East Malling Research

New Road
East Malling
Kent
ME19 6BJ
Tel : (+44) (0)1732 843833
Fax : (+44) (0)1732 849067

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Events


For information on any of these events, please contact the Communications Office on 01732 523723.

 

2013  
6-7 November Fruits and Roots: A celebration and forward look
14 September Public open day
28 April Bradbourne House and gardens open day
22 April Gardeners Question Time broadcast from EMR (Ticket Only)
16 April Innovation for the horticulture industry
21 March EMRA Storage Day in association with the Marden Fruit Show Society
12 February

Spotted wing drosophila:Spot it, Stop it’ Awareness Seminars

 

East Malling Research, Kent  - 12 February (10-12.30am)

Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth - 13 February  (10-12.30am)

Landmark Hotel, Dundee - 15 February  (2-4.30pm)

 

 

2012

21 November EMRA/HDC Soft Fruit Day
17-18 October National Fruit Show
25 July Fruit Focus including EMR Tours
26 June
EMRA/HDC Strawberry Walk
29 April Bradbourne House and Gardens Open Day
28 March EMRA Storage Day including Marden Fruit Show Society
14-15 March Kent Choices 4 U
27 February EMRA/EAP/Sainsburys Pear Day - Profitable pear production in the UK
1 February 2012

Improving water productivity, yields and quality in UK agriculture and horticulture

 

 

 

 

2011  
23 November EMRA/HDC Soft Fruit Day
3 November Amos Memorial Lecture - Prof. Wyn Grant, University of Warwick
3 November EMRA Day " Food Safety" including the Amos Memorial Lecture
12 October Kent Countryside Live
18 September Bradbourne House and Gardens Open Day in aid of the National Gardens Scheme
Postponed until
1 February 2012

EMRA Day "Improving water use efficiency, produce quality and shelf-life" including the Bewley Lecture.

22 July Summer Pruning - Short Course
20 July

 

 Fruit Focus 2011 including EMR tour and new strawberry varieties
19 July Fruit Focus Technical Conference "Automation: The labour force of the future".  Haymarket Exhibitions, in association with East Malling Research

14 June

(Note this change of date from the original advertised)

EMRA/HDC Strawberry Walk
24 March EMRA Day " Tree Fruit Storage" including the Marden Fruit Show Society AGM
17 March CSI - "Crop Science Investigation" - National Science and Engineering event at EMR
   

EMR Events Archives >>

2006

2007 2008 2009 2010 Current Year

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FRUIT FOCUS

East Malling, Kent

20 July 2011

 

This leading technical event for the fruit industry brings growers together with key representatives of the fruit sector to network and do business.  You can meet with more than 100 leading suppliers and over 1,000 fellow growers and industry professionals.

 

This is an ideal opportunity to speak with researchers from EMR and hear up-dates of their latest fruit research on visits throughout the day. The scope of work at EMR is hugely impressive from new varieties through to pest control and water efficiency.

 

This year, the EMR tours will include the following research up-dates:

 

Adam Whitehouse

Two new selections from the East Malling Strawberry Breeding Club; everbearer EMR428 (proposed name 'Buddy') and late-season June-bearer F62 (proposed name 'Serenity').

 

Dr Mark Else

Optimising water and fertiliser inputs to improve profitability and sustainability of substrate strawberry production.

 

Graham Caspell

Update on Sainsbury�s East Malling concept pear orchard

 

Visit www.fruitfocus.co.uk for more details.

 

 

Tour Summaries

 

Two new selections from the East Malling Strawberry Breeding Club; everbearer EMR428 (proposed name 'Buddy') and late-season June-bearer F62 (proposed name 'Serenity').

Adam Whitehouse

 

 

The East Malling Strawberry Breeding Club was formed in 2008 with funding from Defra and seven commercial partners:

 

BerryGardens

CPM Retail Ltd

East Malling Limited

Horticultural Development Company

Mack Multiples

Meiosis Ltd (representing a consortium of five UK propagators)

ESNA (representing a consortium of nine continental propagators)

 

The Club aims to develop an exciting range of new strawberry varieties from the renowned EMR programme.  The principal aims of the programme are to produce high yielding June-bearers and everbearers with larger fruit size, excellent quality and higher % Class 1, and to extend the season with improved 60-day cropping. Strong resistance to fungal diseases is also a priority

 

The programme also addresses environmental and strategic issues related to Defra priorities and benefits from associated EMR projects funded by Defra, BBSRC and the Technology Strategy Board, which are developing molecular markers for improved water use efficiency and resistance to Verticillium wilt and powdery mildew.

 

Two new varieties, one June-bearer and one everbearer have been chosen by the Club for release and are currently undergoing trials in the UK and Northern Europe: 

 

Serenity (formerly F62) is an improved clone of the late season, June-bearing cultivar �Florence�, with a paler skin colour .  It has a more attractive appearance than �Florence� but retains the desirable attributes of late season, good eating quality and excellent disease resistance that this variety offers.  It is being evaluated by growers, marketing companies and retailers this summer for a predicted release in 2012.

 

Buddy (formerly EMR428) is an everbearing variety that was first trialled at East Malling in 2008 and was quickly identified as a promising selection because of its outstanding fruit quality.  The firm, glossy, regular-shaped fruit were judged to have the best eating quality in trial, with a good balance of sugar and acid and high average Brix readings. In addition the plants appear to show a useful level of resistance to powdery mildew and crown rot, based on preliminary small-scale trials at EMR. It is being evaluated by growers, marketing companies and retailers this summer for a predicted release in 2012.

