UK horticulture is in need of a significant research and innovation agenda to create the right environment for any future success.
These were the findings from a study carried out by the National Horticultural Forum, which tracked innovation over the last 15 years in strawberry and brassica production in the UK. It found that UK growers have been quick to innovate both in production systems and crop protection, often looking overseas for new ideas before taking advantage of UK expertise in applied research and funding from the HDC to develop innovations for UK conditions.
NHF executive Dr Simon Bright believes that growers now need to make the work they are doing better known. “The [horticulture] industry does spend a lot of money on R&D, especially at the applied end, but it does not make a song and dance about it,” said Bright. “The industry needs to go to government and tell them ‘we’re doing a lot of work’.”
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