NFU HORTICULTURE SPRING 2023

For horticulture and potato members of the NFU

CONTACTS

Editorial Editor

Lorna Maybery

t: 02476 858971

e: lorna.maybery @nfu.org.uk

News editor

Tom Sales

t: 02476 858676

e: tom.sales@nfu.org.uk

Designer

John Cottle

Writers

Michael Barker

Hayley Campbell-Gibbons

NFU Horticulture advisers

Chief horticulture and potatoes adviser

Lee Abbey

e: lee.abbey@nfu.org.uk

Horticulture adviser

Rupert Weaver

e: rupert.weaver @nfu.org.uk

Horticulture adviser

Christine McDowell

e: christinemcdowell @nfu.org.uk

Commercial

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WELCOME

In the world of manipulation that is social media, I have found myself watching several excerpts from Dragons’ Den recently. It led me to contemplate what type of pitch a regular grower might make on this show – a worst-case scenario could be something like this: ‘I would like you to give me xx pounds, so that I can continue to grow barely proftable (or unproftable) crops, because it is my vocation to be a grower and someone has to do it.’

Somehow, I don’t think Peter Jones or Deborah Meaden would be competing to provide the cash! Yet, this is the scenario that many of us are currently operating in, partly because our industry is there to support the most basic needs of society and we (at least) understand how important it is that we are there to put food on plates and plants in the landscape.

It doesn’t always have to be this way; the market is constantly changing and businesses that have the agility to move with the trends will fnd strong demand (and hopefully better prices) for what they produce. You will fnd an analysis of some of the latest consumption trends on page 23.

Another route to a more proftable business is through the application of research; we cover some developments in potatoes on page 38. Whilst the NFU is not directly involved in technical research, we are committed to supporting our members in having access to the latest opportunities, including government funding, where appropriate.

As I come to the end of my frst year in the Chair, I do refect on how our industry has responded to all the recent challenges (see page 14). I have come across commitment, resilience, passion and, most important, decency. I hope we all have a sense of pride in who we are and what we are doing.

Martin Emmett

and Potatoes Board Chairman

Horticulture

THERE'S AN AWARD CATEGORY JUST FOR YOU AT THE OSCARS OF THE FRESH PRODUCE INDUSTRY

THE 2023 FPC FRESH AWARDS

TAKES PLACE AT THE PRESTIGIOUS GROSVENOR HOUSE HOTEL IN LONDON ON FRIDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER

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What's been happening...

A snapshot of the NFU’s work for members and developments in the sector

Labour lobbying latest

An allocation of 45,000 seasonal worker visas in the sector for 2023, with the potential for 10,000 more, was a “positive step”, the NFU said in December. The announcement followed sustained lobbying and included news that 4,000 visas would be available in time for the dafodil harvest, answering an NFU ask.

However, the NFU continues to push for a number of policy changes on labour, among them the removal of the Seasonal Workers Scheme wage and a return to the National Living Wage, and a ‘reset’ of the visa timetable for 2023 to allow workers to come back earlier. More from p9

Ground sky lanterns

More than 100,000 people have now signed an NFU petition calling for a ban on sky lantern releases. Some 185 councils have already prohibited launches on land they own as part of a long-running NFU campaign, but the latest push goes further and hopes to demonstrate widespread support for a ban on releases anywhere in England and Wales. The NFU petition highlights the threats to farm buildings, crops and livestock and is supported by the National Fire Chiefs Council, the RSPCA and Keep Britain Tidy. Add your name at NFUonline. com/skylanterns

Targeted border work

The NFU is continuing to work towards an Authorised Operator Scheme that would allow some border checks in the horticulture and ornamentals sectors to continue to be performed at the place of destination (POD) rather than border control posts (BCPs), once the much-delayed UK Target Operating Model (TOM) is introduced.

The proposed switch to BCPs has raised concerns over poor plant handling and biosecurity.

The government has said it will publish a draft TOM ‘in early 2023’, which will be put out to a limited consultation, with the fnal TOM due to be published later in the year. The NFU is working closely with Defra and hopes to see the Authorised Operator Scheme in place by then. More on p16

Making your case

Horticulture members can tap into the experience of two former supermarket buyers during a new workshop organised by the NFU. Following their popular cost price increase sessions, Ged Futter and David Miles of The Retail Mind will return to NFU HQ in Warwickshire, on 22 March, to focus on negotiating new business with retailers, or renewing contracts. NFU members get a 40% discount. Visit: NFUonline.com/ negotiation-skills

Dedicated SFI ofer needed

January‘s longawaited detail on the 2023 Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), and a raft of extra Countryside Stewardship options for 2024, added up to “encouraging” progress overall, the NFU said.

But while the news will braoden the scope of the future farm support ofer, the options for growers remained limited. The NFU continues to press for a tailored horticulture standard under the SFI, with real incentives if areas of high-value crops grown on small acreage are to be swapped for environmental measures. Read more on p29

Leading on alternatives

NFU members Huntapac, Stourgarden, TH Clements and G’s will be involved in the UK’s biggest roll-out of low-carbon ‘alternative’ fertilisers this season.

They are among fve of Tesco’s feld vegetable suppliers taking part in a trailblazing commercial trial, which aims to reduce the climate footprint of produce by as much as 20% and could also help to address spiralling chemical fertiliser costs.

The trial covers 1,300 hectares, and involves an estimated 70,000 tonnes of veg and potatoes. The novel fertilisers that will be used are made from materials including food waste, chicken litter and algae.

ENERGY: GROWERS OVERLOOKED

The NFU is calling for an urgent review of the government’s future energy support arrangements, after primary food production sectors, including horticulture, were left out of a higher-tier scheme.

It has made a strong case in meetings with Defra and the Treasury. The omission means that from April 2023, when the current Energy Bill Relief Scheme ends, growers will receive a discount on their electricity and gas only if wholesale prices are above £302 per MWh and £107 per MWh, respectively. Support there, under the Energy Bills Discount Scheme, will run until April 2024.

However, 121 other business categories have been classifed as eligible for an alternative Energy and Trade Intensive Industries Scheme. They will receive a far more signifcant discount and a lower payment threshold of £185 per MWh for electricity and £99 per MWh for gas.

Those receiving the more generous support include some food processing sectors and fertiliser and feed manufacturers. Others set to beneft range from mining and glass production concerns to museums, zoos and botanical gardens.

“We are extremely disappointed,” said NFU President Minette Batters. “We have highlighted repeatedly how energy prices are threatening next year’s crops of tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers.

“The current changes to the scheme seem completely at odds with the government’s own ambition to grow more fruit and veg – what is the justifcation for botanical gardens to be included, but not food grown in glasshouses?”

Get the latest at NFUonline.com/cross-sectors/farm-business

HORT AT #NFU23

Growers will discuss what’s needed to stabilise – and then grow – UK horticulture during a sector-specifc session at NFU Conference (21-22 February, ICC Birmingham).

Speakers will include NFU Horticulture and Potatoes Board chair Martin Emmett and vice-chair Derek Wilkinson, as well as Potato Forum chair Tim Rooke and chief NFU adviser Lee Abbey.

An opportunity to sharpen contract negotiation skills is also promised, with former Asda commercial director David Miles leading an interactive session. The horticulture breakout is at 4pm on day one.

Get the full programme at NFUonline.com/NFU23

SUPPLY A SUPERMARKET?

Groceries Code Adjudicator Mark White is conducting his annual survey on the experiences of farmers and growers who supply the major retailers. The 2023 temperature-taking exercise will shape the GCA’s work at a challenging time, and Mr White has urged all of those supplying the supermarkets to take part.

Last year’s survey was the frst in nine years of the exercise in which supermarkets’ compliance with the Groceries Code of Practice fell, with a quarter of suppliers highlighting issues with retailer responses to cost price increase requests.

Read more at NFUonline.com/ GCAsurvey23

BIOSECURITY BLUEPRINT

The APHA will ramp up its monitoring of online retailers and social media traders as part of a fve-year plan to protect the UK from invasive plant pests and diseases.

Defra’s new Plant Biosecurity Strategy, published in January, also features a drive to widen the Plant Healthy scheme, which provides biosecurity certifcation to nurseries, and a call for more than 30 signatories of the Plant Health Accord – including the NFU – to ‘start a national conversation around biosecurity’.

The strategy details work to enhance the Plant Health Risk Register, which lists 1,200 pests and diseases representing potential threats.