 

Both cultivars are being commercialised by Hargreaves Plants Ltd.  

 

 

Optimising water and fertiliser inputs to improve profitability and sustainability of substrate strawberry production (WU0110, SF 107)

Dr Mark Else

 

Soil-less soft fruit production continues to expand, as problems associated with soil-borne diseases beset field production and growers strive to reduce labour costs associated with picking.  However, current recommendations for irrigation and fertigation (10 - 20 % run-off) in soil-less strawberry production are unsustainable. Diffuse pollution (high nitrate and phosphate concentrations) from agricultural / horticultural activities and unsustainable abstraction, are amongst the major risks to failing Water Framework Directive objectives in many river basin districts.

 

These increasing legislative pressures demand new production systems that reduce water and fertiliser inputs and improve the environmental sustainability of substrate soft fruit production.  At Fruit Focus 2011, research leader Dr Mark Else will discuss recent results from Defra- and HDC-funded work which aims to reduce water and nutrient inputs and manipulate the form of nitrogen nutrition to improve berry yields, flavour and shelf-life potential.  Using scientifically-derived guidelines, a �low risk� irrigation strategy is being developed that delivers substantial water and fertiliser savings and maintains marketable yields and quality. 

 

Mark will also explain on-going trials at EMR in which deficit irrigation techniques are being developed to deliver further water and fertiliser savings while improving berry quality.  A �closed loop� irrigation system in which irrigation is switched on automatically once pre-set trigger values are reached will also be demonstrated and the potential of using this system to deliver water and fertiliser savings across the soft fruit industry will be discussed.

 

 

Update on Sainsbury�s East Malling concept pear orchard

Graham Caspell

 

Unproductive old English pear orchards are being grubbed at an alarming rate with many being replaced by apple orchards. According to the recent �Feeding Britain� report between 1997 and 2006 there was a 40% decline in the area planted with pear leading to a 14% decline in production. This is putting �Conference� the UK�s favourite pear on the commercial �endangered list�.

 

Sainsbury�s, Chingford Fruit Ltd and East Malling Research have joined forces facilitated through East Malling Trustee Will Sibley, to create the Sainsbury�s East Malling Concept Pear Orchard. Using technology that has transformed the Dutch pear growing industry, the intensive pear orchard will deliver 55 tonnes per hectare when established, compared to only 20-22 tonnes produced in traditional orchards.

 

The East Malling orchard evaluates four different planting regimes (traditional bush, multi-V system, double head system and single stem �Run Thru�) and demonstrates that it is possible to increase productivity per hectare in the UK and make pear growing an attractive commercial proposition for the grower. The orchard should demonstrate to British growers, which of the four growing techniques is most productive in the British climate and how they can improve the commercial viability of home-grown Conference pears. The orchard produced its first fruits in 2010, compared to an orchard planted in a traditional system, which is unlikely to fruit until 2015.  The concept orchard should produce nearly three times the yield of fruit compared with a traditional system.

 

Currently, only 12,500 tonnes of pears sold in the UK are British grown, the deficit currently being sourced from the continent. However, if growers were to adopt the new improved techniques, growers would potentially be able to increase this amount to approximately 36,000 tonnes.

 

 

 

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BRADBOURNE HOUSE AND GARDENS 31st CONSECUTIVE OPEN DAY

 

18 September 2011

2-5pm

 

 

Come along and take one of the few opportunities in 2011 for the public to view this privately owned Grade 1 listed house and its gardens, including the Hatton Fruit garden which is of particular interest to amateurs. It is the first time for many years that the gardens will be open at harvest time rather than blossom time, to allow viewing of fruit rather than blossom on the unusually shaped trees.

 

This is the 31st consecutive year of opening in aid of the National Gardens Scheme (NGS) and all proceeds are donated to its charities.

 

New attractions for 2011 include apiary visits, candle rolling and demonstrations by Mid Kent Beekeepers.

 

The house displays excellent examples of Queen Anne period architecture disguising an original Tudor period house, with fine rooms, halls, staircases and a unique collection of watercolours and portraits.

 

The predominant feature of the Hatton Fruit Garden, inspired by the fruit plantings in Louis XIV kitchen garden at Versailles, is the use of pruning and training to achieve the widest range of fruit tree forms in the country.  It includes cordons, pyramids and esplaiers and varients of these basic forms: oblique and vertical cordons, cordon arches, double 'U' cordons, step-over, goblet, crown, arcure, le bateau, winged pyramid.  In fact 25 different training methods are on display. In addition, there are examples of 47 varieties of apple, 28 varieties of pear and individuals of medlar, nectarine, peach and fig. Experts from EMR will be on hand to give advice on how to create these forms.

 

At the event, The East Malling Trust who owns the estate, will be presented with a plaque by the NGS, to mark the 30th year of opening for the charity.  All proceeds are donated to the NGS and many thousands of pounds have been raised for its charities over the years.

 

There will also be plant and produce sales, children�s quiz, string quartet, and refreshments.

 

Admission �3.50.  Children (under 16) free.  Entrance on New Road, East Malling, Kent off the A20.

