The merger of major input supplier Masstock Arable and agri-chemical firm United Agri Products (UAP) will mean massive expansion of the firms’ research into growing vegetables.
Under the name Agrii, the new business has a combined turnover of almost £400 million, and has 40,000 trial plots and 26 demonstration farms at its disposal across the UK.
Agrii will significantly boost its spending on research into all field vegetables, according to horticultural technical manager Chris Wallwork.
“This season we’re running well over 500 dedicated trial plots at a growing number of sites to support specialist advice from our 50-strong team of field vegetable agronomists.
"We’re planning to further increase both the scaleand scope of our field vegetable work significantly over the year and beyond.
“Our research, development and advisory programme extends to all types of field vegetables, including salad crops,” he said.
The firm is investigating a range of weed control options and strategies and, through its links with weather stations, is developing new pest and disease forecasting and treatment services.
Agrii head of technology and services, Clare Bend, said the extra investment the company is putting into UK vegetable growing research and development is part of its national drive to bridge the knowledge gap created by the lack of UK funding for near- market research.
“Alongside our industry-leading arable and grass- land agronomy trials and demonstration network, it is designed to provide unrivalled expertise and sup- port to help farmers and growers where they most need it. In bringing Masstock and UAP together as Agrii, we have expressed our commitment to doing more for both our agronomists and customers in the phrase ‘Two to the Power of You’.
“We look forward to showing vegetable growers across the country the real value this extra power brings to their businesses.”
It was announced UAP had been bought by Origin Enterprises, the business that also owns Masstock Arable, last March, but the companies have been run independently until now.
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