It sets out plans to further develop ‘a number of IT systems’, to train outbreak responders, increase public education and to develop cutting-edge DNA diagnostics to provide earlier warning of pests and pathogens.

Shared goals, shared costs

Responding to the new blueprint, the NFU said that it recognised the importance of countering pests and diseases that pose threats to food security, trade, the environment and proftable farm businesses.

“We will be looking at the detail to make sure it follows a science-led, risk-based approach that supports domestic production while ensuring GB plant health is maintained,” said NFU Vicepresident David Exwood.

“Biosecurity is everyone’s responsibility, from government to those who grow and supply plants and the public, so we think it’s right for the costs and responsibilities to be shared.”

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UP TO 55,000 VISAS FOR THIS SEASON

Hayley Campbell-Gibbons looks at where this year's Seasonal Worker Scheme announcement leaves the industry - and how to make the most of it

Following another gruelling season of labour shortages for horticulture businesses, Christmas came early for growers as the government confrmed that 45,000 seasonal worker visas will be available in 2023, as part of the Seasonal Worker Scheme (SWS). Through the SWS visa route, businesses can recruit foreign workers to come to the UK for up to six

months. The announcement, made on 16 December, also included the potential to increase this fgure by a further 10,000 if necessary.

In a move welcomed by the sector, and following extensive NFU lobbying, Defra also committed to making 4,000 visas available to scheme operators ahead of January to ensure dafodil growers had sufcient labour for the start of their 2023 harvest.

Responding to the news, NFU Deputy President Tom Bradshaw said: “The increase in visas is a positive step forward and will be a relief for many growers who are currently struggling to fnd the skilled workforce needed to continue producing the nation’s fruit, vegetables and ornamentals.

“Yet, concerns remain that the decision will have come too late for some, with a number of businesses already having made the difcult decision to reduce production in the coming season.

“Growers have faced a really tough year, with soaring energy and fertiliser costs only adding to the pressure caused by signifcant workforce shortages, which resulted in £60m of fruit and vegetables being wasted in the frst half of 2022 alone. We expect the coming 2023 season to be equally challenging.

“We’ll be closely monitoring the situation and, given the pressure growers are currently under, it’s important that any decision to release the further 10,000 visas is timely and ahead of the peak season.”

The six Seasonal Worker Scheme operators are:

• Pro Force, pro-force.co.uk

• Concordia, concordiavolunteers.org.uk

• Fruitful Jobs, fruitfuljobs.com

• AG Recruitment, agrecruitment.eu

• HOPS labour solutions, hopslaboursolutions.com

• Agri HR, agri-hr.com

‘Listened to producers’

In making the long-awaited announcement, Farming

Minister Mark Spencer said:

“Seasonal labour has long been part of the UK’s rural economy, and while it is right that we offer long-term support to increase the use of domestic labour, we also need to support businesses on the back of what has been a challenging year for food producers.

“That’s why we’ve listened to the UK’s horticulture sector, and today’s announcement will provide our growers with the labour they need to bring in the harvest and continue to put their produce on our tables.”

The government decision came just weeks after the NFU, alongside 160 members, wrote to the Immigration Minister, Robert Jenrick, amid concerns over visas for seasonal workers in the future (see panel ).

The NFU letter asked for urgent clarity on the number of visas amid concerns that the previous government commitments would fall short of what was needed by British horticulture.

Co-signatories included Madestein

UK Ltd, Barfoot Farms Ltd, Varfell Farms Ltd, Strawson Ltd, Riviera Produce Ltd and G’s Fresh.

Looking ahead

NFU Horticulture and Potatoes Board chair Martin Emmett acknowledges that whilst a scheme of 45,000 visas, with a potential to rise to 55,000, is significant, there is no room for complacency.

He says: “With production falling due to a combination of rising costs

“Good earnings, comfortable and modern accommodation, fair treatment and team spirit are all critical”

James Mallick

Compliance and implementation director at Pro-Force

and worries over labour, it’s difcult to predict exactly what the seasonal labour demand will be in 2023. We will monitor the situation very closely.

“It’s also important to build a more consistent dialogue with the Home Ofce that looks towards growing the sector rather than just supporting our immediate labour requirements.

“The NFU will continue to ask for a minimum of a fve-year rolling seasonal agricultural worker scheme to give growers the confdence to invest in their businesses, and boost Britain’s production of nutritious and afordable fruit and vegetables."

Plenty still to do

He adds: “To look back on 2022 is to look back on one of the most unpredictable and challenging years

FROM THE NFU’S LETTER TO THE MINISTER

“We are writing to you as businesses from across the sector to ask for urgent clarity on the Seasonal Workers Scheme. We all welcomed the news last year that the Seasonal Workers Scheme is guaranteed to 2024. However, we remain concerned that the number of visas falls short of what is needed to prevent a continued fall in UK production...

“Securing sufcient seasonal labour remains an acute challenge for the sector... shortages peaked at 40% in the spring and averaged 15% across the year... with UK fruit and vegetables, plants and fowers going unpicked, leading to a signifcant fnancial loss for British producers and nutritious food being wasted.

“While the government’s own food strategy includes an ambition for growth in horticulture, production is currently falling at a worrying rate and is way below potential.

“We are urging a much more collaborative relationship between your department and the sector. We therefore hope that you will take up our ofer to host you on farm to observe the challenges frst-hand to ensure farming businesses have the people needed to pick, pack and process high-quality, afordable and sustainable food for the nation.”

He reminded growers that their data had played an important role in progress so far, adding: “Our success in securing an annual expansion to the scheme has been down to the robust evidence that we continually provide.

“To this end, I would encourage you to fll out the labour surveys that we send out and I thank you for your ongoing support.”

any of us have experienced. The impact the Ukraine confict has had on our labour provision and production costs is unprecedented.

“For this sector to have a hope of growing, we need to stabilise the ship.

“We need policies that provide opportunities, not limitations, whether that is accessing people, water, crop protection products, growing media, energy, or having a more enabling planning system and import controls, or investment in new technologies and growing systems. It’s clear 2023 will continue to be challenging, and we still have much work to do.”

How to recruit seasonal labour James Mallick, compliance and implementation director at Pro-Force, says that creating the right environment for a seasonal employee is important for any growers considering applying for workers through the SWS.

“Good earnings, comfortable and modern accommodation, fair treatment and team spirit are all critical,” Mr Mallick advises.

“It’s important to consider the time-limited nature of the visa and the investment of time and money that seasonal workers have made to be able to come to the UK to work.

“Workers tell us that fewer than 40

“We’ll be closely monitoring the situation and, given the pressure growers are currently under, it’s important that any decision to release the further 10,000 visas is timely and ahead of the peak season”

Tom Bradshaw NFU Deputy President

OUR LABOUR LOBBYING ASKS:

• Removal of the SWS wage and a return to National Living Wage

• ‘Reset’ the visa timetable for 2023 so that returnees from 2022 can come back sooner in 2023 (in recognition of the impact the Ukraine confict had on 2022 arrivals)

• Secure a longer-term solution where the number of visas is known for at least fve years ahead.

to 44 hours per week is not enough. They are very conscious of their outlay to arrive in the UK, and want to maximise their earning potential.

“What’s more, they’re typically

working to provide a better standard of living for their entire family, hence we highly encourage our clients to fully utilise their SWS workforce within ethical and legal limits.”

Checks and balances

Typical assessments of clients requesting SWS labour from ProForce, or other operators, include:

• Compliance with health and safety regulations

• Ethical practices in the business

• Accommodation standards and worker protection mechanisms

• The length of assignment available (ideally 26 weeks, and where shorter, whether it links in with other placements)

• A worker’s earning potential.

“Where a client has received SWS labour from Pro-Force in a previous year, we also take decisions based on worker feedback, retention rates and

levels of returnees from previous seasons,” said Mr Mallick.

The potential for government to increase the number of SWS visas by a further 10,000 is contingent on sponsors and growers improving and abiding to worker welfare standards, including ensuring workers are guaranteed a minimum number of paid hours each week. The government’s own guidance on ‘Monitoring workers’ welfare’, available at gov.uk, is a clear and useful resource for businesses employing seasonal workers. P

“Workers tell us that fewer than 40 to 44 hours per week is not enough. They are very conscious of their outlay to arrive in the UK, and want to maximise their earning potential”

James Mallick

Compliance and implementation director at Pro-Force

Man for all seasons

As Martin Emmett completes his frst year as NFU Horticulture & Potatoes Board chair, he refects on an extraordinary 12 months with Michael Barker

When he needs to relax, Martin Emmett practices origami and takes photos near his home at the beautiful nature reserve of Pagham Harbour, where he combines his personal and professional love for the environment and conservation.