 

 

For more information, please contact Ursula Twomey, Telephone 01732 843833, e-mail ursula.twomey@emr.ac.uk

 

For more information on Bradbourne House and Gardens visit www.bradbournehousekent.co.uk

 

For more information on the National Gardens Scheme, view www.ngs.org.uk

 

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Kent Countryside Live

 

12 October 2011

 

Kent County Showground

 

Kent County Agricultural Society is planning an exciting and interactive, one day, event aimed at secondary schools, to increase awareness of training, employment and recreational opportunities in the Land-based sector.

 

East Malling Research plans to showcase some research to provide students with a greater understanding of the science behind food production and environmental issues.

 

The event will be held at the Kent County Showground in Detling kent, and will run from 9am to 2.30pm.

 

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CSI - Crop Science Investigations

 

National Science and Engineering Week 2011

17 March 2011

 

 

East Malling Research will host an interactive event for 16 -18 year olds on the morning of Thursday 17 March, during National Science and Engineering Week.

 

We hope to offer students a dynamic learning experience offering insights in applied plant research that cannot be gained in the school environment.

 

The event will consist of lectures followed by hands-on activities in the field and laboratory. Refreshments and lunch will be provided.

 

Four keen students are invited from schools within a 20 mile radius of EMR. Although total places will be limited, this will benefit students by allowing the activities to be hands-on, encouraging them to become involved, allow more individual attention and compliance with laboratory health and safety.

 

The proposed schedule is as follows:

 

9.30 am

Arrive

 

9.35

Introduction to East Malling Research

Dr Ursula Twomey

9.50

TBC

Dr Nada Surbanovski

10.10

Fingerprinting fruit

Felicidad Fernandez

10.40

Activity 1 � Group 1

Dr Chantelle Jay/Tom Passey/Laima Antanaviciute

 

Activity 2 � Group 2

Dr Michelle Fountain/Adrian Harris

11.45

Activity 1 � Group 2

Dr Chantelle Jay/Tom Passey/Laima Antanaviciute

 

Activity 2 � Group 1

Dr Michelle Fountain/Adrian Harris

12.50

Lunch and Depart

 

 

Auditorium presentations will include a mixture of applied techniques and theoretical biology.

 

Activity 1

The group will work in a biology laboratory, where they will be split into four work stations each with three students. This will allow all students to be actively involved in the practical and it will make it easier for additional helpers to move between the groups to explain the methodology at each stage. They will use a BioRad Explorer ELISA kit to detect a protein, which is designed for use in schools. They will learn how the information can be applied to various real world applications ranging from medical detection kits, to a technique to determine the movement of insects in the field using protein markers, currently being used in an actual research project.

 

Activity 2

The students will collect insects from trees which have been banded overwinter in the orchard and adjacent windbreaks.  They will identify the insects with the aid of magnifying lenses and keys, under the supervision of task leaders.  The students will determine and compare numbers of insect species and numbers present in different species of tree.  They will learn about insect predation and how the presence of predatory insects can be used in the development of integrated pest control strategies.  They will determine whether there are any differences between the numbers and species in the different species of tree.

 

Each task should take one hour after which groups will swap and complete the other activity.

 

With this event, we aim to provide our local community with access to some of the R&D knowledge of our world-renowned company.  We hope to give students an insight into the working day of a scientist and open their eyes to the possibilities that a career in science has to offer.  The event will provide them with an opportunity to discuss and debate scientific ideas and their industry applications.  Small group sizes will allow good interaction and more one-to-one discussion between the scientists and students. Teachers may gain some ideas for relatively cheap and simple experiments which can be repeated in the school environment.

 

Interested schools can contact Ursula Twomey at ursula.twomey@emr.ac.uk or telephone 01732 843833 or 01732 523723 (DD) for information and to book a place.

 

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EMRA/HDC Soft Fruit Day

23 November 2011

East Malling Conference Centre

 

HDC is currently funding 35 soft fruit research projects that aim to resolve key problems faced by the industry. Are you acquainted with the work and the results that could significantly improve your production technology?  This event will present results from some of the most important and advanced projects being undertaken at East Malling Research and other research sites.

 

The programme for this event is has not yet been finalised.

 

For further information please contact:

Ursula Twomey, East Malling Research

Tel: 01732 843833

email: ursula.twomey@emr.ac.uk

 

or

 

Scott Raffle, HDC

Tel: 07841497132

email: scott.raffle@hdc.org.uk

 

 

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EMRA and Marden Fruit Show Society

Top Fruit Storage Day

East Malling Conference Centre

Thursday 24 March 2011

 

This one day event, will focus on scientific developments in the cold storage of tree fruits. The morning includes the MFSS AGM and presentation of Society Prizes followed by presentations by experts from the UK and The Netherlands, on developments in cold storage and cool chain technologies.   The afternoon session, will focus on pre- and post-harvest factors affecting storage of apples and pears. This event usually attracts BASIS and NRoSO points.
 

 

10:00               

Coffee and Registration

 

 

 

Marden Fruit Show Society AGM

 

 

 

Judges� Report � Long term farm-stored classes

Dr Martin Luton (WWF Qualytech)

 

Presentation of the Marden Fruit Show Society Prizes

 

 

Chairman for the morning will be Michael Jack, President MFSS

12.20

Cold storage and technology development in the cool supply chain.

 Judith Evans

(Refigeration Developments and Testing)

 

EU �Night Wind� project

Sietze M. van der Sluis

(Saint Trofee

The Netherlands)

13.00

Buffet Lunch

 

 

Chairman for the afternoon will be Dr Mike Solomon, Chief Executive for EMR

14.00

The hidden benefits of pollination

 

Robin Dean

(The Red Beehive Co. Ltd)

 

Using Agrovista GCI to optimise pesticide applications for the control of scab and codling moth.

