Save Our Science campaign: Pledge your support

• 05-13-2009 3:49 PM

  Gemma Spence Joined on 10-01-2008 Posts 202

  Save Our Science campaign: Pledge your support Reply Contact The Save Our Science campaign is calling for the Government to match-fund growers' HDC levy contributions as a first step towards securing a better future for horticultural research and the industry it serves. Click on the reply button above to leave your messages of support with, if possible, your full name and where you work. For more information on the campaign, see our Save Our Science Big Issue page.

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• 05-14-2009 2:10 PM

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  Gemma Spence Joined on 10-01-2008 Posts 202

  Re: Save Our Science campaign: Pledge your support Reply Contact Stockbridge Technology Centre science director Martin McPherson writes:   "Crop protection is an obvious area where the UK government could, and should, help the beleaguered horticultural industry.  As the worldwide population increases and we strive to encourage healthy eating through excellent campaigns such as ‘5-a-day' it is clear we need to improve the efficiency of crop production systems. Yet, in the current legislative climate there is a more immediate concern about how the industry can produce crops economically as a result of the predicted difficulties in controlling pests, pathogens in weeds in specialist crops due to a declining armoury of crop protection products.    "Finding environmentally safe solutions to replace the current crop protection products as required by recent EU legislation, whilst immensely desirable, is a major challenge in such a short time-frame. If government and the horticultural industry could work together through joint £ for £ funding initiatives then we have a chance of making significant progress...but help must come soon whilst we still have an applied R&D skills base within STC, EMR & ADAS to deliver what is required."

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• 05-14-2009 2:14 PM

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  Gemma Spence Joined on 10-01-2008 Posts 202

  Re: Save Our Science campaign: Pledge your support Reply Contact Horticultural Trades Association director general David Gwyther writes:   "A number of recent reports have highlighted both the importance of strong R&D in the sector and how fast we are loosing our capability to deliver it.  Horticultural R&D in the UK is at crisis point and further decline will effect 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. Once it goes it will be too late!"

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• 05-14-2009 2:17 PM

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  Gemma Spence Joined on 10-01-2008 Posts 202

  Re: Save Our Science campaign: Pledge your support Reply Contact Hillier Nurseries chairman Robert Hillier writes:   "For long-term success, all industries need the support of a long-term R&D infrastructure to provide the problem solving and innovation so vital to their competitiveness and ultimately to their survival. "By the nature of its size and diversity, horticulture is unable to provide alone the necessary funding for this essential provision. Whilst the industry is perfectly willing to continue its levy contribution, without support from central government the continuing decline of the R&D base will shortly reach its inevitable conclusion. "In the long-term interests of the industry, I therefore very strongly support the Save our Science initiative from Horticulture Week in seeking matched funding for R & D from Defra."

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• 05-14-2009 2:21 PM

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  Gemma Spence Joined on 10-01-2008 Posts 202

  Re: Save Our Science campaign: Pledge your support Reply Contact National Horticultural Forum chairman Andrew Colquhoun writes:   "The long-term commercial success of UK horticulture depends on innovation. And innovation ultimately depends on a coherent programme of R&D. But after 20 years of cuts, rationalisations and privatisations, that coherent programme no longer exists. The model is broken. Levy payers fund near-market research through the HDC. But there are widening gaps in funding, capacity and expertise in the 'upstream' strategic research formerly supported Defra which the near-market research needs to feed off.   "With food security rising as a major issue and with an industry dominated by small businesses, we need Defra to show leadership to create again the research model needed to underpin a viable horticultural industry."

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• 05-14-2009 2:26 PM

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  Gemma Spence Joined on 10-01-2008 Posts 202

  Re: Save Our Science campaign: Pledge your support Reply Contact British Independent Fruit Growers' Association chairman John Breach writes:   "The British Independent Fruit Growers' Association wholeheartedly back the Horticulture Week's "Save Our Science" campaign. We also support the Government's call for greater consumption of fruit and vegetables, however, in this age of 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 in the UK. "Riding on the back of other countries research etc. has only limited effectiveness due to the unique weather conditions in the UK. Withdrawal of any research would leave UK growers at a disadvantage."

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• 05-14-2009 2:28 PM

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  Gemma Spence Joined on 10-01-2008 Posts 202

  Re: Save Our Science campaign: Pledge your support Reply Contact British Protected Ornamentals Association chairman Sarah Fairhurst writes   "BPOA fully support Horticulture Week's Save Our Science Campaign as we are aware of how vital research and development is needed for our sector and others in order for us to maintain our competitiveness and ensure the industry is well prepared, and echoes the sentiments of the NFU's 'Why Science Matters' initiative. Horticulture Week's campaign is an excellent way to show that the horticultural industry is united in it's need for science."

