Greater collaboration throughout the Welsh supply chain was on the agenda at a summit held this week, and attended by around 100 key industry figures.
Television presenter and gardener Monty Don delivered the keynote speech, to an audience of growers, retailers, food manufacturers, wholesalers and government advisors.
The event, hosted by Horticulture Wales and entitled ‘Bringing Growers Together’, also featured presentations from Bedfordshire Growers managing director Stephen Hedderly, and curator of the National Botanic Garden of Wales, Simon Goodenough.
Delegates also took part in a ‘cultivating connections’ speed networking session in order to meet other growers from across Wales, and there were Q&A panels throughout the day with growers who have been involved with recent Horticulture Wales initiatives. Discussions ranged from how the “concept of ‘Welshness’ can be better utilised as a brand, to the benefits of wider collaboration.
The day was rounded off by project director Dr David Skydmore outlining what the organisation had achieved over the past four years and future opportunities for growers.
He said: “It was tremendous to see such a broad cross-section of the Welsh horticulture sector in attendance for an event full of discussion, debate, and ideas about how we can grow our industry together.
“A number of key themes emerged during the day, namely the benefits of closer collaboration across the sector, the need for growers to innovate and add value, and how the concept of ‘Welshness’ is a powerful brand the horticulture industry could and should do more to capitalise on.”
The Horticulture Wales project has received funding from the Rural Development Plan for Wales, which is funded by the Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
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