The 58-year-old chairman of the NFU Horticulture & Potatoes Board has had plenty of reason to call on his stress-busting hobbies during his frst year in the role, coming as it has during one of the toughest periods the industry has ever known.

“Challenging is the key word,” he says of the past 12 months. “NFU data suggests there’s been a contraction in the industry, in some sectors by as much as 20%, and there’s defnite pressures on margins with cost price infation (CPI) and the capacity to renegotiate contracts. Some businesses are managing to cope quite well, but it’s really important to try to support those that are in the worst position, because that’s when NFU members are particularly expecting the organisation to work for them.”

There have been a number of key areas where businesses have needed the NFU for that support, and one of the standout wins for the horticulture board was when its lobbying helped persuade the government to increase the number of seasonal worker visas, frstly to add an additional 10,000 last year and then to secure a minimum 45,000 – with capacity to reach 55,000 – for 2023.

Mr Emmett says that was hugely welcome news, but he doesn’t want to take his foot of the gas and stop highlighting the industry’s case, particularly with the issue of a higher wage rate associated with the seasonal visas. “We don’t want a premium wage associated with the scheme,” he confrms. “I’m personally convinced in

all respects, including morally, that the case does not exist for that.”

It’s not surprising that as someone with a background in training and teaching, Mr Emmett takes a keen interest in ensuring the industry can meet its stafng needs. The director of Tristram Plants also works as a lecturer in climate control and is on the board of trustees at the LSA Charitable Trust, which works to advance education in horticulture. People, and helping them to be the best they can be, is clearly a passion for him.

fruit and vegetable production is getting at the top level. When NFU President Minette Batters met Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in December, one of the main topics for discussion was how to boost production of fresh produce and better support the sector.

“I do think people understand that it’s in the national interest that we are more self-sufcient, and at the moment that’s on the political agenda as well,” Mr Emmett points out. “We are working on developing a growth plan that we want to discuss with Defra, and we’ve got interest in the sector from the Prime Minister himself.”

Sector growth is not just about production numbers or fnancials – it’s also about status, according to Mr Emmett. He believes the profession is undervalued within society and appreciates that more work needs to be done to convince the British public of its value. There’s still a PR job to be done around pesticides, he believes, but is adamant the industry has the potential to thrive in the longer term.

Mr Emmett believes progress has been made in a number of areas this past year, including getting more clarity on Environmental Land Management schemes (ELMs) and putting forward the industry’s case on plant import controls. He is proud of the help the NFU has ofered members around CPIs and negotiating with customers, and says the analytical work carried out with Promar has been highly informative. Looking ahead, he is keen to push the agenda on water use and would like to see a national strategy developed in the UK.

Higher-profle horticulture

Horticulture has often struggled for media and government attention among the bigger industries, but one of the most pleasing aspects of the past year has been the higher profle that

“I do think we are in a sector that is ultimately in the ascendancy and, in general, people will only want more of the products we are growing.

“I wouldn’t say horticulture has a halo efect though, as that would suggest we can’t go wrong, and being mindful of that is key. But there are opportunities.”

For the year ahead, Mr Emmett is looking forward to getting out and meeting more growers in person, visiting their farms and hearing about their particular challenges.

He is especially keen to visit the South West in the early months of the year, and to make sure that region’s voice is heard nationally. He has visited many parts of the north already and taken part in countless online meetings, but freely admits he prefers real-life interaction whenever it is possible.

“NFU data suggests there’s been a contraction in the industry, in some sectors by as much as 20%, and there’s defnite pressures on margins with cost price infation (CPI) and the capacity to renegotiate contracts”

Mr Emmett doesn’t believe horticulture’s future success needs to come at the expense of other primary food sectors, and indeed he has cultivated a close relationship with the chairmen of other NFU commodity boards. “What people might not realise is that the commodity board chairs communicate with each other a lot more, so, for example, I think it’s good that I recognise where there is a common issue with, for example, the poultry sector on labour,” he points out.

“So it’s very positive to have the opportunity to work with them. I was at a meeting recently and had some really good informal discussions with the chairs of the combinable crops and livestock boards. It’s surprised me how much better I can relate to them than I would have imagined, which of course is in everyone’s interests.”

That sense of kinship across farming is one that most people in the industry could relate to, and it’s just one area where Mr Emmett feels he’s developed. He freely admits that the past year has been a learning curve, as well as a lesson in diplomacy. But has he enjoyed it? He says that, for now, he takes it too seriously to take pleasure in it, as such.

“I do genuinely like a challenge and I have an extremely challenging period in which to develop my skills,” he concludes. “I’ll enjoy refecting on it if it’s been successful, but when you consider the extent of the challenges, I don’t want to be complacent. It has, though, confrmed my pre-existing opinion that it’s a great industry with great people working in it. There’s something about the type of work we are doing that brings out the best people and the best in people.”

The drive to do right by people permeates everything Mr Emmett does, and while there’s no doubt that brings its own pressure, he hopes that whenever his term as chair happens to come to an end, he will be leaving the industry in a better place than when he arrived. There’s still many things on his checklist to achieve before t hen, but with a number of signifcant wins on his record in the frst year, he’ll approach what’s ahead with quiet confdence. P

Targeted approach

The Target Operating Model has been delayed as the UK establishes its post-Brexit border regime. Michael Barker asks what it means for

Brexit means many things to many people, but for horticultural businesses it has, above all, meant adapting to new regulations that have added various degrees of cost and red tape.

One area of prolonged uncertainty has centred around the UK’s new border control regime, and, in particular, the development of a digital border known as the Target Operating Model (TOM).

The model aims to harness new technologies, make use of real-time data and better target risk to ‘reduce friction and costs for businesses and consumers and create a radically simpler yet secure experience for traders moving goods, including plants and plant products, across the UK border’.

A noble ambition, but the problem is that the TOM has suffered a series of delays, with horticultural businesses left waiting for news of what the new regime will look like. The latest official update states that the government will publish a draft TOM ‘in early 2023’, setting out how it intends to deliver the 2025 Border Strategy. This will then be put out for consultation – which is likely to be just for a short period and limited to industry stakeholders – with the final TOM due to be published later in the year.

At a meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in December, Defra reported that there has been good co-operation between its officials and those from Scotland and Wales towards developing the TOM, but there

horticulture

are still details to be agreed in which the relevant common frameworks will play a key role.

The hold-ups have not necessarily been bad news. According to Lucia Zitti, senior adviser for international trade and global affairs at the NFU, for plant imports the delay in changes has meant that some sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks continue to be performed at the place of destination (POD) rather than border control posts (BCP).

“This has been highly beneficial to our members, particularly those who have significant concern with biosecurity and handling of goods at BCPs, as well as the associated unknown costs and time that going through a BCP might mean,” she adds.

“However, looking across all agriculture commodities, the delay in the implementation of checks puts our exporters on an unlevel playing field with regards to our EU competitors.”

The TOM is set to be implemented over a period of years in a number of phased steps. Primary legislation is expected to be required and therefore precise implementation timescales are dependent on parliamentary time. In the meantime, SPS controls in England are covered by what is described in legislation as a ‘special transitional staging period’, which permits continued derogations for goods entering from the EU, EEA, the Faroes, Greenland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. The end date of the transitional staging period was amended at the end of last year to now

sit at 31 January 2024.

Ms Zitti says that, from the plant side, the NFU has had good engagement from Defra but that without seeing the details of the TOM, it’s hard to say how well the final model will work for horticulture. “What we do know is that when the TOM is implemented, all checks will move to the BCP,” she explains.

“We have been telling Defra this is not suitable for the horticulture and ornamental sector mainly because of concern relating to the biosecurity if goods are not handled properly by port authorities, which, in the worst case, could be very damaging and costly for businesses.

“For this reason we have been asking Defra that checks remain at the POD. To date, Defra has been understanding of the complexities and has been in discussions with the industry on building a new scheme, which is being referred to as an ‘Authorised Operator Scheme’. This could mean that checks are performed by trained professional growers at control points, which a business can register to be. This is still in development, and we are in regular dialogue with Defra on this.”