Alex Radu (Agrovista Ltd)

 

Modulated storage temperatures for Cox

Dr Richard Colgan (NRI)

 

Effects of ethylene control strategies during Bramley storage

Dr Deborah Rees (NRI)

 

Future work on apple and pear storage

Dr Richard Colgan(NRI)

 

 Update on the survey of rots in apples and pears and mouldy core in Cameo and Bramley

Dr Angela Berrie

(EMR)

16:00

Tea and Depart

 

 

Cost including lunch:

East Malling Research Association (EMRA)/Marden Fruit Show Society Members (MFSS) �10

Students �10

Non-EMRA/MFSS Members �20

 

 

To book a place at this event or to become a member of the East Malling Research Association, please contact:

 

Mrs Barbara Walsh

East Malling Research Association

East Malling

West Malling

Kent ME19 6BJ

 

Telephone: 01732 843833

Fax: 01732 849067

E-mail: barbara.walsh@emr.ac.uk

 

 

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EMRA/HDC Strawberry Walk

East Malling Research

Tuesday 14 June 2011

Interested in the latest promising mainseason strawberry selections from East Malling Research?

 

EMRA and HDC are holding their annual �Strawberry Walk� at which growers will be able to see the most promising performers within the EMR strawberry breeding programme (SF96). The walk is being held at EMR at 6 pm in the evening, to allow the maximum number of growers to attend during this busy time of year.

 

This walk gives you the opportunity to view and taste the most interesting new selections from the programme.

 

The breeders welcome feedback from growers and others involved in the soft fruit industry and those attending will be asked to complete data sheets giving their opinion on the new selections.

 

David Simpson, Adam Whitehouse, and Abi Johnson of EMR, will present results from the trials and will be available to answer questions and discuss the varieties.

 

This is the opportunity for HDC and EMRA Members to influence decisions on which lines will ultimately be released to the industry.

 

On the same evening, Dr Michelle Fountain will provide a brief presentation on �Monitoring European Tarnished Plant bugs with new sex pheromone traps�. This project will offer growers exciting opportunities to enhance integrated pest and disease management in strawberry production.

 

The Strawberry Breeding Club at EMR

                                                                                                                 

The objectives of the Strawberry Breeding Club are to develop a replacement for Elsanta, introduce improved early and late season varieties to extend the season and develop new varieties that will enhance sustainability and reduce the environmental impact of UK strawberry production.

 

 

If you are a Member of EMRA or HDC and would like to attend this event, please contact Kirsty Nichols by telephone on 0247 647 8677 or at Kirsty.nichols@hdc.ahdb.org.uk by Friday 10 June 2011.

 

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East Malling Short Courses Presents:

 

1/2 Day Summer Pruning

 

Friday 22 July, 1-4pm

 

Click here for information leaflet

 

To reserve a place or for more information, please contact:

Fran Gallwey

Tel: 01732 523755

E-Mail: fran.gallwey@emr.ac.uk

 

 

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EMRA Members' Day

Food Safety

 

including

 

Amos Memorial Lecture

 

3 November 2011

 

East Malling Conference Centre

 

 

In 2011, the dangers that can result when measures surrounding food safety fail, came sharply to the attention of consumers following a widely reported outbreak of E. coli across Europe. The crisis was made worse for the fresh produce sector by uncertainty over the source, with knock-on effects across unrelated commodities.

This EMRA event aims, not only to review the lessons learned from events in 2011 and how this might have been prevented, but also considers wider issues that link public concerns over the means by which safe food can be grown and delivered to consumers.

The event will be followed by the Amos Memorial Lecture, a biannual Lecture delivered by an expert of note in their field. The topic of this years lecture will cover biopesticide registration and the politics of the food chain.

 

 

09.45

Registration and Coffee

 

10.15

Lessons learned from E. coli outbreaks in 2011

Sian Thomas, Fresh Produce Consortium

 

Managing food safety issues in agriculture

Dr Chris Hartfield, NFU

 

Prevention of outbreaks of food borne illness in horticultural products

Dr Linda Nicolaides, NRI

 

CMi certification

Robert Evans, NSF-CMi Certification Ltd

 

Threats to fresh produce and grains during transportation

Dr Roger Bancroft,

NRI

 

12.20

Lunch

 

13.15

Food safety issues related to the production of organic food

Ben Raskin, Soil Association

 

The safety of pesticide-treated fruit

Dr Stephen Humphreys, Bayer Crop Science

 

IPDM programmes

Prof. Jerry Cross, EMR

14.35

Tea

 

 

15:00

Amos Memorial Lecture:

Safe, Sustainable, Sufficient: the challenge for food

Prof. Wyn Grant, University of

Warwick

16:00

Tea and Depart

 

Cost including lunch:

EMRA Members and Students - �10

Non-EMRA Members - �20

 

To book a place, please contact Mrs Barbara Walsh, EMRA Secretary on Tel: 01732 843833 or at barbara.walsh@emr.ac.uk

 

 

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AMOS MEMORIAL LECTURE � �SAFE, SUSTAINABLE, SUFFICIENT� � PROF. WYN GRANT, UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK

East Malling Conference Centre

Thursday 3 November 2011, 3.00 p.m.

 

These Amos Memorial Lectures were established in 1947 in memory of Jesse Amos, Manager/Recorder at the East Malling Research Station.  EMR continue to support these public lectures, delivered by a recognised authority in a particular field, to highlight important advances and issues in horticultural science.

