The future of fresh produce research has been dealt a blow after plans for a Fresh and Prepared Produce Innovation Centre were rejected.
Innovate UK - the new name for the Technology Strategy Board - rejected proposals for the new centre, which would haveaddressed major challenges facing the sector, including increasingly restrictive regulatory controls on the use of pesticides and other inputs, consumers’ demands and unpredictable weather conditions.
Innovate UK is investing £200m in new technology and innovation centres, but the body decided against funding a fresh produce-specific centre.
Instead the Horticulture Innovation Partnership (HIP), which co-ordinated the bid and expressed its disappointment at the outcome, said it has been invited torepresent the sector at a collaboration event on 15 January organised by Innovate UK to build consortia for the Centres for Agricultural Innovation.
'We are encouraged by this and will take a full and active part in the consortia building event,' said HIP chair Mary Bosley.
'The HIP's priority remains, as we have always stated, to make sure that the fresh produce sector is positioned to take best advantage of whatever landscape of innovation centres are eventually funded, while taking account of the industry's identified needs,' Bosley added.
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