- Industry expert to be appointed to help drive growth of the
United Kingdom’s Horticulture industry
- Industry consulted on ways to expand large modern glasshouses
and vertical farms
- A further £12.5m announced for automation and robotics
through the Farming Innovation Programme
Plans to boost home grown fruit and vegetable production and
drive the growth of high-tech horticulture have been set out
today by Environment Secretary , as part of HM
Government’s work to unleash the potential of British farming.
Glasshouse growing, a form of Controlled Environment
Horticulture, has multiple economic, food security and
sustainability benefits, but the sector currently represents only
10% of English horticultural businesses. It means the United
Kingdom only grows 25% of the cucumbers and 17% of the tomatoes
supplied domestically, however businesses operating with this
model are already reaping benefits – from extended growing
seasons, efficient water usage and higher yields per square
metre.
To kickstart efforts to grow the horticulture sector and boost
domestic production, the Environment Secretary today committed a
further £12.5m investment in automation and robotics through the
Farming Innovation Programme on top of more than £70 million
spent so far on industry-led research and development.
The fund opens in January with 'UK Research and Innovation'
(UKRI) and will match-fund projects that will drive economic
growth, food security and deliver on environmental commitments.
Previous funded projects have included fruit scouting robots,
automated vegetable harvesters and new types of fertiliser.
Environment Secretary said:
“We all rely on farmers and growers every day to produce
high-quality food, and to look after our environment.
"Whilst we have a high degree of food security, we can boost it
further. We can increase home-grown fruit and vegetable
production, which is why I am bringing in expert advice and
match-funding robotics and automation projects.
“Technology offers huge opportunities to make farming greener and
more productive, so we should harness it to help grow the
economy, create jobs and improve food security too.”
Last week, the Environment Secretary visited the Netherlands to
learn more about high-tech greenhouse and vertical growing
approaches, touring a robotics institute and a glasshouse
business which uses artificial intelligence, robotics, renewable
energy and water neutral systems to grow produce.
He also announced he will appoint an industry expert to work with
him and colleagues across the edible and ornamental sectors to
build a clearer picture of the barriers and opportunities in
Controlled Environment Horticulture. They will provide a set of
recommendations and policy interventions that the government can
implement both immediately and longer term.
Furthermore, the Environment Secretary has written to a number of
major Controlled Environment Horticulture growers to seek the
industry’s views on how HM Government can best support its
expansion and ensure government policies best reflect industry
needs.
To create a positive investment environment for the horticulture
sector, HM Government has already signalled its
commitment to including industrial horticulture in decisions on
industrial energy policy and reviewing the planning permission
process to support new developments. Plans to incentivise the
sector to make use of surplus heat and CO2 from industrial
processes, and renewable sources of energy are also being
considered.
As set out in the Growth Plan, HM Government will be looking at
the frameworks for regulation, innovation and investment that
impact farmers and land managers to make sure that policies are
best placed to both boost food production and protect the
environment. Later this year, the Environment Secretary will
put forward details of plans on how we will increase food
security whilst strengthening the resilience and role of farmers
as stewards of the British countryside.
ENDS
Notes to editors
- Defra will announce the individual appointed as the Secretary
of State's industry expert on Controlled Environment Horticulture
later this year.
