Marks & Spencer and Asda are among those collaborating in the face of adversity as the fresh produce industry hunts for crop protection solutions.
ADAS principal research scientist Dr Tim O’Neill is leading the SCEPTRE project on behalf of the Horticultural Development Company, developing new crop protection programmes for fresh produce crops in response to loss of pesticides and changing legislation in the wake of EU directive 91/414/EEC.
According to an impact assessment, the changes and product losses could cost the lettuce, carrot and strawberry sectors more than £10 million a year.
Partners in the project include Asda - represented by International Produce Ltd - East Malling Research, BerryWorld, and Total Worldfresh.
Aims include identifying solutions and how to get them approved, reducing herbicide usage and devising integrated pest management programmes.
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