DEFRA has agreed to fund Cambridge-based plant science company NIAB and the Henry Doubleday Research Association (HDRA) to extend organic vegetable and potato trials across the country.
The move spells good news for organic crop producers, who will be involved in regional research which will help them improve harvest reliability and meet the production demands of major retailers.
The funds will enable growers to test a wide range of varieties on their home soil and monitor results for yield quality as well as pest and disease infection.
Participating growers will host open days for other local producers to spread both knowledge and acreage of organic vegetables and potatoes, enabling more growers to access information on EU-approved organic seed varieties.
Under EU legislation, all organically-grown crops should come from approved organic seed varieties.
Five grower groups across the country are currently being sourced. Initially, they will be trialing a wide range of outdoor organic lettuces and spring and autumn varieties of cabbage.
Mike Day, NIAB’s vegetable consultant, said: "We are delighted to have the opportunity to extend the trials to growers across the country.
“If organic vegetables and potatoes are to meet consumer demand in the future, it is important that growers are able to be part of the trials process.
“It will help give them the confidence to synchronise harvesting with the peak demand periods of the major food retailers."
NIAB and HDRA will distribute the seed, compile research results and train operatives to collate data in each of the locations selected by the Soil Association.
The data will be available to all growers on the website of the Centre for Organic Seed Information (www.cosi.org.uk).
Defra has funded organic variety trials for the last 14 years and recently funded the launch of the COSI website. The website provides performance data on the organic seed already available and publishes trial results as well as offering a forum for updating organic news and legislation.
For further information NIAB also produces a growers’ handbook on organic varieties of vegetables and potatoes. The current edition is being updated and will be available early in 2005.
NIAB and HDRA are currently conducting 18 trials encompassing around 270 varieties of vegetables and potatoes.
