The National Horticulture Forum is celebrating a successful first two years this month with plans to enlarge its steering group to take account of the retailer perspective on R&D.

"We are in discussions with representative organisations rather than directly with the retailers themselves," Andrew Colquhoun, steering group chairman told the Journal. "Many of the big retailers are such important customers for production horticulture that it makes sense to draw them in."

The forum is also working hard to establish and R&D providers group to help stimulate co-operation among funders and providers of horticultural R&D and hopes to hold its first meeting in September."

"The forum steering group has provided the only opportunity for the leading organisational bodies in the UK outside government, with interests in horticultural R&D to develop consensus viewpoints on key issues - an important achievement in itself," said Dr Colquhoun.

He highlighted the forum’s analysis of the UK skills base for horticultural R&D and the representations it has made to government on Sudden Oak Death.

"We have also made several other significant representations to government departments over the last two years. These have included responses to HRI’s quinquennial review and Defra’s science and innovation strategy," said Dr Colquhoun.

A further project underway within the forum is an analysis of the future market and legislative and technological needs for UK horticultural R&D. The steering group is also developing a project proposal on learning styles and their relevance to effective knowledge transfer in UK horticulture.

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