The James Hutton Institute was formed in 2011 from a merger between the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute in Aberdeen and the Scottish Crop Research Institute based in Invergowrie near Dundee, Scotland. The Institute, one of the Scottish Government's Main Research Providers, encompasses a distinctive range of integrated, world-class strengths in land, crop, water, environmental and socio-economic science. It undertakes research for customers including the Scottish and UK Governments, the EU and other organisations worldwide. The institute has a staff of nearly 600 and 125 PhD students. The Institute organises its research through six principal themes: Safeguarding Natural Capital, Enhancing Crop Productivity and Utilisation, Delivering Sustainable Production Systems, Controlling Weeds, Pests and Diseases, Managing Catchments and Coasts and Nurturing Vibrant and Low Carbon Communities. The Institute takes its name from the 18th century Scottish Enlightenment scientist, James Hutton, who is widely regarded as the founder of modern geology and who was also an experimental farmer and agronomist.