Horticulture Week launches Save Our Science campaign
Horticulture Week
15 May 2009

Today, Horticulture Week launches the Save Our Science campaign, calling for the Government to match-fund the Horticultural Development Company levy.

Owing to the double whammy of the EU review of crop-protection products that has been taking place over the past 10 years, and January’s passing of stringent new pesticide legislation in Europe, the need for a fully functioning applied research community capable of developing fresh solutions for the UK’s production horticulture industry has never been greater.

And yet, thanks to the funding cut-backs of successive UK governments and, more recently, changes in the funding priorities of Defra, our remaining research bodies cannot be sure whether they can fund their remaining scientists in the next two or three years – let alone take on the huge crop-protection challenge from Europe.

At time of going to press on Tuesday, messages of support continued to pour in from representatives of UK production horticulture, showing that this is an issue on which the industry is united.

Welcoming the launch of the campaign by HW, NFU chief horticulture adviser Philip Hudson said it came at a time when “R&D is needed more than ever for the continuing competitiveness of the horticulture industry”.

Also backing the campaign, HTA director-general David Gwyther said: “R&D in the UK is at crisis point, and further decline will affect everyone in the industry. We strongly support Horticulture Week’s Save Our Science campaign and will continue to lobby to preserve this immensely valuable resource.”

Many more have given their backing to the aims of the campaign, including the British Independent Fruit Growers’ Association, the British Protected Ornamentals Association, the Processed Vegetable Growers Association and the British Carrot Growers Association.

At Westminster, Ann Cryer MP, chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Gardening & Horticulture Group, said: “I support this campaign and will try my very best to engage ministers and other MPs.”

Let’s be clear: the R&D challenge goes beyond match-funding. The joint Defra/industry-funded HortLINK programme is highly valued by growers and also needs greater support. Meanwhile, questions have been raised over the funding disincentives for universities to tackle applied research. But pound-for-pound match-funding for the levy would be an important step towards giving stability to the research base – a state of affairs enjoyed by the UK’s closest competitors – and without which UK horticulture cannot even begin to address the immediate and urgent issues that have been forced on the industry by January’s vote.

Over the coming weeks and months, HW will lobby the relevant bodies on these issues, support ongoing industry lobbying efforts, raise awareness of the R&D crisis and do everything we can to support the industry and provide a unified voice.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Leading figures from across horticulture have already signed up to support the Save Our Science campaign. If you agree with its aims, please send your message of support via www.HorticultureWeek.co.uk/sossupport, email gemma.spence@haymarket.com or fax to 020 8267 4987 telling us who you are and what you do.
For more on the R&D crisis see www.HorticultureWeek.co.uk/soscampaign.
For regular campaign updates see http://twitter.com/saveourscience

Why does Horticultural R&D Matter (108) Pesticide restrictions require R&D (93) Behind the gap in R&D Funding (94) HDC focuses on physical platform (104) Whats happening to our research stations (134)

Statements of support for the HW Save Our Science Campaign

Martin McPherson, director of science, Stockbridge Technology Centre “Finding environmentally safe solutions to replace the current crop protection products is a major challenge in such a short time-frame. If government and the industry could work together through joint pound-for-pound funding, then we have a chance of making significant progress.”

Neil Bragg, chairman, Horticultural Development Company “The amount raised by the levy is not enough to underpin and maintain the R&D facilities and expertise that HDC-funded work depends on. Government match-funding of the amount raised through the levy would be a tremendous help to industry.”

David Gwyther, director general, Horticultural Trades Association “Recent research reports have highlighted both the importance of strong R&D in the sector and how fast we are losing our capability to deliver it. R&D in the UK is at crisis point. We strongly support Horticulture Week’s campaign and will continue to lobby to preserve this immensely valuable resource.”

John Breach, chairman, British Independent Fruit Growers’ Association “The British Independent Fruit Growers’ Association wholeheartedly backs the Horticulture Week Save Our Science campaign. We also support the Government’s call for a greater consumption of fruit and vegetables. However, given reduced pesticide availability, it will only be possible to continue meeting the current, and likely future, demand for UK produce if an adequate research base is maintained.”

Professor Simon Bright, director and head of department, Warwick HRI, University of Warwick “Public investment in research is crucial to meet pressing demands for safe, affordable and sustainable systems of horticultural production. Matching levy board income is an effective way to ensure engagement of industry in these research challenges and getting the most impact from every pound spent. As to who should do this, is there an opportunity to engage the Technology Strategy Board, which has a remit for industry-led innovation, as well as Defra?

Tim Mudge, director, Processed Vegetable Growers Association “We fully support this initiative and agree with the principle of getting more R&D funding into horticulture.”

Philip Hudson, chief horticulture adviser, NFU “The launch of the Save Our Science campaign comes as R&D is needed more than ever before for the continuing competitiveness of the horticulture industry. NFU horticulture believes that the government funding of applied R&D is more than justified on the grounds of public goods. For these reasons we welcome the launch of the campaign by Horticulture Week.”

Sarah Fairhurst, chairman, British Protected Ornamentals Association “BPOA fully supports Horticulture Week’s Save Our Science campaign as we are aware of how vital R&D is for our sector and others in order for us to maintain our competitiveness. HW’s campaign echoes the sentiments of the NFU’s Why Science Matters initiative and is an excellent way to show that the horticulture industry is united in its need for science.”
Dr Oliver Doubleday, chairman, East Malling Research “The campaign is well timed as the Government must now, more than ever, focus on scientific research into food production. This is the only way to increase production and develop varieties that deliver greater yields, require fewer pesticides, are more drought-resistant, are immune to pests and diseases and still deliver the quality consumers expect.”

Andrew Colquhoun, chairman, National Horticultural Forum “After 20 years of cuts and rationalisations, a coherent programme of R&D no longer exists. The model is broken … There are widening gaps in funding, capacity and expertise in upstream strategic research formerly supported by Defra from which near-market research feeds. We need Defra to show leadership to again create the research model needed to underpin a viable horticulture industry.”

Martin Evans, chairman, British Carrot Growers Association “The loss of researchers and facilities is growing rapidly at a time when food security issues are projected to become major concerns. We have a rising population, a need for more housing, a changing climate and water issues, as well as restrictions around the use of pesticides. We need dynamic researchers who can balance such needs.”

Robert Hillier, chairman, Hillier Nurseries “By the nature of its size and diversity, horticulture alone is unable to provide the necessary funding for R&D. Without support from central government the continuing decline of the R&D base will shortly reach its inevitable conclusion. I therefore very strongly support the Save Our Science initiative in seeking matched funding for R&D from Defra.”