Hutton Scientific SOILS IQ soil analysis launch at Cereals

The commercial arm of the James Hutton Institute will appear on the International Barley Hub stand to showcase Soils IQ, an advanced soil analysis service currently in development ahead of its official launch.

Unlike traditional soil testing, which typically focuses on nutrient levels such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, Soils IQ has been designed to deliver a much broader assessment of soil health. The system combines biological, chemical and physical indicators to provide a more complete picture of soil performance.

The launch comes at a time when growers are facing increasing pressure from supply chains, environmental targets and evolving sustainability requirements.

Hutton Scientific Services said the aim is to help farmers move beyond simple compliance and use soil data to improve nutrient efficiency, strengthen resilience to environmental pressures and support more consistent crop performance.

The organisation provides scientific research and technical expertise across agriculture, environmental science and food security, with a growing focus on delivering practical, science-led solutions for farming businesses.

Gareth Newman, business development manager at Hutton Scientific Services, said understanding soil health in greater depth could unlock significant gains for growers.

“Soil health is about so much more than NPK,” he said. “Understanding that means even small changes can deliver big results.”

He added that farmer feedback would play an important role in shaping the final service ahead of launch.

“Soils IQ will give you the independent, whole-picture analysis to make those changes with confidence and we want to make sure it’s built around what farmers actually need,” Newman said.

“That’s exactly why we’re at Cereals this year: to speak directly with farmers, understand the challenges they face day-to-day, and ensure Soils IQ is shaped by the people who’ll use it most.”