Category Archives: HortNews

GB seed potatoes promoted under new branding

AHDB Potatoes used the recent Potato Europe event in Belgium to introduce overseas buyers to their new identity.

AHDB Potatoes (formerly known as Potato Council) were on the GB seed and science stand at the event emphasising the high health, high quality reputation of British seed potatoes and providing a high-profile marketing and networking platform for GB seed exporters and related science organisations.

This year’s newly-branded stand showcased varieties and expertise from organisations and companies including as Greenvale, Cygnet PEP, Skea Organics, Sutton Bridge Crop Storage Research, James Hutton Ltd, Scottish Government, IPM Potatoes and Cullen Allen. According to AHDB potatoes, the stand welcomed hundreds of international visitors over the two-day event. Visitors were also able to enjoy tasty cooked samples of GB varieties, supplied by the exhibitors and cooked freshly on the stand.

Greenvale’s General Manager in Scotland, Gordon Stark reported, “We attend this event every year. It’s vital for us to maintain our high profile with the international potato community and we see new people each time, as well as keeping in touch with existing contacts and friends.”

The international potato and horticulture communities will also see AHDB Potatoes and AHDB Horticulture exhibiting together alongside leading GB potato and horticulture organisations at next February’s Fruit Logistica event in Berlin (3-5 February 2016).

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New Dutch greenhouse alliance

The five biggest growers’ associations in The Netherlands have agreed to a new partnership under the name Federatie Vruchtgroente Organisaties (the Dutch Federation of Fruiting Vegetable Associations) or FVO.

The new group claims to represent more than 70 per cent of all Dutch greenhouse crops and is working alongside the Dutch government and Rabobank to restructure and develop greenhouse horticulture in the Netherlands.

Headed by former Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality Cees Veerman, the group will work to implement the recommendations of the McKinsey report published in late 2014 which warned that much of the sector was struggling. “We are not out to achieve overnight results with this process but are taking a more in-depth, careful and deliberate approach. We are pleased that the foundation has been laid,” commented Mr Veerman.

The five growers’ associations behind the Dutch Federation of Fruiting Vegetable Associations are: Best of Four, DOOR, The Greenery, Harvest House and Van Nature.

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Scottish cider maker asks for donations

East Lothian cider maker Thistly Cross is offering people who donate spare apples for its range of Scottish ciders a free bottle in exchange for each bucket of apples donated.

The Dunbar-based company said it would accept most varieties, apart from crab apples. Head cider maker Peter Stuart told the BBC, “We have a tradition of using apples grown across Scotland from a wide range of sources including professional apple growers, schools, large estate owners and the general public who grow apples in their gardens at home.

“Our popularity is increasing but Thistly can’t make all the cider it wants to without the help of the public. Our unique system of using donated apples also eliminates the waste that is all too often associated with the food industry of modern times.”

The company exports its cider around the world.

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Patterned sticky roll captures more thrips

Welsh-based IPM manufacturer Russell IPM has said that recent experiences in South American trials has reinforced the benefits of using its Optiroll Super patterned sticky strip trap compared to non-patterned alternatives.

These recent results have been gathered at protected carnation and rose growers in Ecuador. According to the company, Mr Galo Pita V. who has been conducting the trials, found ‘some extremely positive results, with Optiroll Super capturing 450% more thrips than the control. Additionally, the protection was seen to increase substantially as infestation levels increased.’

An additional trial measured the capture rate in a range of flowers where Optiroll Super was found to significantly suppress insect populations when compared to a conventional chemical application. Mr Pita V. Commented, “The traps act as barriers to the relocation of the thrips, to reduce the opportunity for migration and mating which ultimately reduces the population and spread of the fly and of course this works to protect the flowers from damage.”

The patterned sticky roll was developed by Russell IPM after the company noticed that trapped insects were found mostly at the edge of their non-patterned sticky roll, being attracted to the contrasting colours of the border.

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Syngenta outlines pipeline of new chemistry

On 16 September Syngenta outlined its pipeline of new product innovations during an Investor Day held at its research centre at Stein in Switzerland.

In crop protection, the company showcased its technology pipeline of nine new active ingredients including the breakthrough, broad spectrum fungicide ADEPIDYN™ (pydiflumetofen) and ORONDIS™ for vegetables and specialty crops, which the Syngenta hopes will reinforce its global leadership in fungicides. The pipeline also includes new insecticides, herbicides and seed treatments.

Trish Malarkey, Head of Research and Development, said, “We are accelerating the rate of our innovation while further improving productivity and return on investment. We are at the beginning of an exciting period in the innovation journey of Syngenta with cutting-edge science driving significant value creation in the short, medium and long-term across all technologies.”