For the fresh produce and ornamental sectors, it is most crucial to find an acceptable alternative to checks at the border for certain products, Ms Zitti concludes. The NFU is keen to see the Authorised Operator Scheme working for the majority of operators, and that the scheme is implemented in time for when the TOM goes live. P

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Across the chain

We run through some of the NFU’s ongoing work on supply chain costs, following the Promar report

With record levels of infation, the war in Ukraine and extreme weather events, the past year has presented exceptional challenges for Britain’s farmers and growers, putting additional strain on some supply chain relationships.

From seeking retail commitments to deal with price increase requests fairly and swiftly, to lobbying government to prioritise food security, the NFU has left no stone unturned in its eforts to support growers in a challenging market.

How are supermarkets supporting growers?

The NFU-commissioned Promar report, published in autumn 2022, highlighted the severe impact cost infation is having on the sector. The report revealed horticulture and potato businesses have been impacted by a 27% uplift in costs on average, with businesses looking to reduce production and disinvestment likely to continue into 2023 as a result.

After NFU President Minette Batters wrote to all grocery retailers and shared the report fndings, the NFU has met with chief executives, senior

directors and agriculture managers to discuss the ongoing challenges and better understand what these businesses are doing to support British producers. Here’s some of what eight of the major supermarkets have told us.

Tesco

Tesco says it has long-term contracts in place with its fruit and veg producers to ensure that costs are agreed before crops are planted, helping to instil confdence to plant into the next season. As with many of the retailers, Tesco has committed to the Grocery Code Adjudicator’s seven golden rules when it comes to CPI (Cost Price Increase) requests. It wants to hold more open conversations with farmers and growers, to share its vision and align on growth strategies.

Tesco attended the January NFU Horticulture and Potatoes Board meeting, hearing directly about the challenges the sector faces.

A key NFU ask of Tesco was to reset their way of working when approaching CPI requests, and to act swiftly to reverse the disinvestment happening within the sector. We also discussed how they could use their infuence to talk to government regarding energy support for the sector.

ASDA

The retailer has invited the NFU Food Business Unit to meet with International Procurement Logistics (IPL), which manages ASDA’s supply of fresh produce, to better understand the relationships with, and work to support, horticulture producers.

Sainsbury's

The retailer says that working with suppliers to manage infation has been a top priority during the past 12 months. It says it has developed commercial models with horticulture growers and wants to collaborate with selected producers to optimise efciencies and improve transparency where possible.

Aldi

Aldi has expressed an ongoing commitment to UK produce and sold 37,000 tonnes more UK fruit and veg in 2022 than it did in 2021. Where benefcial, it ofers long-term contracts to support relationships with growers, including expansion and investment opportunities.

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The Co-Operative

The Co-op says it continues to prioritise long-term partnerships and has regular dialogue with all supply partners, stating that open and clear discussions are vital. Its commercial and technical teams undertake face-to-face visits to build knowledge, grow relationships and be able to understand the impact of business decisions on its suppliers.

Morrisons

Morrison’s has committed to maintaining an open dialogue with all of its producers, helped by its uniquely integrated supply chain. The retailer has been in communication with its growers to support CPI requests and to ensure that opportunities for long-term

supply investment are captured and followed up.

Waitrose

Waitrose points to signifcant investments during 2022, including working with growers to relax specifcations to support droughtafected crops. It says it recognises the importance of supporting British farmers and a sustainable future as vital parts of its ofer to customers.

Lidl

Lidl was the frst retailer to ofer support for growers following the drought, which allowed constructive discussion between commercial teams and its supply chain. It moved to a weekly pricing model for berry growers to remain adaptive during difering crop and weather conditions.

YOUR MEMBER TOOLKIT

Building better, fairer supply chain relationships is a priority for the NFU. And as the supply chain faces unprecedented pressures, this has never been more important. NFU members can access a range of tools and guidance online and in person; including:

• A guide to contracts and knowing what you are signing up for

• A seven-point plan for better cost price discussions

• Access to a dedicated NFU Food Business Unit of advisers

• A briefng on the Grocery Supply Code of Practice, including how it protects you and how to raise a complaint

• Cost Price Increase workshops to provide you with the skills to manage customer negotiations.

The NFU wants to arm its members with the skills to gain control, creating the best chance for growers to agree the price they need from their buyer, in a constructive and robust way.

Our one-day cost price increases workshop, delivered by former supermarket senior buyers Ged Futter and David Miles, of 'The Retail Mind', will give you the skills to build constructive relationships with your buyer and communicate messages clearly and consistently.

It's a highly interactive day, focusing on real-life examples and tried-and-tested processes. The course has been extremely popular and is highly recommended by members who’ve attended.

In addition, a new Negotiation Skills Workshop, aims to help members re-tendering annual contracts or entering into new business deals.

More information, plus details on how to book workshops, are available by visiting NFUonline or by contating NFU CallFirst on 0370 845 8458

CRISIS SUMMIT

In an emergency ‘Fairness for Farmers and Growers’ press conference, Minette Batters and NFU Horticulture Board member Julian Marks delivered a stark warning to government: back British food production to secure a home-grown supply of sustainable food or risk seeing empty shelves in the nation’s supermarkets.

Key asks included:

1 We need an urgent investigation by Defra into whether an ‘exceptional market conditions’ declaration should be made under the Agriculture Act, given the severe disruption supply chains and consumers are experiencing

2 We need government to progress with its plans to bring fairness into the agriculture sector under its powers within the Agriculture Act

3 Increase availability of visas and lift the cap on the Seasonal Workers Scheme

4 Deliver on the Prime Minister's promise to establish a new food security target

5 Agriculture and horticulture must be listed as a 'vulnerable sector' for energy support.

The summit achieved more than 1,300 pieces of media coverage and was ‘breaking news’ on the day, with many of the national TV and radio channels reporting on the event.

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A QUESTION OF CONSUMPTION

The cost-of-living crisis is making shoppers reconsider their grocery purchases. Michael Barker asks what it means for fruit and vegetables

Fresh produce sales were one of the unexpected benefciaries of the pandemic, with locked-down consumers forced to prepare meals at home and families eating together in a throwback to times gone by.

A s the country has lurched from the Covid crisis to the infation crisis, however, an altogether diferent picture has emerged as optimism for a lasting change in consumption habits has been replaced by fears that swathes of the population are cutting back on eating fruit and vegetables as they tighten their belts. So how serious is the current situation, and what steps are being taken to improve it?

The fgures and a worrying fnding

It’s fair to say the latest retail sales data doesn’t make for particularly pleasant viewing. Kantar fgures provided to Horticulture show that in the 52 weeks to 25 December 2022, value sales of fresh produce stood at £11.6 billion – a 3.2% decline on the year before and only up by 2.8% compared with pre-pandemic (2019) fgures thanks to price infation.

Volume sales paint an even starker picture, with total fresh produce volumes down 7.4% against 2021 and only up 0.4 per cent against 2019. Both fruit (-6.7%) and vegetables (-7.9%) are being bought in far lower quantities than a year ago.

“With fresh fruit and veg being a staple category, shoppers are not leaving the market altogether, but are scaling back in other ways to ofset rising prices,” explains Beatrice Lugli, consumer insight director at Kantar.

“In the 52 weeks to 25 December 2022, value sales of fresh produce stood at £11.6 billion – a 3.2% decline on the year before and only up by 2.8% compared with pre-pandemic (2019)”

The most prominent tactic that consumers are adopting is to move to cheaper stores and to buy cheaper products, with a signifcant switch in spend to the discounters alongside a trade down to standard and economy tiers as shoppers hunt for the best value for money.

Arguably the most worrying aspect of the downturn centres around the demographics of people buying less. In January, a survey by YouGov for Red Tractor found that 18% of parents with young children are buying fewer fruit and vegetables as a result of the fnancial squeeze. Compounding concern for younger and less well-of members of the population, British Nutrition Foundation research also indicates that budgets for school dinners are seeing real-terms cuts.

Who’s cutting back?

In its latest market insight report, the Veg Power campaign examined how the cost-of-living crisis impacted festive food shopping, and it, too, painted a picture that is alarming for lower-income groups.

While the crisis only had a marginal impact on many people’s attitudes towards purchasing veg over Christmas, lower-income families with children were the notable exception. As many as 28% of that group said that increased energy costs had caused them to eat less veg, with 20% agreeing that they’d cut back on veg to save money, and the same number stating they’d foregone veg to buy unhealthy treats instead.