 

The 2011 lecture will be delivered by Prof. Wyn Grant, Senior Tutor of the Political and International Studies Department at the University of Warwick.  His research interests lay in comparative public policy with particular reference to the European Union and the United States. The main policy areas in which he is interested are economic policy, trade policy, government-business relations, agricultural policy, environmental policy and the political economy of football. For the last five years his work has principally been in collaboration with biological scientists.  This lecture will focus on biopesticide registration and politics of the food chain, with particular attention given to food safety.

 

The lecture is free and starts at 3.00 p.m.

The Amos Memorial Lecture has been scheduled to follow the East Malling Research Association Members� Day on Food Safety, which may also be of interest to you.  The �Food Safety Day� will review the lessons learned following outbreaks of E. coli in fresh produce in 2011, where uncertainty over the source of the outbreak, led to knock-on effects across unrelated commodities.  The event will examine how this might have been prevented, but will also consider wider issues that link public concerns over the means by which safe food can be grown and delivered to consumers.

The cost, including lunch, is �10 for EMRA members and students, or �20 for non-members.  Booking is essential with places allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.  The event will be registered for BASIS and NRoSO points.

Click here for a programme for the EMRA Food Safety Day

For more information, please contact Ursula Twomey on Tel: 01732 843833 or at ursula.twomey@emr.ac.uk

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EMRA/HDC Soft Fruit Day

23 November 2011

East Malling Conference Centre

 

 

HDC is continuing to fund a wide range of projects for soft fruit growers which focus on the major problems currently challenging the industry. Many of these include insect pests and diseases, but water, nutrition and variety breeding and development also use a significant share of the research budget. This event will provide growers with a resumé of the results provided this year by some of the most advanced projects being undertaken at East Malling Research and elsewhere.

 

The programme

 

09.45     Arrive & coffee

10.15     Reducing residues in raspberry and strawberry (Jerry Cross, EMR)

10.45     Managing red berry in blackberries (Adrian Harris, EMR)

11.00     Identifying the sex pheromone of blackberry leaf midge (David Hall, NRI)

11.20     WFT control on protected strawberry: the role of predators (Jude Bennison, ADAS)

11.45     WFT control on protected strawberry: the role of semiochemicals (William Kirk, Keele Uni)

12.05     Aggregate pheromone for the control of vine weevil (Scott Johnson, James Hutton Ins.)

12.30     Lunch

1.30       Latest research on strawberry crown rot control (Angela Berrie, EMR)

1.45       Identifying new herbicides for raspberries (John Atwood, ADAS)

2.00       SCEPTRE � New crop protection methods for soft fruit (Tim O�Neill, ADAS)

2.20       Water savings in field and substrate grown strawberry (Mark Else, EMR)

2.50       Tea

3.10       The new generation of strawberries from East Malling (Adam Whitehouse, EMR)

3.30       Soil grown strawberry variety trials (Chris Creed, ADAS)

3.45       Summer fruiting raspberry variety trials (Janet Allen, ADAS)

4.00       Close

 

The event is free to EMRA and HDC members. If you would like to attend this event, please contact Kirsty Nichols on 02476 478677 or at Kirsty.nichols@hdc.ahdb.org.uk by Monday 14 November 2011.

HDC, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2TL, Tel: 02476 478677 Fax: 02476 478905

 

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Improving water productivity, yields and quality in UK agriculture and horticulture

1 February 2012

East Malling Conference Centre

Members and non-members of EMRA and UKIA are cordially invited to this event focussing on the efficient use of water in agriculture and horticulture.  Improving consistency of supply and product quality whilst optimising the use of natural resources is a global challenge, and current issues facing UK and overseas growers will be discussed.  Short, medium and longer term solutions to improving water productivity in UK agriculture and horticulture will be presented and topics will include water benchmarking, precision irrigation, deficit irrigation techniques and marker-assisted breeding of new lines with improved water use efficiency. This event will be of great interest to the agriculture and horticulture industries and associated land-based businesses.

09:30

09:55

 

 

10:00

 

 

10:25

 

 

10:50

 

 

11:15

 

 

11:50

 

12:15

Registration and Coffee

Welcome to EMR

 

 

Using water wisely � challenges facing UK agriculture / horticulture (TBC)

 

 

Commissioning research to provide supporting evidence for Defra Water Policy (TBC)

 

Current and expected demands on water supplies for the horticulture / agriculture sector

 

The Water and Food Connection: exploitation of the plant biology underpinning crop yielding and water saving under drought

 

Irrigation scheduling tools � what do the various sensors tell us?

