UFU Vegetable Chair, Trevor Gabbie spoke at the event on behalf of plant propagators
By Peatlands Officer Stephanie Clokey.
Almost 400 people from across the horticulture industry including growers, growing media manufacturers, researchers and policy makers met last week at Fountains Ltd in Linconshire for the launch of the Peat Free Pathway, an initiative brought about by Claire Donkin, which aimed to articulated the needs of the fresh produce supply chain in the transition from peat.
Claire presented crop-specific roadmaps, created to outline the steps needed to tackle major issues within a transition such as nutrient retention, irrigation, management, automation and food safety. The event also showcased existing progress through industry led trials, and highlighted the need for further funding and research to support a practical, commercially viable transition.
It’s been a very challenging year for some fresh produce growers, with the UK experiencing record breaking heat waves and water shortages, raising further concerns over an uncertain transition to peat alternatives. UFU Vegetable Chair, Trevor Gabbie spoke at the event on behalf of plant propagators, questioning the impact to supply chains and the potential risks to food safety, while highlighting the stresses uncertainty over anticipated legislation means for growers, Trevor stated that “growers remain unsure of the quality and physical properties of growing media replacements as well as the availability,” with global growing media demand projected to increase by 250% by 2050.
The launch event sparked important conversations between growers and the wider sector, with breakout groups discussions including Sally Nex from the Peat free NI group, also calling for clarity and support from government to enable growers to move forward. Government are currently looking at a phased approach, possibly further technical exemptions for the likes of propagation and mushroom growers, however many still have concerns over availability and cost of peat alternatives. The event marks a positive step in future proofing UK horticulture with much praise from the industry for the work done by Claire as an essential tool for figuring out the next steps in a transition.
