Fears over the future of East Malling Research (EMR) are mounting as the centre for horticultural research continues to suffer the effects of the widespread research and development cut backs.
The centre is going into its last year of guaranteed DEFRA-funded support and is left with few options to continue its extensive work into all aspects of crop research and development.
Speaking at last week’s Parliamentary British Fruit Industry Group ceo Dr Colin Gutteridge said: “Horticulture LINK is one of EMR’s key strengths to support the industry with relevant R&D, however, DEFRA have been looking to find alternative government funders for LINK they have been trying to pass it on to the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) for some time but they don’t want to take it on.
“HortLINK projects are funded 50-50 with industry and government money.
“It is a great way to marry the interests of industry and government and both working in the same direction. We have been involved in at least 16 HortLINK projects so far and have a new one on stone fruit upcoming.”
The centre’s crisis is exemplified by the recent industry or DEFRA funded strawberry-breeding programme which had 13 members initially but dropped to eight due to reduced budgets throughout the industry.
Gutteridge cited recent investment programme such as the funding by AG Thames to look at new ways of growing conference pears inspired by work in the Netherlands.
Chris Atkinson, head of science at EMR, told FPJ: “The industry is very much with us in what we are doing, as is the Horticultural Development Company, but it is a question of what it can afford. The LINK projects do provide a great option but there are only so many companies which have the budgets to invest for the future.
“We can’t keep going back to the same helpful companies and growers every time and in the absence of more strategic underpinning for longer-term research, formerly undertaken by government, the horticulture/agriculture sector innovation will dry up.”
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