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David Cooke @llewelyn68.bsky.social · 1d

Ian Toth speaking at the www.planthealthcentre.scot annual conference on summary of the years activities. Thanking Gerry Sadler and welcoming David Kenyon as Chief Plant Health Officer for Scotland.

David Cooke @llewelyn68.bsky.social · 2d

Perfectly timed for her Nature paper too: released a few hours earlier. Its worth a read.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Doughnut of social and planetary boundaries monitors a world out of balance - Nature

A revised ‘Doughnut’ providing a visual assessment of trends in social deprivation and planetary degradation over the past two decades shows more than doubling of global GDP accompanied by accelerating ecological overshoot but only a modest reduction in human deprivation.

www.nature.com

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David Cooke @llewelyn68.bsky.social · 6d

This needs more attention and traction. Endless unsustainable growth is not the answer for either people nor the planet. A focus on being 'better not bigger' should not hit profits if marketing is right.

Kate Raworth @kateraworth.bsky.social · 6d

Big Doughnutty News.
Just out in Nature: the all-new 2025 Doughnut. Transformed from a single-year snapshot to an annual global monitor of 21st century social & ecological thriving. Available to all in an open-access paper by @andrewlfanning.bsky.social and me. 🧵 1/
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

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David Cooke @llewelyn68.bsky.social · 6d

Excellent talk and perfect timing with release of Nature paper 2 hours ahead of the event. Meant we got first view of the new Doughut. @hutton.ac.uk
bsky.app/profile/kate...

Kate Raworth @kateraworth.bsky.social · 6d

Big Doughnutty News.
Just out in Nature: the all-new 2025 Doughnut. Transformed from a single-year snapshot to an annual global monitor of 21st century social & ecological thriving. Available to all in an open-access paper by @andrewlfanning.bsky.social and me. 🧵 1/
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

David Cooke @llewelyn68.bsky.social · 6d

A valuable review of #Phytophthora infestans populations and potato ##lateblight in the east and north of Europe. Great job.

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David Cooke @llewelyn68.bsky.social · 7d

No doughnuts tonight but there was haggis baked potato and the talk was fantastic. Depressing economic growth reality vs doughnut economics ambitions. Lots to think about and hopefully convert to action.

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David Cooke @llewelyn68.bsky.social · 17d

It fell overnight but we were very keen to top Alasdair having been defeated by cold and fog the day before. Rime ice on summit added spice! Next day was T-shirt and shorts!

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David Cooke @llewelyn68.bsky.social · 17d

Like this May on Skye. Know what you mean. It pays to be prepared.

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David Cooke @llewelyn68.bsky.social · 18d

It's that #potato harvest time of year again. Wishing the UK industry good yields and, more importantly, decent prices. At least the #lateblight pressure has been generally low in 2025.

Potato harvesting in Scotland. Tractor and trailer alongside self-propelled Grimme harvester

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David Cooke @llewelyn68.bsky.social · Aug 24

Yes not a great headline but remember who set the ball rolling. Telegraph and Mrs Pearson. BBC is still the best we have got and reform not destruction is needed. Agree 'jailbird' us ridiculous.

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Reposted by David Cooke

carogutj.bsky.social @carogutj.bsky.social · Aug 23

Attention plant proteomics specialists: We are looking for a Head of our new Proteomics Unit at our international and dynamic Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology. @mpi-mp-potsdam.bsky.social Applications are welcome until 30. Sept 2025: jobs.mpimp-golm.mpg.de/jobposting/8...

Head of Service Unit Proteomics

jobs.mpimp-golm.mpg.de

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David Cooke @llewelyn68.bsky.social · Aug 14

Some sizeable hailstones and lightning strikes near Dundee later in the afternoon as it rolled south.

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David Cooke @llewelyn68.bsky.social · Aug 10

A truly impressive beast. Undiscovered insect quote from article "there are as many species of just ladybirds as there are of all mammals combined." Wow. Now think about how many microbes we are missing! e.g. SAR supergroup - Wikipedia share.google/ocob5EM8aQ8Q...

SAR supergroup - Wikipedia

share.google

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David Cooke @llewelyn68.bsky.social · Aug 7

Excellent presentations today from Ingo Hein (Molecular breeding) and Rob Hancock (Gene editing) at #PotatoesInPractice2025 @hutton.ac.uk the future of potato breeding...

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David Cooke @llewelyn68.bsky.social · Aug 3

Nice job. August generally the right month for this. However, after two severe years, 2025 is a low pressure blight year. Dry warm conditions in April, May and June checked a lot of primary inoculum and is delaying build up now it is damper.

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David Cooke @llewelyn68.bsky.social · Jul 29

As I loaded my breakfast with Scottish grown blueberries heard @hutton.ac.uk Susan McCallum on BBCR4 Today singing their praises and encouraging future cropping with our new varieties.

David Cooke @llewelyn68.bsky.social · Jul 28

Nice paper - highlights the multiple thorny issues. So many cans of worms opened.

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David Cooke @llewelyn68.bsky.social · Jul 25

A very welcome Scottish berry campaign supported by @hutton.ac.uk alongside releases of our blackberry, raspberry and blueberry varieties. Berry berry good.
foodanddrink.scot/our-industry...

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David Cooke @llewelyn68.bsky.social · Jul 23

Over 7000 asymptomatic potato seed tubers planted in the field and >1.5% resulted in stem infections. All genotype EU13 of #Phytophthorainfestans

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David Cooke @llewelyn68.bsky.social · Jul 23

Pleased to publish a @phytopathology.bsky.social paper with West Bengal State University demonstrating seed tubers as source of #lateblight #phytophthora epidemics in the Indian plains.
apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/epdf/10....

Author's image of peeled potato tuber showing early infection of Phytophthora infestans, the cause of potato late blight. Tracking of mycelial progress through tuber visible by potato resistance reaction.

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David Cooke @llewelyn68.bsky.social · Jul 23

Formatted pdf now available. Over 100 authors from across the world agree to protecting the genus Phytophthora against burdensome and unnecessary taxonomic change apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/10.1094/...

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David Cooke @llewelyn68.bsky.social · Jun 28

Have stayed here twice. Quirky in old Covent and military hospital. 3 stars good location near Opera house. Some rooms have steep steps to mezzanine so watch for these if no head for heights. www.belambra.fr/destinations...

Lyon, Hôtel Villemanzy

Découvrez notre Appart"hôtel "Villemanzy", niché au cœur de la Croix-Rousse à Lyon. Profitez d'un séjour exceptionnel et authentique dans un cadre hi1

www.belambra.fr

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David Cooke @llewelyn68.bsky.social · Jun 3

Interesting to see one of the other insect sampling suction towers. This one at @rothamsted.bsky.social Research

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David Cooke @llewelyn68.bsky.social · May 29

Looking forward to this tomorrow - join to hear more about all sorts of potato science. 🥔

Potato Production, Potato’s place in the World, Molecular Tools in Potato Breeding, Gene editing, Aphid control and Late Blight IPM - last one by yours truly 🙂

Part of #InternationalDayOfPotato & #NPIC

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David Cooke @llewelyn68.bsky.social · May 29

Link to action plan. Defra do not appear to be on BlueSky yet.
www.gov.uk/government/p...

UK Pesticides National Action Plan 2025: Working for a more sustainable future

www.gov.uk