She writes:
Horticulture crops could be grown in urban areas all year round, if emerging science and technology is used properly.
Imagine fruit and vegetables being grown in the hearts of cities, on a large and sustainable scale, supplying fresh produce to urban areas while reducing the production pressures on rural areas.
The dream may not be that far out of our reach.
At Stockbridge’s LED4CROPS High Wire Facility, in Yorkshire, which I visited recently, they have literally raised the roof and are now growing four crops of Sunstream tomatoes, each housed within a separate compartment of the glasshouse under different light formats.
Their research will determine whether LEDs can be used to reduce energy inputs and increase yields.
The crop went in last October and, amazingly, teams started picking the fruit before Christmas, meaning that, with LEDs, we have the capacity to grow British tomatoes all-year-round.
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The NFU is lobbying Government to reverse the long-term decline in UK self-sufficiency. Technologies such as LEDs give British growers access to previously inaccessible markets, even within our own country, by escaping the confines of traditional growing seasons.
For me, an integral measure for success in agricultural research is whether or not science is practical and can be used as part of a commercial venture. Here, Stockbridge delivers with their tomatoes being sold at a premium price to high-end restaurants in the area.
Stockbridge has also demonstrated that, using LEDs, it is possible to grow plants in the absence of natural light.The possibilities of meaningful progress could have a huge impact on how we grow tomatoes, and when we supply them to the market – at what price.
Stockbridge’s hard work has not gone unnoticed – it was the winner of the prestigious David Piccaver Science Award 2015 at the UK Grower Awards.
In the coming years, science must deliver ways to meet the nutritional needs of a growing global human population. This is one of the reasons why the NFU is lobbying for government science funding to recognise the critical importance of applied research to tackle production challenges and encourage growth.
While Stockbridge is a private enterprise, they showcase the best of horticulture research and what can be delivered. I believe that innovation is our future, and government must not neglect it.