 

Lunch

 

Dr Chris Atkinson

EMR

 

Mr Melvin Kay

UKIA

 

Dr Dan McGonigle

Defra

 

Ms Gemma Avory

Sourth East Water

 

Prof. Bill Davies

Lancaster University

 

Dr Martin Wood

Earthcare Environmental Ltd

 

 

 

 

Chair for afternoon session: Prof. Peter Gregory

 

 

13:00

 

 

Water footprint and benchmarking irrigation water use of strawberries in Huelva, Spain

 

Dr Tim Hess

Cranfield University

 

 

13:25

 

 

13:50

Improving water use efficiency, yields and product quality in UK soft fruit

production

 

Developing precision irrigation in field scale horticulture

 

Dr Mark Else

EMR

 

Dr Jerry Knox

Cranfield University

 

 

14:15

Developing strawberry cultivars with improved water use efficiency

Dr David Simpson

EMR

 

 

14:40

Improving the effective use of water in UK wheat varieties

 

Dr Eric Ober

Brooms Barn

 

 

15.05

 

Improving yields and WUE performance of salt tolerant and moderately tolerant crops under saline soil environments (TBC)

 

 

Dr David Midmore

University of Reading

 

15:30

Tea break

 

 

 

 

 

 

16:00

Bewley Lecture: 'Water Productivity in Open and Protected Cultivation'

Prof. El�as Fereres Castiel

University of Cordoba

 

17:00

Tea and depart

 

 

 

 

Cost for EMRA and UKIA Members including refreshments is �10

Non-EMRA guests may attend at a cost of �20

 

Deadline for returns is 25 January 2012

 

To book your place, please contact Barbara Walsh, EMRA Secretary on 01732 843833 or at barbara.walsh@emr.ac.uk

 

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Profitable pear production in the UK

 

27 February 2012

East Malling Conference Centre

 

 

 

 

10:00

Arrival and Coffee

10:30

The UK pear market and industry

Adrian Barlow

English Apples and Pears Ltd

Retailer / customer perspective

Theresa Huxley

Sainsbury�s PLC

Experiences and views of growers

Clive Baxter

JL Baxter and Sons

Tony Frankham

Newmafruit Ltd

Michael Bentley

Castle Fruit Farm

Tom Palmer

Leckford Estate

Oliver Doubleday

GH Dean and Co. Ltd

12:45

Lunch

14:00

The concept pear orchard at EMR � results and prospects

Francis Wheatley

Chingford Fruit

Economics of pear production

David Knight

AKC Agriculture

Optimising the performance of concept pears

Leon Jahae

Agrovista

Pear sucker management

Prof. Jerry Cross

East Malling Research

Application of water research at EMR to pear growing

Dr Mark Else

East Malling Research

16:00

Tea and close

 

Cost for EMRA Members ncluding refreshments is �10

Non-EMRA guests may attend at a cost of �20

 

Deadline for returns is 20 February 2012

 

To book your place, please contact Barbara Walsh, EMRA Secretary on 01732 843833 or at barbara.walsh@emr.ac.uk

 

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Marden Fruit Show Society AGM

and

EMRA Top Fruit Storage Members� Day

East Malling Conference Centre

Wednesday 28 March 2012 

 

10:00               

Coffee and Registration

 

 

 

Marden Fruit Show Society AGM

 

 

 

Judges� Report � Long term farm-stored classes

Dr Martin Luton (WWF Qualytech)

 

Presentation of the Marden Fruit Show Society Prizes

 

 

Chairman for the morning will be Rt Hon Michael Jack, President, MFSS

12.00

Global fresh produce industry including key market and industry developments

Andrew McLay

Promar

 

British tree fruit industry and retailer perspective

John Driscoll

Tesco

12.50

Buffet Lunch

 

 

Chairman for the afternoon will be Dr Chris Atkinson, Deputy Chief Executive, EMR

14.00

Fruit storage in Poland - trends in research and commercial practice

Dr Krzysztof Rutkowski

Research Institute of Horticulture, Poland

 

The future of post-harvest research at EMR

Dr Chris Atkinson EMR

 

Updates on Bramley and Braeburn storage trials

Dr Richard Colgan (NRI)

 

Storage rot trial update

Dr Angela Berrie EMR

 

Storage stock assessment

Sarah Calcutt

SEC Consulting

 

New post-harvest technologies for the UK fruit industry

Dr Debbie Rees

NRI

16:10

Tea and Depart

 

 

Cost for EMRA/MFSS Members including refreshments is £10

Non-EMRA/MFSS guests may attend at a cost of £20

 

Deadline for returns is 19 March 2012

 

To book your place, please contact Barbara Walsh, EMRA Secretary on 01732 843833 or at barbara.walsh@emr.ac.uk

 

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EMRA/HDC Strawberry Walk

New Strawberry Selections from the Strawberry Breeding Club

Tuesday 26 June 2012 – 6.00 pm (postponed from 12 June)

East Malling Research, Kent

 

View the latest main-season strawberry selections from East Malling Research

On 26 June, EMRA and HDC are holding their annual ‘Strawberry Walk’ at which growers will be able to see the most promising performers from the Strawberry Breeding Club (SF 96). This walk takes place at East Malling Research (EMR) at 6 pm to allow the maximum number of growers to attend during this busy time of year.

 

The Strawberry Breeding Club at EMR

The objectives of the Strawberry Breeding Club are to develop a replacement for Elsanta, introduce improved early and late season varieties to extend the season and develop new varieties that will enhance sustainability and reduce the environmental impact of UK strawberry production.

This walk gives you the opportunity to view and taste the most interesting new selections from the programme. The breeders welcome feedback from growers and others involved in the soft fruit industry and those attending will be asked to complete data sheets giving their opinion on the new selections. This is the opportunity for HDC and EMRA Members to influence decisions on which lines will ultimately be released to the industry. David Simpson, Adam Whitehouse and Abi Johnson will present results and be available to discuss the selections and answer questions.

On the same evening, Dr Michelle Fountain will demonstrate two new traps which have been developed for monitoring common green capsid and European tarnished plant bug. The traps have been developed with Defra Horticulture LINK funding and are newly available from Agralan Ltd.