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Growth in organic sales doubles

According to the latest Soil Association figures, the last year has seen steady growth in organic sales with sector outperforming non-organic products.

The Soil Association also says that the number of new products released with Soil Association Certification shows there is confidence in further growth in the sector.

The figures showed growth in the organic market of +3% in the 52 weeks to 15 August 2015, compared a fall in non-organic sales of -1.2% in the same period. Mike Watkins of Nielsen said, “To me it is clear that brands need to look for growth through new channels and to reach out to developing categories, such as alcoholic drinks, confectionary and snacks, that offer the opportunity to capture their customer and create loyalty. Products should be affordable, accessible and achievable.”

Speaking at the market briefing where the figures were unveiled, Clare McDermott, business development director at Soil Association Certification said, “The UK’s organic market is looking immensely positive for the future. Brands are releasing new lines and expanding their offerings to respond to food trends and demands.”

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Koppert acquires Certis beneficial organisms business

Following the decision by Certis Europe to divest itself of its commercial sales business of beneficials in certain European countries, Koppert recently acquired the business for the UK, France and Italy. Certis says it will continue to sell its beneficial organism products elsewhere and develop integrated crop protection programmes for its customers in its other markets.

‘The acquisition of Certis Europe’s beneficials sales business in the UK, France and Italy, fits in well with our long-term strategy to further develop biological solutions for these important agricultural and horticultural countries,’ says Koppert Biological Systems’ Managing Director, Henri Oosthoek.

‘The negotiations with Certis were fruitful and coincide with Koppert’s mission to make agriculture healthier, safer and more productive for the better health of people and the planet. The transfer of business is underway and customers in these countries have been notified,’ he added.

Certis Europe is a leader in integrated pest management for the horticultural and specialty crop sectors. Its CEO, Mark Waltham, said: ‘We are excited to find in Koppert a potential partner that is the market leader in beneficial production and development and is therefore best placed to build on the excellent customer relationships Certis and BCP have developed with beneficial products over the last 20 years.’

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Digital pest scouting replaces counting of sticky traps

Dutch company Crop Watch has been named in a list of top innovators amongst SMEs in the country after it developed a technology to accurately and quickly measure crop pests.

The Scoutbox, developed by the company in Wageningen identifies and counts harmful insects in fruit and vegetable cultivation. The machine consists of a camera that captures images of sticky traps hanging in the greenhouse or in the field. Special software counts the number of insects and analyzes the pattern on the sticky trap. The specific characteristics of different insects mean that it is possible for the software to distinguish different types. With the data, the grower can easily keep track of the insect population and intervene if necessary.

The company says more information about a possible commercial launch of the product, which has the potential to reduce labour and standardise reporting, will be forthcoming later in the autumn.

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Wilsons invests in Irish potatoes

Leading Northern Irish potato packer Wilson’s Country, based at Craigavon in County Armagh, has installed new cooling technology on its production line as part of an investment programme to capitalise on new market opportunities in the Republic of Ireland.

The company says that it will invest £1.5 million to improve production for the catering sector throughout Ireland, a sector which now accounts for 40 per cent of its total business. Lewis Cunningham, managing director of Wilson’s Country, told reporters, “We have made this investment in cooling technology to give our customers in foodservice a peeled product with a good shelf-life that will cook very well.

“We’ve also automated our peeling process and camera sorting to increase efficiency and maintain downward pressure on costs. The investment is designed to increase our ability to compete for new business in foodservice in the Republic.”

The new cooling system, together with new washing equipment will result in a fresher product with more consistent quality says the company.

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AHDB Horticulture looking for panel members

AHDB Horticulture is looking for growers or their technical staff willing to become members of its Panels which help the levy body channel funds into research and development and knowledge transfer activities which are relevant and fully supported by growers.

Each Panel is made up of elected members (growers or technical staff within larger businesses) who directly represent the interests of the horticultural industry, together with scientific advisors who underpin the quality of project proposals brought to the Panels for funding.

To be eligible for election, candidates must belong to a horticultural levy paying business (either as the levy paying owner or an employee). Elected panel members will sit on the panel for a three year period starting on 1 January following their election. During their term of office, members must remain a levy payer (or a payroll employee of a levy payer) and members may stand for a maximum of two consecutive three year terms (i.e. six years in total).

The Panels cover the following crop sectors: Field Vegetables; Hardy Nursery Stock; Protected Ornamentals and Bulbs and Outdoor Flowers; Protected Edibles and Mushrooms; Soft Fruit and Tree Fruit (including stone fruit). Each Panel represent industry views and the interests of all growers and makes recommendations for project funding and provide a rapid response to urgent industry needs, as well as other activities.

To view the full eligibility criteria, learn more about the operations and code of conduct for panel members, or to apply, visit http://horticulture.ahdb.org.uk/panel.

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