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• 05-14-2009 2:32 PM

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  Gemma Spence Joined on 10-01-2008 Posts 202

  Re: Save Our Science campaign: Pledge your support Reply Contact NFU chief horticulture adviser Philip Hudson writes:   "The launch of the ‘Save our Science' campaign comes at a time when research and development is needed now more than ever before for the continuing competitiveness of the horticulture industry. NFU horticulture believes that Government funding of applied R&D is more than justified on the grounds of public goods - not least because of the wider benefits to society of a profitable production horticulture industry that supplies fruit, vegetables, flowers and plants to consumers at affordable prices. For these reasons we welcome the launch of the campaign by Horticulture Week'."

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• 05-14-2009 2:37 PM

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  Gemma Spence Joined on 10-01-2008 Posts 202

  Re: Save Our Science campaign: Pledge your support Reply Contact GreenGene International managing director Professor Geoffrey Dixon writes:   "Scientific discoveries are the life blood of horticulture. New science and technology is applied in horticulture faster and far more effectively than in any other land based sector. Applied science and technology keeps horticultural businesses nimble, efficient and profitable. The industry is a world class unsubsidised trader through using applied science and technology."

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• 05-14-2009 2:40 PM

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  Gemma Spence Joined on 10-01-2008 Posts 202

  Re: Save Our Science campaign: Pledge your support Reply Contact NFU board member and soft fruit grower Anthony Snell writes:   "Agriculture and Horticulture are virtually the only industries we have left in ‘Great' Britain! Surely in these difficult times of Economic Recession, Climate Change, Reductions in crop protection products, and worries about basic food security, it is ‘Mindblowingly' obvious that we must as a priority invest now in science for our future."

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• 05-14-2009 2:45 PM

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  Gemma Spence Joined on 10-01-2008 Posts 202

  Re: Save Our Science campaign: Pledge your support Reply Contact British Carrot Growers Association chairman Martin Evans writes:   "Unfortunately we have been concern about this situation for a long time, with the continued loss of researchers and research facilities increasingly becoming limited. This trend will continue to decline rapidly at a time when food security issues are projected to become major concerns. This is on the back of a rising world population, a need for more housing (Less Land) changing climate, water issue too much and too little as well as the legislative and Environmental restrictions around the use of Pesticides.   "This clearly points to a step change in how we address food production research as well as energy resource based research as we need to balance the longer term sustainability needs against the shorter term needs of food. We will need dynamic researchers in the future who can balance these needs and formulate a strong research strategy in line with the changing needs of the world at large. Leaf tell that we are 9 meals from anarchy which indicates how fragile the world we live in is, we need 4.7 ha person for true sustainability, we currently have 1.7 Ha per person so we already have sustainability issues.  We use excess of 30 000 tonnes of Pesticides per annum in the UK, which equally is not nice.   "Therefore our needs are great and this is not a nice to have option but a need to have and it may be a stitch in time rather than tears and beer."

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• 05-14-2009 2:47 PM

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  Gemma Spence Joined on 10-01-2008 Posts 202

  Re: Save Our Science campaign: Pledge your support Reply Contact Boningale Nurseries managing director Tim Edwards writes:   "The cost of importing plants will be high for the foreseeable future - that's a great opportunity forUK horticulture. Yet, with our chemical arsenal under threat for political rather than scientific reasons, there's never been greater need to defend the budget on horticultural science spending - I fully support Horticulture Week's campaign."

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• 05-15-2009 3:38 PM

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  Gemma Spence Joined on 10-01-2008 Posts 202

  Re: Save Our Science campaign: Pledge your support Reply Contact Warwick HRI director Professor Simon Bright writes:    "At Warwick, we work successfully across the full spectrum from pure to applied research in horticulture and crop science. 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."

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• 05-15-2009 3:44 PM

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  Gemma Spence Joined on 10-01-2008 Posts 202

  Re: Save Our Science campaign: Pledge your support Reply Contact East Malling Research chairman Dr Oliver Doubleday writes:   "The campaign is well timed as the government must now, more than ever, focus on scientific research into food production. "The challenge faced by millions of people around the globe is how to produce more food, while at the same time use less land and valuable resources. Scientific research is the only way to increase production and develop varieties that deliver greater yields, require less pesticides, are more drought resistant, are immune to pests and diseases and still deliver the quality that the modern consumer expects."

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• 05-15-2009 9:15 PM

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  Stewart Cowell Joined on 09-02-2008 Jerez, Andalucia, Spain Posts 9	Re: Save Our Science campaign: Pledge your support Reply Contact R&D has long been underfunded in UK.   This is a very welcome campaign.
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