 

If you would like to attend this event, please contact Kirsty Nichols by telephone on 0247 647 8677 or at Kirsty.nichols@hdc.ahdb.org.uk by Monday 25 June 2011

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EMR Tours

Fruit Focus 2012

 

Raspberry trials from the East Malling Research breeding programme

Feli Fernández

 

 

East Malling Research has been involved in raspberry breeding since the 1920’s. With the launch of Autumn Amber and Malling Freya in 2012, the programme has released 26 varieties so far, of which 7 are primocane-fruiting, including Autumn Bliss and Autumn Treasure.

 

The principal aims of the programme are to produce high yielding cultivars with large fruit of excellent quality. Our selection criteria also take into account shelf-life, ease of management as well as pest and disease resistance.

 

Currently, the programme is primarily focussed in selection and trialling of primocane-fruiting types, although there are some floricane-fruiting lines still under evaluation. Particularly promising are three selections from a cross between Octavia and Tulameen all them producing fruit of outstanding quality in the late floricane season.

 

 

Melons trials at EMR

Graham Caspell

 

Following its first commercial harvest in 2011, visitors to Fruit Focus will have an opportunity to see and hear about progress in East Malling’s commercial melon crop trial, a collaboration between East Malling Ltd, the farm which is home to East Malling Research and Mack Multiples.

 

Efforts this year are more concentrated on commercial production using two varieties, Eminenza and Magritte.  Seven other varieties will also be examined, but on a trial scale, to see how they perform. The decision to grow larger quantities of these two varieties was based on results from the 2011 trial.

 

Seeds were sown a month later than in 2011 (May instead of April) and subsequent planting into the field was delayed from May to June. This was to try and schedule harvest after the big flush of imported Spanish fruit has passed, with a view to achieving a higher price. There will also be a small open field trial on the Fruit Focus site for visitors to view.

 

 

 

EM1764, a new June-bearer strawberry from the East Malling Strawberry Breeding Club.

Adam Whitehouse

 

 

The East Malling Strawberry Breeding Club was formed in 2008 with funding from Defra and seven commercial partners:

 

Berry Gardens

CPM Retail Ltd

East Malling Ltd

ESNA (representing a consortium of nine continental propagators)

Horticultural Development Company

Mack Multiples

Meiosis Ltd (representing a consortium of five UK propagators)

 

The Club aims to develop an exciting range of new strawberry varieties from the renowned EMR programme.  The principal aims of the programme are to produce high yielding June-bearers and everbearers with larger fruit size, excellent quality and higher % Class 1, and to extend the season with improved 60-day cropping. Strong resistance to fungal diseases is also a priority.

 

The programme also addresses environmental and strategic issues related to Defra priorities and benefits from associated EMR projects funded by Defra, BBSRC and the Technology Strategy Board, which are developing molecular markers for improved water use efficiency and resistance to Verticillium wilt and powdery mildew.

 

EM1764 is an early-mid season June-bearer that is currently undergoing trials in the UK and Northern Europe.  It was selected in 2006 and first trialled at East Malling in 2008, where it was quickly identified as a promising selection because of its outstanding fruit quality.

 

The firm, glossy, regular-shaped fruit have has an excellent flavour in trials at EMR. It has had very good fruit size (average 76% >35mm) and percentage class 1 fruit (average 93%) across all trials held at EMR.  EM1764 also performed exceptionally well in an HDC-funded substrate trial in 2011 where it out-performed all the other selections/cultivars in trial in terms of yield, % class 1 fruit and fruit size.

 

Initial feedback from marketing companies and retailers has been excellent, but it will be further evaluated by growers, marketing companies and retailers in 2012/13 with a view to it being named and released in 2013/14.

 

EM1764 is being commercialised by Meiosis Ltd.

Concept Cherry Orchard

Graham Caspell

 

Following the end of the three scheduled tour stops, visitors will have the opportunity of an optional visit to EMR’s new Concept Cherry Orchard.  This new orchard compares several different varieties, at different planting distances grown using different pruning and training techniques.  The orchard also features a covering system new to the UK.

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Fruits and Roots

A celebration and forward look

6-7 November 2013

FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT AND CALL FOR PAPERS

A two day conference at East Malling Research, Kent, UK.

The conference is part of a series of activities to mark the centenary of East Malling Research. It will be the scientific centrepiece and explore current and future research leading to improved fruits for the future. Topics to be covered will include:

  • East Malling's unique contribution to fruit research (1913 - 2013)

  • Rootstock scion interations

  • Pests and pathogens and integrated control systems

  • Fresh fruit quality through the supply chain

  • Efficient resource use in the food chain

  • Genetics and breeding of fruits

  • New production systems

Deadline for call for papers is 31 March 2013

Click here for more information

or

please contact Russell Millman, AAB at Tel: +44(0)2476 57519; E-Mail: russell@aab.org.uk;  Fax:+44(0)1789 470234

 

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 EMRA/HDC Soft Fruit Day

Technical up-date on soft fruit research

Wednesday 21 November 2012

10.00am - 3.50 pm

Conference Centre, East Malling Research, Kent

HDC is continuing to fund a wide range of projects for soft fruit growers which focus on the major problems currently challenging the industry. Many of these include insect pests and diseases, but water, nutrition and variety breeding and development also use a significant share of the research budget. This event will provide growers with a resume of the results provided this year by some of the most advanced projects being undertaken at East Malling Research and elsewhere.

