Lord Whitty, the minister in charge of horticulture at Defra met with an NFU delegation led by vice-president and grower, Michael Paske on January 24. The delegation including other growers representing each of the NFU's committee's for fruit, vegetables, flowers, plants, trees and bulbs.

The delegation outlined the need to build a long-term strategy for UK horticulture with government backing.

'This meeting was extremely productive,' said Paske. 'allowing us to discuss the industry's achievements alongside the many issues facing it. We were pleased that Lord Whitty recognised both the importance of the UK's horticulture industry and our concerns.' Paske told the minister that central to the industry's continued success was maintaining funding for crucial research and development projects. Particularly high on the agenda is work on new varieties and improved growing systems as well as alternatives for core inputs such as peat.

The NFU delegation stressed the importance of horticulture in terms of its contribution to total farm output. It told Lord Whitty how valuable the climate change levy concession granted to the sector last year is to UK horticulture and how vital it is that it is retained.

Growers also pointed out their need for licences for trickle irrigation when the new water bill is introduced and to have access to similar crop protection measures as those in use elsewhere in Europe.

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