East Malling Research has launched a new five-year Science & Research Strategy for the horticulture industry this week.
The strategy, consistent with DEFRA’s Green Food Project, is the result of a year-long in-house review of how EMR can best assist the productivity of growers.
Key factors of EMR’s Science & Research Strategy include a focus on diploid strawberry breeding programmes; examining the genetic basis of the interactions between crops and their pests and pathogens; enhancing soil and substrate research; analysing pre- and post-harvest practices to boost storage, shelf life and quality; and promoting more efficient breeding.
EMR chief executive Peter Gregory said: “We believe the time is right to expand the intellectual capacity and research capabilities of East Malling Research in order to support DEFRA.
“We are committed to driving innovation in the industry and helping growers to compete internationally, as well as reduce imports, especially in perennial and clonally propagated crops.”
The Science & Research Strategy was presented to Jim Paice, minister of state for agriculture and food at DEFRA, during his visit to Fruit Focus earlier this week, and Paice stressed the importance of the approach.
“It is key we work with research bodies like EMR to help sustain horticulture,” he said. “The NFU [Catalyst for Change] report has made it clear the challenges we face, and establishing a dialogue with East Malling Research will be key in helping to reverse these challenges. Scientific research, and its application, underpins the UK’s ability to tackle the challenges it faces in adapting to climate change.”
Will Sibley, chairman of East Malling Trust, added: “It is also fundamental to ensuring the industry can grow more with less resources, such as water, pesticides and other inputs.”
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