The HTA is working up five significant projects with Seeda (the Regional Development Agency for the South East) to benefit growers in the south east.

These projects, to be funded by Seeda, mark a new era in working with the RDAs with significant potential for similar work in other regions, the association said. The projects to be carried out over the coming year are:

Sales and Marketing Collaboration - this project, to be run by EFFP (England Food and Farming Partnership), will conduct a feasibility study for the development of closer working between nurseries in the south east on sales and marketing. Collaborative working in this area is an important way in which businesses can reduce costs and improve sales but involves sensitive business decisions. This project will assess all these issues and make clear recommendations.

Transport and Logistics Collaboration - in the same way that the Midland Regional Growers transport hub has enabled local growers to reduce transport costs, the Freight Transport Association will conduct a project to assess the feasibility of a similar shared transport hub in the south east. Transport is a major cost for nurseries and tackling this issue is an important component of the HTA Strategy for the production industry.

Nursery Carbon Calculator - It is becoming increasingly important for all businesses to be able to demonstrate their environmental credentials. Carbon footprinting is now a widely recognised term. This project, to be run by White Young Green Environmental, will develop a methodology for nurseries to be able to calculate their carbon footprint, taking into account the positive contribution that plants make to carbon absorption. The HTA will be looking for volunteer nurseries in the south east to get involved in the project which will result in a web-based tool that can be used by all nursery businesses.

Reducing Waste on Nurseries - Reducing waste is becoming an increasingly important priority for nursery businesses as the cost of disposal rises and the environmental impact becomes more of an issue. This project, to be run by White Young Green Environmental (WYGE), will also be looking for nurseries that want to participate. WYGE will carry out detailed assessments of waste streams within nurseries and try to identify ways to reduce this waste and source local recycling options. Dealing with waste is a serious issue for all in the industry and it is hoped that this project will come up with waste solutions that can be rolled out into other regions.

Water Audits - Up to 20 nurseries within the south east will be able to benefit from a free water audit, delivered on site by ADAS consultants, with a follow up report outlining detailed recommendations. Water is a scarce resource, especially in the south east. These audits will provide a thorough assessment of current water use and provide clear guidelines on how water can be saved and how recent research results can be adopted to improve efficiency and crop quality.

Commenting on the projects HTA director of business development Tim Briercliffe said: "Seeda have identified the importance of horticulture within the economy of the south east and these projects are the result of considerable work with Seeda to identify the right projects to help ornamentals producers in the south east tackle the major economic and environmental challenges they face. The outcomes of these projects will be of benefit to the whole industry and will hopefully present a model for other RDAs."

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