The eyes of the industry will be on what happens in 2023, and one possible silver lining is that strained budgets may actually result in shoppers buying more as they hunker down over the coming months.

FALLS ACROSS EUROPE

It’s not just in the UK where consumption is suffering – across the continent pressure on wallets is causing consumers to reconsider their purchases.

New figures from European fresh produce association Freshfel show that average fruit and veg consumption in the EU stood at 364g per person per day in 2021. However, that is forecast to have declined by as much as 10% once the final data for 2022 is gathered. The decline is driven by low-level consumption by millennials and the youngest generations, who are generally on lower incomes and struggling more with the cost of living.

‘Basic misperception’

In times of crisis, consumers tend to switch towards less healthy diets, which are perceived as cheaper and containing more energy. That suggests that there is a public relations job still to be done on the benefits of fruit and veg.

“Consumers have a basic misperception about fruit and vegetable prices on the shelf in supermarkets,” notes Freshfel Europe general delegate Philippe Binard. “Fruit and vegetables are the most affordable products and have also undisputed health and environmental assets. Compared to other food categories, rises in fruit and vegetable prices have been lower than the average inflation.”

“As the cost-of-living crisis continues, budgetary pressure will likely bring more spend into retail as shoppers look to replace more indulgent or social occasions from foodservice channels into the home,” Ms Lugli says.

“During the pandemic, more time spent at home meant a bigger demand for premium, so it’s possible we will start to see some shoppers move back up the tiers throughout 2023.” Offering a mix of tiering –and in particular both value and premium lines –appears to be the best path to success for retailers and suppliers right now.

Domestic production goal

The longerterm picture is more

positive, with fruit and veg sales generally rising during the past decade due to a greater awareness of healthy balanced diets.

If UK consumption of fruit and vegetables is to reach target levels though, then increasing the availability of home-grown produce would seem to be a vital objective.

According to a new analysis by the Sustainable and Healthy Food Systems (SHEFS) research group, Britain does not produce or import enough fruit or vegetables for the entire population to get the recommended five-a-day 400g intake, with a further 9% more needed to be grown or imported to meet that target.

The report underlines the fragile nature of the nation’s food security, an issue also raised by former MI5 chief Eliza Manningham-Buller, who told the NFU Henry Plumb Memorial Lecture in November that the government must start prioritising home-grown food for the sake of national security.

“As the cost-of-living crisis continues into the new year, budgetary pressure will likely bring more spend into retail as shoppers look to replace more indulgent or social occasions from foodservice channels into the home”

Win-win

“As the government takes forward the development of the Horticulture Strategy for England – which is now long overdue – it must aim to increase both production and consumption of British fruit and veg,” says Anna Taylor, executive director of the Food Foundation. “This will make a signifcant diference to the nation’s health and help our farmers. It’s a win-win.”

Martin Emmett, chair of the NFU Horticulture and Potatoes Board, echoes the view that fresh produce should be high on the government’s priority list given its importance to the nation’s health.

“It’s a health issue to a certain extent, and therefore I think it needs to be on the government agenda,” he stresses. “There’s a degree of marketing which is product driven, but there are also generic marketing messages focused on freshness, which is where the issue of self-sufciency comes in as well. Ultimately, it’s about both food awareness and health awareness, and those are two quite closely linked issues.”

Boosting produce consumption

Away from government, there are various initiatives at industry, supplier and retailer level aimed at boosting fruit and vegetable sales.

Most of the retailers have announced price freezes or rollbacks on popular basket staples through the winter –usually including a selection of fresh

produce – as well as a variety of other activities aimed at boosting sales. Morrisons, for example, has cut 820 prices including jacket potatoes, aubergines and pears, by an average of 20%; Sainsbury’s invested £50m in a winter ‘value plan’ that included a range of low-price fresh items and Christmas dinner favourites; Lidl committed to spending an additional £4bn to support British food businesses in 2023, describing itself as “a champion of British farming”; Tesco revamped its Reduced to Clear section to tempt people to buy salads and other groceries close to their expiry date; and Aldi pledged to continue providing the lowest grocery prices in the UK throughout the cost-of-living crisis.

Striking the balance

There is, of course, a balance to be struck between simply making fresh produce as afordable as possible and ensuring the industry remains viable.

“The danger with long-term, availableto-all lower prices is not only the erosion of UK horticulture with all the knock-on harm to food security, rural communities and the environment, but it also reinforces a lasting sense that vegetables are an undesirable commodity product,” says Veg Power chief executive Dan Parker. Behaviour change, therefore, is equally critical for a long-term uptick in consumption.

Veg Power, which has been running the hugely successful Eat Them To Defeat Them initiative to encourage kids into long-term consumption change, is also launching a new campaign called Simply Veg to help equip parents with the best information, tips, hacks and support so they feel confdent serving vegetables. Part of that includes providing parents with the tools to engage their children, such as its recent tie-up with Dreamworks.

“The risk, as we saw in 2008, is that a sharp drop in vegetable consumption in lower-income families becomes the new normal,” Mr Parker points out.

“The dietary health of our children and the fnancial health of horticulture would both sufer as a result.”

It’s in everyone’s interests therefore that this doesn’t happen, and the government, retailers and supply chain fnd solutions to keep both the nation and its growers in good health. P

Supporting growth?

Defra releases long-awaited detail on future farm support schemes – but what does it mean for growers, asks Hayley Campbell-Gibbons

Defra has announced further details on the roll-out of its Environmental Land Management schemes (ELMs), including an expansion of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).

The guidance reveals a diverse range of paid actions available to farmers and growers, including managing hedgerows for wildlife, planting nectar-rich wildflowers and managing crop pests without the use of insecticides, including on horticultural land.

Further detail has also been given on improvements to the Countryside Stewardship (CS) scheme, with 30 additional options announced for agreements starting in 2024.

A second round of the Landscape Recovery scheme will also open in the spring calling for bids delivering on net zero, protected sites and habitat creation.

Some of what we have been asking for...

The guidance follows criticism of Farming Minister Mark Spencer during his speech at the Oxford Farming Conference, regarding the overall lack of detail, progress and momentum on ELMs. The NFU described the updates there as “too little, too late”.

Responding to Defra’s latest announcement, NFU Vice-president David Exwood says: “It’s encouraging that Defra has provided us with more detail and brought forward a broader, more flexible offer for the SFI.

“Information on six new standards for SFI 2023, payments rates, as well as the evolving Countryside Stewardship scheme, is incredibly useful and provides some of the clarity we have been asking for.

“For farmers and growers making crucial long-term decisions that are essential to running viable and profitable food-producing businesses, it’s vital they have the full scheme details as soon as possible and know how the different schemes will work together. A

speedy application and payment process will also be key to give farm businesses some much-needed security."

Much for hort?

Martin Evans, MD of Nottinghamshire-based vegetable growing cooperative FreshGro, has mixed views.

“Our sector, on the whole, is way ahead of ELMs and needs something more bespoke and challenging,” he says.

“I accept that such a diverse industry is difficult to serve within one set of standards, but the cynic in me thinks that this is a way of ‘saying’ that government has done something for the sector.

“Many of the actions applicable to field vegetable land will be captured through arable rotations. The biggest benefits will come from considering what’s happening in the fields in terms of trees, habitat creation and wildflowers, rather than concentrating only on the components that are integral to being a good grower."

SFI applications can be made online and Defra aims for it to be a straightforward and speedy process. More information is available at NFUonline. com/hot-topics/agricultural-transition-plan

ASSESSING THE OPTIONS

Examples of the actions government will pay for on arable and horticultural land under the SFI and CS:

• Establishing and maintaining a nectar flower mix, flower-rich margins and plots and beetle banks, £614-£667 per ha

• Creating nesting plots for lapwing and stone curlew, £587/ha

• Supplementary winter feeding for farmland birds, £669/ha

• Establishing and maintaining legume and herb-rich swards, £382/ha

• Creating and managing 4-6m bu er strips on cultivated land, £451/ha

• In-field grass strips, £658/ha

• Creating and managing 12-24m watercourse bu er strips, £612/ ha

• Converting horticultural land to organic, £703/ha

• Maintaining horticultural land as organic, £471/ha

• Adviser visit on integrated pest management and production of an IPM plan, £989 per year

• In-field flower-rich strips, £673/ha

• Establishing and maintaining grassy field corners and blocks, £590/ha

• Companion crop for integrated pest management, £55/ha

• No use of insecticide, £45/ha

• Tillage practices, including no till and direct drilling, £50- £125/ha.

