The key issue for oat ence with practical outcomes for growersanother: one safeguards the future, theproducers is the lack of stability in year-to-and industries. other protects farmers in the present. year supply and quality, largely due to sea-At its core, much of the Huttons worksonal fluctuations in environmental factors. is about preparing crops for a changing cli- We will focus on the need to develop robust matedeveloping varieties that use fewerorganic-ready oat cultivars specifically tai-inputs, withstand stresses, and still deliverlored to sustainable organic production and quality for consumers and processors. To seeaddress some of the emerging challenges in how this plays out in practice, we can lookfood and help secure food production.more closely at four cropspotato, oats,By grounding their research in both barley and flaxeach central to Scottishgenetics and agronomy, Russell and her and global agriculture in its own way. colleagues hope to give oat growers the reli-ability they need, while consumers benefit POTATOES: CONSERVINGfrom a healthy and sustainable cereal crop.DIVERSITY FORFUTURE RESILIENCE BARLEY: SUSTAINING The UKs only potato gene bank, theSCOTLANDS SIGNATURE CROPCommonwealth Potato Collection (CPC),Few crops are more closely associated with is housed at the Hutton in Dundee. It safe- Scotland than barley. It underpins not guards hundreds of wild and cultivatedonly food and feed production but also the species that may one day hold the key towhisky industry, which is both economically breeding new, more resilient potatoes.and culturally significant. The International With climate change altering rainfall, tem- Barley Hub, hosted at the Hutton, is ded-peratures and pest pressures, this geneticIn the UK, oat production rose nearly 20% in 2024. icated to ensuring barley remains resilient diversity is a priceless resource. under climate change and continues to meet To reduce the risk of losing it, thethe high standards of brewers and distillers.Hutton made a safety deposit of seeds atOATS: NUTRITIONALThe hub brings together breeders, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway,PROMISE AND AGRONOMICgeneticists, maltsters, and distillers, link-the worlds largest secure seed storage facil- CHALLENGES ing molecular research with field trials. By ity. As CPC curator Gaynor McKenzieIf potatoes are about resilience, oats tellusing advanced genomics, high-throughput explains, Managing a gene bank such asa story about nutrition and sustainability.phenotyping and metabolomics, researchers the CPC requires maintaining both theOats require relatively low inputs, com- identify genes associated with stress toler-genetic integrity and physical viability ofpete well with weeds, and are less dis- ance and grain quality. Traits like germina-the seed under your care. The Gene Bankease-prone than many cereals. On top oftion vigour, malt extract and fermentability Standards for Plant Genetic Resources forthat, they carry recognised health benefits,are prioritised so that whisky and beer pro-Food and Agriculture set the benchmarkparticularly from their high -glucan con- duction can remain consistent even in var-for current gene bank best practices andtent, linked to cholesterol reduction andiable growing conditions.encourage the creation of a safety duplicateimproved blood sugar control. But the research is not only about the for each original sample to be held in a geo- Demand is rising: In the UK, oat pro- grain itself. Agronomic practices are also graphically distant location. duction rose nearly 20% in 2024, driven bybeing tested to cut emissions, improve That distant location is Svalbard.both food trends and higher yields. Yet fornitrogen-use efficiency and protect soils. In McKenzie herself travelled there in 2017all their promise, oats remain a somewhatthis way, the hub supports both farm prof-to deliver the first deposit. Visitors are nounpredictable crop. Yield and quality oftenitability and Scotlands net-zero ambitions. longer permitted to enter the vault, so I feelfluctuate from year to year, creating uncer- A notable contribution has been quantify-very privileged to have been one of the fewtainty for growers and processors. ing how genetic improvements since the people to have been afforded this opportu- To address this, the Hutton is partmid-1980s have safeguarded whisky sales nity, she recalls. These potato seeds remainof a three-year European project coor- and related jobs, demonstrating the link the only Scottish contribution to the globaldinated by the Innovation Centre forbetween crop science and economic resil-vault. Organic Farming in Denmark. Togetherience.10ISEED WORLD EUROPEISEEDWORLD.COM/EUROPE | SEPTEMBER 2025'