The new collaboration between ADAS and Stockbridge Technology Centre makes sense on a number of levels, and should be a good move to safeguard the future R&D efforts of the industry.

There is a feeling that research institutions will have to work together more often if they are to survive the government’s apparent disinterest in supporting scientific development.

Almost everybody you speak to is very concerned about the level of research investment going forward, with the levy restructuring only fuelling worries that were already there.

There have been stories of UK research projects having to look to the Netherlands for scientists because they are simply not available here.

International collaboration is a good thing in research, but it’s not a good thing that we are struggling to keep our researchers in their posts.

Like all industries, there is a bottomless pit of research that can be done to develop and improve the horticulture industry, work that is admirably carried out and funded by the likes of the HDC, Warwick HRI, Stockbridge, ADAS and many others.

Developments like this should help ensure that can continue.