Testing ground for tech future

Tom Sales looks at how an NFU member’s ‘digital vineyard’ ofers a common language for developers

The chalky slopes of the Chiltern Hills could become the blueprint for a laboursaving, production-boosting revolution in row crops, thanks to work at NFU member JoJo’s Vineyard.

Following a successful bid under Defra’s Farming Innovation Project, a part of the government’s Agricultural Transition Plan that supports R&D, owner Ian Beecher-Jones has been working with developers to create a shareable, digital infrastructure map of the farm’s rows, boundaries and features, using drones and other surveying tools.

But it won’t just be Ian’s four-yearold Oxfordshire business that benefts from this 3D digital model, accurate to 2cm. The crux of the project, and the reason for the Defra backing, is to develop a mechanism by which this digital map can then be shared with any agritechnology company, from drone and robot developers to satellite imaging providers, instead of each diferent technology undergoing its own mapping and integration.

Common language

By, in efect, creating an industrystandard ‘common language’ for mapping, Ian hopes the project will improve access to technologies for all row crop growers by reducing the time and the costs of installing new digital solutions. That could speed up the introduction of automation for a range of jobs, from measuring crop development, checking soil characteristics, mapping yields and tracking canopy density, to targeting precise interventions to manage disease and apply inputs.

Good wine could thus become the fruits of good data, based on a quality map that a range of technologies understands.

“You can’t build a solid digital

business unless you’ve got good digital foundations,” says Ian, who has a background in precision agriculture.

“Once you’ve got those in place, and knowing where all the infrastructure is, you can then build layers of data on top and start to piece them together.

“Having row and post numbers aligned to all the agritech providers we’re working with ensures accuracy for humans as well as robots. When I view data from a range of providers I want to know which row number the map relates to, rather than the old

adage ‘it’s somewhere over there!’.’’

Ian hopes that shareable digital infrastructure maps will allow tech providers to simply open up an API link to access all the information about the vineyard – so they don’t need to do the surveying from scratch each time.

“That’s a wasted cost which we hope to remove from the industry,” he adds.

“We can’t lose traditional winemaking skills, but any vineyard that can blend traditional with modern ways of production will be at the forefront of the industry.

Next steps

“The idea is for the map to be like a 3D model of the vineyard, to help us to visualise the science.

“The future is then scenario mapping – once you know what your soil type is, and you’ve got your varieties in there and information on growth, you can start to bring in other data sources and track performance.

“From there you can scenario plan and test ideas in the digital world; there is a huge amount to learn in this area and it is applicable to other crops, such as orchards and soft fruit.

“Viticulture, especially in the UK, is small in comparison to other agricultural sectors, so if we can use the same modelling and the same methodology across orchards, it opens up a much bigger market and lowers the cost of implementation.”

GOT A ’CRAZY IDEA’?

Ian says that partnering with the AgriEPI Centre, which is funded as part of the UK Government’s Agri-Tech Strategy, was key to winning the Farming Innovation Project (FIP) award.

His advice to other farmers or growers considering an application for a FIP grant is to “talk to the people around you about your crazy ideas, learn from them and then seek out the support that’s out there to make it reality”.

Find out more about FIP grants on p33 and at NFUonline.com/FIPguide

New funding for grower-led innovation

Defra invests in small R&D projects to help growers move closer to net zero

Defra is to invest up to £850,000 of additional innovation funding for projects that improve productivity, sustainability and resilience and help agriculture and horticulture to move towards net zero.

The funding has been allocated to the ‘Research Starter’ stream within Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme (FIP).

Launched in 2021, the FIP is a partnership between Defra and the non-departmental public body UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). It aims to increase innovation in farming through investment in research and development for a more efcient and productive sector.

It has already supported several ambitious projects to transform productivity and enhance environmental sustainability in England’s agricultural and horticultural sectors, including the viticulture mapping bid covered on page 31.

CASE STUDY: TUBERSCAN

Lincoln-based B-hive Innovations Ltd (created by the shareholders of Branstons as a stand-alone agri-tech business) and Shropshire’s Harper Adams University were awarded £391,000 of FTP funding in 2019, for the development of their Tuberscan project, which aims to use groundpenetrating radar to improve the level of crop knowledge and management of potato crops before they are harvested.

From a grower’s perspective, determining the correct date to harvest potatoes is one of the most critical decisions potato growers must make. Too early and potatoes may be below the optimum size. Too late and they may be too large to meet buyer specifcations. Either way, the grower loses potential income.

New technologies to non-invasively measure the total biomass of potato tubers in the soil, combined with above ground data of potato plants, means that the number of tubers per potato

ABOUT THE FUNDING

plant can be accurately determined.

Now that the project has progressed beyond the pilot stage, the aim is to develop and test an innovative demonstrator system at much larger feld scales.

It’s anticipated that the technology could generate a 5-10% increase in UK marketable potato production, while assisting with reducing waste throughout the supply chain and helping the potato industry towards net zero emissions. P

The latest round of funding for 'Research Starter' projects is specifcally aimed at small R&D projects and is designed to be an entry point to the innovation process for farmers and growers with bold, early-stage ideas for solving major problems that impact their businesses.

The application process is two stage, with of an expression of interest followed by successful projects being invited to make a full application. Applications will be reviewed by independent expert assessors, with relevant industry or academic expertise.

Benefts

Projects must demonstrate the benefts to farmers and growers in England. In particular, proposals must focus on developing on-farm or immediate post farmgate solutions that signifcantly improve:

• productivity

• sustainability and environmental impact

• progression towards net zero emissions

• resilience.

How to apply

The funding round is open now and closes on 8 March 2023.

Read more at: farminginnovation.ukri.org

Future potatoes?

There may be challenges, but R&D is offering hopes of better times ahead for potato growers, says Michael Barker

British potato growers are hoping that research and innovation can help to propel the industry forward at a time of myriad challenges. After a torrid 2022 characterised by tough growing conditions and low margins, North Yorkshire grower and chair of the NFU Potato Forum Tim Rooke believes that there is hope for a better year ahead, as chippers and crispers have presented more acceptable contracts and input costs have dropped back somewhat.

“My feeling is that if we get anything like a normal year going forward, then I’m quite optimistic about the price and feel that it’s manageable,” Mr Rooke says.

Also in the sector’s plus column is the fact that as consumers tighten their belts and eat in more during the cost-of-living crisis, potatoes remain a versatile and affordable food.

“It’s one of the cheapest meals you could have,” he adds. “Certainly, the price is not going up anything like it has in rice and pasta, and it ticks every box in terms of versatility, as well as air miles and carbon footprint.”

For the future of the sector, Mr Rooke’s main concern is the industry falling behind on varietal innovation as, since Brexit, the UK has not been permitted to import seed from the EU. Coupled with that, he says, is a lack of willingness from processors and supermarkets to accept alternative drought and disease-resistant varieties

wholesale change in varieties if we want to move the industry forward.”

Robust research

Peter Craven, potato research development manager at NIAB, says robust and independent research is critical to a thriving future sector.

UK potato R&D is only just seeing the full implications of life post-AHDB, leaving behind what Mr Craven estimates is projects at around one-third of their previous levels.

NIAB, which is based in Cambridge and has regional sites around the UK, runs a wide range of research in the sector, focusing on an understanding of soil, water use, nutrition and, more recently, genetics.

that could be stored colder, for fear the fry colour will change.

“Variety is the biggest thing that would alter potatoes in this country,” he explains.

“There’s endless work that could be done that could revolutinise the potato industry, but the supermarkets and processors are concerned about consumer resistance and prefer to use varieties that they trust. We need a

It’s working closely with CUPGRA – the Cambridge University Potato Growers Research Association – to bring together stakeholders from across the UK industry to champion independent, science-based research.

CUPGRA’s work has taken on even greater significance in the light of the wind-down of AHDB Potatoes, as the industry seeks to address where its future R&D will come from, where the

“Variety is the biggest thing that would alter potatoes in this country”

Tim Rooke

NFU Potato Forum Chair

GENE-EDIT OPPORTUNITIES

Another major scientifc area centres around the understanding of genetics and gene editing.

With the Precision Breeding Bill having almost completed its progress through the House of Lords at the time of writing, NIAB is hopeful that solutions to longstanding problems could emerge. Mr Craven explains that gene editing is diferent to genetic modifcation, as it does not result in DNA being moved from other species. Instead, gene edits create new varieties similar to those that could be produced more slowly by natural breeding processes.

