Peat-Free Pathway: Building the evidence base for fresh produce
Photograph: Andrea Obzerova / Alamy Stock Photo
Get the latest from the NFU on peat, including details on the launch of the Peat-Free Pathway in October and how to submit evidence and share insight of trials to ensure fresh produce growers remain at the centre of the conversation.
There is a great deal of activity across the growing media landscape at present.
As the PfP (Peat-Free Pathway) continues its work with crop associations, it is important that fresh produce growers remain at the centre of the conversation and that the significant efforts already undertaken by the sector are properly recognised.
Peat-Free Pathway – October launch
Momentum is building for the Peat-Free Pathway launch event on 6 October at Fountain Plants, Boston.
Bringing together growers, researchers, media suppliers, retailers, policymakers and funders, the event will provide an opportunity to showcase progress, identify future research priorities and demonstrate how peat-free innovation can support wider industry goals around food security, productivity and UK horticultural growth.
Registration is now open. To register, visit: British Growers | Peat Free Pathway – 6th October 2026
The Peat-Free Pathway remains a neutral, evidence-led platform. Its role is not to advocate for a particular policy outcome or transition timetable, but to ensure that progress, challenges and research needs across fresh produce sectors are clearly understood.
A key priority is making visible the work already carried out by growers and crop associations, while helping direct available research funding towards the industry’s most pressing technical and commercial questions.
Policy and campaigning activity
There is currently no proposed legislation to ban peat, despite campaigning activity. The current government has publicly stated they will only ban “when parliamentary time allows”.
One emerging theme from recent policy discussions is the perception that evidence from food production remains less visible than that from ornamental horticulture. This does not reflect the extensive work undertaken by the fresh produce sector over many years. Demonstrating that effort is essential, both to establish credibility when explaining where barriers remain and to ensure growers receive recognition for the progress already made.
This is particularly important if exemptions for certain fresh produce sectors are required under any future legislation. The PfP roadmaps, industry survey, trials register and a grower-led peat-free pathway October launch event will all play a vital role in providing robust, sector-wide evidence that demonstrates both progress and genuine remaining constraints.
Alongside this work, public campaigning activity is also increasing. Growers may see increased interest from retailers, customers and the media.
The industry’s response must be grounded in evidence, clearly communicating the progress already achieved while explaining the technical, financial and policy support still required to overcome remaining challenges.
Grower-led roadmaps
Work is underway to refresh the existing crop-specific roadmaps ahead of the Peat-Free Pathway launch event. The updates will capture progress made since publication, identify new projects and refine research priorities.
They will also reflect revised timelines, as many original assumptions were based on research programmes commencing in January 2026.
View the Fresh Produce Roadmaps via the published online flipbooks.
- Heyzine | Peat-Free Fresh Produce Roadmaps – Summary
- Heyzine | The Peat-Free Pathway – British herbs
- Heyzine | The Peat-Free Pathway – Plant Propagators Ltd
- Heyzine | The Peat-Free Pathway – Brassica Growers Association
- Heyzine | The Peat-Free Pathway– Britsh Leafy Salads Association
- Heyzine | The Peat-Free Pathway – UK Mushroom Growers Association
Evidence gathering survey
The growing media survey is now live and represents one of the most important evidence-gathering exercises undertaken by the pathway to date.
Current UK data provides limited insight into the specific media requirements of different fresh produce sectors. The survey will help build a much stronger sector-level evidence base while maintaining business confidentiality.
Please complete the survey to help build a stronger evidence base.
This year’s drought conditions have also reinforced the need to consider water use alongside growing media decisions. Irrigation demand, water management and substrate performance cannot be treated separately from peat replacement, particularly in propagation systems and crops such as brassicas.
Trials register
The Peat-Free Pathway Trials Register is now live and funding has been secured to further develop it into a searchable online resource. The aim is to improve visibility of current and completed projects, highlight gaps in knowledge and encourage greater collaboration between researchers and businesses, without requiring disclosure of commercially sensitive information.
To share your trials insights, visit: Microsoft | PfP Trials Registry
As discussions continue across government and industry, building a strong, credible evidence base remains the best way to ensure that future decisions are informed by the practical realities of fresh produce production.
The Peat-Free Pathway is helping provide exactly that foundation.
If your business is interested in being involved in any of the work being undertaken, please contact your relevant crop association.
