Scots scientists take on Europe's soil and crop crisis

Crop yields are currently projected to drop 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.

Now Dr Tim George, a rhizophere scientist at the James Hutton Institute in Invergowrie near Dundee, is to co-lead a pan-European project group looking to create resilient crops for the future.

He will be joined on the five-year, €9million project – called ‘Root2Res’ – by soil scientists from the University of Dundee and 20 other organisations from across the European Union (EU) and Africa.

Read more: New research shows a need to change how we think about soil

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 address the 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 improving soil 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 which 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 George 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 in more 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. It is an honour to play a major role in such vital and urgent project, which is a real coup for The James Hutton Institute."