“Gene editing makes plant breeding more precise and efcient so that crops can be more nutritious, resistant to pest and disease, more productive and more benefcial to the environment, helping farmers, environment and health,” he says. “We can debate the plusses and minuses of Brexit, but this is one very good example where leaving the EU has allowed the UK to set its own rules and open up the opportunities for R&D to face the challenges around food security, climate change and biodiversity loss.”

sector can collaborate and partner together, and who pays for it.

In further positive news, a Crop Science Centre was established in Cambridge two years ago by the University of Cambridge and NIAB to accelerate the transition to sustainable agriculture. Many crops are studied at the facility, with the potato team already internationally recognised as a leader in plant pathology, in general, and parasitic nematology in particular.

Mr Craven, who also sits on the NFU Potato Forum, says that carbon capture and sequestration, as well as understanding emissions, will also play a major role for all farmers as they strive to meet government and NFU net-zero ambitions.

“One of the key issues that the sector faces is that of soil health and resilience, and the question of how potatoes ft within the whole rotation,” he points out. “Future research projects will help to address where we are now and what we will need to do.”

Potatoes in a reduced-till rotation?

Specifcally, the challenge will be how potato crops can co-exist in a rotation, as farming adopts reduced-tillage approaches. With government incentives for no-till drills, and regenerative agriculture no longer a

INNOVATION

It’s not just scientists looking to take the industry forward. Suppliers have been stepping up their game, too:

• Albert Bartlett has been launching a steady slew of new products, including a range of easy-cook chips and potatoes, since opening a £17.7m chilled potato plant and R&D kitchen in 2018. That followed its move into the frozen category in 2015.

buzzword, these methods of farming will increase, Mr Craven believes.

“There will be a move towards less soil disturbance throughout the rotation, so the question is how potato growers will be viewed in the future.

“With half the UK potato land base being rented in, what decisions will landowners make and what will happen to potato production?”

Research will look more closely at how potatoes sit in the rotation, what efects they have on soil health and what nutrition they might leave behind for following crops such as wheat.

“It’s about understanding and quantifying that, and showing that potatoes can play a part in creating both healthy soils and healthy food,” Mr Craven says.

Hurdles ahead

Additional future challenges centre around virus transmission caused by aphids, damage from wireworm, cover cropping and nematode control, as well as the ever-constricting access to reliable chemistry.

With the uncertainty around the loss of Nemathorin for the 2025 season to control potato cyst nematode, and some Scottish growers suggesting there could be as few as fve potato seed crops left without reliable control, there is plenty to address.

• Maximising crop usage, Branston has also recently built a multimillion-pound facility to extract high-grade plant protein from potatoes.

• Waitrose launched what it described as the UK’s frst carbon-neutral potato brand, Root Zero, in 2021, grown in Pembrokeshire by Pufn Produce. And stretching the capabilities of the crop further, a brand of potato milk called Dug was launched last year, with the retailer hoping it could rival oat, soy and almond.

“It’s a case of lots of small gains and a coming together of industry, which will add up to making a diference,” says Mr Craven.

One further sub-plot on the research front has come in the past year with the news that scientists in Germany have decoded the genome of the potato. It’s early days, but that breakthrough could lead to the breeding of more robust varieties, with huge positive implications for global food security.

There’s clearly much to digest and signifcant challenges to overcome, but there is at least encouragement that the research community is doing its best to step up to the plate. P

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Cost pressures, a positive development, our conference, and GB Potatoes

It’ll be no surprise to anyone that cost pressures have remained at the top of the agenda over the past couple of months.

The most recent Energy and Trade Intensive Industries (ETII) energy support scheme did not include agriculture and this will be a cause for concern for those of us storing potatoes in chilled stores. I am pleased to see that the NFU is quickly on the case and has taken this up directly with the Treasury.

There have been some positive developments recently, particularly with McCain committing to a 31% contract indexation increase. This will help to give their growers the confidence to keep growing and moving forward in what is a highly uncertain time.

It’s good to see McCain leading the way on this, but it’s essential that this recognition of cost pressures filters through to all of the potato sectors to give all growers the confidence to keep investing into the future.

We’ll all be busy with planting during the next couple of months, and I hope that this time around we’ll have a clearer idea of what the future holds for these potatoes that we’re planting.

I’ll be on the panel for the horticulture and potatoes session on day one of NFU Conference, so for those of you attending, please do come along to that, and please feel free to find me for a chat about potatoes.

Finally, the application process will soon be launching for appointments to the NFU Potato Forum, so keep an eye out for further information on that if you think you’d be interested in helping to shape and influence NFU potato policy.

Please feel free to get in touch with me or one of the team if you’d like to find out a bit more about what the Forum is about.

You can also find out more on the NFU website at visit: nfuonline.com and search Potato Forum for further information.

GB Potatoes needs you!

It’s taken two years of work behind the scenes, but GB Potatoes has had its first o cial meeting and its main focus now is to rally growers and processors to get behind the organisation.

The GB Potatoes board has 11 representatives from all areas of the sector, including myself. I believe that AHDB did a lot of good in the past, so I am happy to get involved. Our first meeting was via Zoom and involved people from as far apart as Scotland and Essex and representatives from not just farming but the whole supply chain. It was a good first meeting and will be even better once we can meet face-to-face. Mark Taylor has agreed to be chairman of the board for a year so what we need now is growers to lend us their support.

There are a lot people sitting on the fence waiting to see what will happen next. If people want GB Potatoes to gain traction and move forward then they need to come o that fence and support it.

Where AHDB covered all sectors and was too much tied up with government, bureaucracy and red tape, GB Potatoes will be a smaller, leaner organisation, an authority for potatoes that is credible and honest, with no agenda, just pushing potatoes and working for the good of the industry. We need the support now or it won’t be there.

There is the question of what GB Potatoes is going to do and what will it support, and I think it will depend on how much money it gets in. There is discussion about putting in money for the fight against blight, for instance, but ultimately it will be what the people who are paying want it to be and do. It will be a members’ organisation and if most of the members want to look at doing a particular project, then they will do it.

So, we need you! Please go onto the GB Potatoes website at gb-potatoes.co.uk, click on ‘Become a member’ and help us to keep potatoes at the top of everyone’s agenda.

Tim Rooke Potato Forum Chairman

Edward Backhouse Potato Forum member

In the business of bulbs

From da odils to dahlias, Adam Taylor, a director at Taylors Bulbs, tells us how they work year-round to keep garden retailers supplied with top quality products

Words by: Lorna Maybery

Photos by: John Cottle

What do you grow?

The business is split into two, with the farming business and the flower bulb business run separately, but the synergy of the two is really quite close. We farm 759 hectares, and of those, the cropping is 140ha of daffodils, which are in the ground for two years, 80ha of potatoes, 90ha of sugar beet and 90ha of veg, mostly cauliflowers. The rest is wheat. We run a one-in-eight rotation.

Where do your bulbs go?

We concentrate on specialist garden retailers across the UK and Ireland. We supply a significant proportion of vegetable bulbs and seed potatoes alongside summer-flowering bulbs from January to March. Then, in the autumn, it’s all about supplying spring-flowering bulbs to retail.

How many thousands of tonnes of da odil bulbs do you sell?

As a business, we sell 1,500 tonnes, so we grow about 50%. I would expect, in a good year, to see about 1,000 tonnes of daffs, but because of the dry spring and summer last year, it was closer to 800 tonnes. We buy a lot of our daffs from UK growers.

How is exporting to Ireland working after Brexit?

It’s challenging. Northern Ireland is bureaucratic, but at least we get government support for it, whereas with the Irish Republic we have had to invent a new system. We have established an Irish company so that we can move the bulbs across the border without inconveniencing our customers. We have to apply for the phytosanitary certification to be able to do it, so at customs there is a lot more paperwork and, ultimately, less business and lower profits. We are sticking with it and giving it a good go,

“I would expect in a good year to see about 1,000 tonnes of daffs, but because of the dry spring and summer last year, it was closer to 800 tonnes”

but it’s a heck of a challenge.

We really need the UK and EU governments to agree a relaxation of the rules.

How are the da odil bulbs harvested?

Getting daffs out of the ground can be hard work. We use a potato picker with a small web, so most potato pickers have 45mm webs. Most have 35mm, but you can’t use any extraction because the daffodils have a neck and if you turn on the extraction, as you would with potatoes, it just pulls everything

The grower: Taylors Bulbs

Location: Holbeach, Lincolnshire

Crop: Bulbs – daffodils, plus the farm also grows potatoes, sugar beet, vegetables and wheat

Representing the business: Director Adam Taylor

Taylors bulbs has been part of the landscape around Holbeach for four generations and the business now sits safely in the hands of cousins and directors Adam and Sam Taylor. The farm is split into two areas – bulbs, in particular daffodils, and crops, including potatoes and wheat.

“We have a great working relationship,” says Adam Taylor. “Sam looks after the growing operation and farming business and I look after the bulb trade and in the middle, we share the responsibility for resources such as HR, IT, finance and operations.

“We cross over occasionally – sometimes one of us will flex more one way than another depending on our availability. If Sam is in the middle of the wheat harvest, I have more spare time to help out and when I’m in the middle of selling to the retailers, then Sam may have time to spare. It’s a good working relationship, we respect each other and it works well.”

The majority of daffodils at Taylors are harvested in June for their bulbs, with a small number picked from February to April just before flowering for the cut flower markets, although a recent decision has seen the end of forcing daffodils early under glass, a move that Adam now says was a good one as energy prices rise.

“Bulbs are the mainstay of the business, so we are keeping our focus there,” he adds.

through. So, all the bulbs come into the yard and we sort mainly by hand, but with the help of some machinery. It’s quite labour-intensive. We lift them, dry them, size grade them for retail while all the time making sure air is going through them, as they cook themselves without cooling. For our planting stock, we then hot water treat the bulbs and plant them again.

What are the challenges of harvesting?

We harvest mid-June to mid-July. It can be very dry at this time of year, which makes it tricky. We don’t have any irrigation and because we vary between half a metre and a metre-anda-half above sea level, you will find brackish water, rather than fresh.

How do you keep the many varieties of daffodils separate during processing?

We have 72 varieties of daffs in the main stock currently and at one stage in our specialist stock we had 500. They nearly all look the same when

they are out of the ground. And when they have soil on them and are in the trailer, they look even more similar, so everything has to be carefully labelled as its easy to mix them up.

Cleaning down and hygiene is so important. There are times we are lifting 20 varieties a day, so we go along the lines making sure all the bulbs have been collected up off the floor and out of the corners before the next load comes in. It’s very easy to put a bulb in a wrong box.

We also do rogueing, where we walk down the fields looking for wrong varieties – we do it time and again. Daffodils tie up the land for a lot of time, require a lot of labour and a lot of care.

Do you sell cut flowers?

Daffodils are our only cut flower. They are taken from the crop we are growing for the bulbs, but that market has changed for us. This is the first year in decades that we haven’t forced daffs in glasshouses. Bulbs are the mainstay of the business, so we had to

“We have 72 varieties of daffs in the main stock currently and at one stage in our specialist stock we had 500”

make some decisions in the face of a changing market. We had a number of reasons, but had decided before all the recent issues with energy prices and labour costs. So now we are even happier we made the decision.

Do you use seasonal labour?

Yes, many of our workers are casual and seasonal, but many have been here for years and will come back. They will jump from our peak busy times to someone else’s peak season and they are happy to work that way. They are nearly all from the UK, though. In the past, about 10% would be European, but now we have very few overseas workers.

Our two packing seasons fortunately coincide with summer holidays for school and universities and Christmas holidays. We get a large number of students who work here. We have worked hard to encourage people to come here and we make the effort to directly employ people and to recruit locally.

How are you encouraging the next generation to take up a career in horticulture?

We go to a lot of jobs and careers fairs

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and are working with schools more and more now. We have a T-level student who is going to be starting their apprenticeship with us shortly in business administration.

We go to careers fairs to help young people to understand that we are not all breaking our backs in felds and covered in mud, there are jobs here such as product developers, administrators, engineers and skilled machine operators.

Horticultural businesses need all these skills. Changing the perception of the kind of work that’s available is quite a challenge.

Tell us about the renewables project that is now under way

We have been looking at it for some time. We use a lot of electricity during sorting and grading of dafs and when the packing machinery is running, there’s huge demand, in particular in June, July, August and September.

It’s a real investment to put in an installation of this scale, but it will pay of as the return time on investment is nowhere near what it used to be.

We have 1,500 solar panels on the roof and all the power comes down cables to the inverters, which convert it to usable electricity. It also limits us on

what we can export as it will turn of panels because there are times of the year when we are generating more power than we are actually consuming. We have an agreement where we can only export a maximum of 20% of what we create onto the grid. We can’t export everything we make as the grid can’t cope.

We were starting the journey with the environment and sustainability in mind because we felt it was what we should do and the return on investment was going to be long term, but as it happens, prices for electricity went up and the return on investment is now just over three years, which is

phenomenal, compared to the 20 years or so it was once calculated to be.

What else are you doing on the farm for the environment?

We have feld margins around the dafodil felds planted with bird seed mix to encourage nesting birds and we plant cover crops and hedgerows. We do rainwater harvesting, use peat-free compost, are reducing chemical use and recycling plastics.

We want to make sure we do the right thing and, in the area we are here, if you are not careful you can just end up with large expanses of felds. We need a balance with mother nature. P

Jennifer Cox, from the NFU’s External A airs Team in London, looks at key areas discussed at the recent round-table of the Growing Media Taskforce

Last month, the NFU arranged for representatives from the Growing Media Taskforce (GMT) to meet with Shadow Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries Daniel Zeichner, MP for Cambridge, and Shadow Minister for Nature Recovery and the Domestic Environment, Alex Sobel, the MP for Leeds North West. The meeting aimed to share the expertise and challenges faced by commercial growers of moving to peat-free growing media, following the government announcing its aim to ban the sale of peat and peat-containing products by 2024. The industry wanted to make clear that professional users will need exemptions.

The GMT is made up of a cross-sector collaboration of organisations from edible and ornamental horticulture, including the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), the NFU, the Growing Media Association (GMA), the Garden Centre Association (GCA), and the Responsible Sourcing Scheme for Growing Media. Jack Ward, CEO of British Growers, also attended the meeting.

The industry and the GMT are determined to change the narrative around peat usage. As an industry that is aiming to be net-zero by 2040, transitioning to sustainable alternatives is a widely held view.

In fact, we are now at historic lows of peat usage and are ambitious that we can reduce use further. However, the main concern raised during the round table was recognition of the complex challenges growers are up against in shifting to alternative materials and the associated knock-on impacts to the market, with particular focus on scalability, quality, and several policy barriers preventing the market

accessing potential new materials.

The GMT also emphasised that perfecting the quality of peat-free mixes can take years, as seasonality is a key factor of research and development and, so far, there have been both successful and unsuccessful results, depending on plant and crop type.

Ultimately, there is currently not enough peat-free material at the quality and scale required to fully replace peat, and UK ornamental and edible horticulture growers need exemptions until suitable alternatives are commercially available. One key ask of the Shadow Ministerial team was to help unblock policy barriers to help the industry access potentially suitable materials like green waste.

Other key areas discussed during the

meeting included asking for assistance in the form of R&D grants to support the development of responsiblysourced alternatives, and grant funding where infrastructure changes are needed to handle new materials.

Discussion also focused on the specific challenges where no alternative material is available, such as in mushroom production, as well as exceptions to be considered for young seedling plug, blocking and module propagation, and some species of acid-loving plants.

Finally, it was made clear to the shadow Defra team that Britain’s horticulture and gardening industry is globally competitive, with the mushroom sector alone having a retail market worth £528 million, the second largest value crop in the UK. The changes in legalisation regarding peat usage must ensure the UK remains competitive and on a level playing field with other horticultural markets, emphasising businesses are likely to reduce domestic production, risking increasing volumes of imports if policy prohibits competitiveness in the marketplace.

The Office for the Internal Market (OIM) is currently reviewing the impact to the UK market of the English-only peat ban and the GMT was adamant that this should be considered by both government and industry before a bill is crafted.

The OIM is due to publish its report in February. We were also pleased to see Shadow Minister Daniel Zeichner MP ask questions of Defra Minister Mark Spencer in parliament following our meeting.

Currently, Defra is yet to make any decision regarding professional use of peat growing media.

Yorkshire grower Tim Rooke grows 600 acres of potatoes, mostly Taurus Brooke for crisping, and Innovator and Pentland Dell for McCain. The farm also grows wheat, oats and oilseed rape. Tim is the NFU Potato Forum chair

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