 

The programme

 

10.00     Arrive & coffee

10.30     New varieties from the EMR strawberry breeding club (Adam Whitehouse, EMR)

10.50     Practical experience of growing Finesse (Graham Caspell, EMR)

11.00     The new generation of raspberries from JHI (Nikki Jennings, JHI)

11.25     Strawberry variety trials in soilless substrates (Sarah Troop, Meiosis Ltd)

11.45     Spotted wing drosophila – a new pest of soft fruit (Jerry Cross, EMR)

12.10     The future of fruit pathology at EMR (Robert Saville, EMR)

12.30     Lunch

1.30       A new dawn for EMR (Peter Gregory, EMR)

1.50       Reducing residues in strawberry (Jean Fitzgerald, EMR)

2.15       Up-dating research into western flower thrips control in strawberry (Jerry Cross, EMR)

2.40       Control of crown rot and soft rots in soft fruit (Angela Berrie, EMR)

3.05       New developments in tarsonemid mite control (Michelle Fountain, EMR)

3.30       Saving water use in container grown raspberry and strawberry (Mark Else, EMR)

3.50       Tea and close

 

The event is free to EMRA and HDC members. If you would like to attend this event, please contact Caroline Bloodworth on 02476 478677 or at caroline.bloodworth@hdc.ahdb.org.uk by Wednesday 14 November 2012.

 

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Spotted wing drosophila

 

Spot it, Stop it’ Awareness Seminars

 

 

East Malling Research, Kent  - 12 February (10-12.30am)

Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth - 13 February  (10-12.30am)

Landmark Hotel, Dundee - 15 February  (2-4.30pm)

 

 

 

British Summer Fruits is holding three Spotted Wing Drosophila Awareness Seminars on the above dates, in conjunction with East Malling Research and HDC. They are aimed at everyone involved in the growing, production and packing of soft fruit and stone fruit.

These important seminars will provide detailed information on the pest and practical advice and information on how to monitor it, control and manage its spread in 2013.

They will be particularly useful for growers, farm managers and their staff, including production unit managers, harvest managers, pack-house managers, supervisory staff and QA personnel who all need to be informed about this new pest.

 

Due to the serious nature of this pest and its potential consequences, it is vital that everyone involved in the soft fruit and stone fruit industry attends these seminars on spotted wing drosophila so that together we can ‘spot it and stop it’. The event is free to attend.

 

The programme

 

Chairman’s welcome

Introduction to the issue and safeguarding the industry

Identifying SWD and the lifecycle

Precision monitoring and methods of control

Redefining waste management

Support and media management

Question and answer session with panel discussion

 

Confirm your attendance

 

To confirm your attendance at one of these events, please contact Caroline Bloodworth by Friday 8 February 2013, to notify her which of the three seminars you plan to attend.

 

Caroline can be contacted on 02476 478677 or at caroline.bloodworth@hdc.ahdb.org.uk.

 Click here for flyer

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Marden Fruit Show Society AGM

and

EMRA Top Fruit Storage Members’ Day

East Malling Conference Centre

Thursday 21 March 2013

 

 

10:00               

Coffee and Registration

 

 

 

Marden Fruit Show Society AGM

 

 

 

Judges’ Report – Long term farm-stored classes

Dr Martin Luton

WWF Qualytech

 

Presentation of the Marden Fruit Show Society Prizes

 

 

Chairman for the morning will be Rt Hon Michael Jack, President, MFSS

11.50

The Worshipful Company of Fruiterers Awards Council

 Prof. John Price

Master, WCoF

 

 

Sainsbury’s 20by20 plan

Simon Hinks

Sainsbury’s

 

Project BEESWAX

Andrew Lewis

SysEnvir

12.50

Buffet Lunch

 

 

Chairman for the afternoon will be Dr Debbie Rees, NRI

14.00

Insect pollination and apple quality

Dr Mike Garratt

University of Reading

 

Produce Quality Centre launch and EMR Centenary

Ross Newham

EMR

 

Sweet Cherry Quality in the UK Food Chain

Dr Emma Skipper

EMR

 

Storage rot trial update

Dr Robert Saville

EMR

 

The importance of fruit dry matter

Prof. Chris Atkinson

NRI

 

Control of internal browning in Bramley’s Seedling and Braeburn

 

Dr Richard Colgan

NRI

16:00

Tea and Depart

 

Cost for EMRA/MFSS Members including refreshments is £10

Non-EMRA/MFSS guests may attend at a cost of £20

 

Deadline for returns is 14 March 2013

 

To book your place, please contact Ursula Twomey, y on 01732 843833 or at ursula.twomey@emr.ac.uk

 

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Innovation for the horticulture industry

 

Tuesday 16 April 2013

10.00am – 1.30pm

Conference Centre, East Malling Research, Kent

 

Prof. Peter Gregory, Chief Executive of East Malling Research, invites you to this important event in EMR’s centenary celebrations. This half-day conference, being attended by HRH The Princess Royal, will highlight the role of science in driving sustainable solutions for the horticulture industry, to improve productivity, growth and competitive edge, and to add value. Speakers from science funding bodies, the horticulture industry and the science community will offer their perspectives and an opportunity to discuss the latest developments and the benefits of early adoption of innovation. In addition, EMR will showcase its new science direction and host of new science talent.

 

10.00am            

Arrive and coffee

                                                                                               

 

Welcome

Marion Regan

Hugh Lowe Farms

 

 

Introduction     

Professor Peter Gregory

Chief Executive, EMR

 

           

Technical innovation in the market-place

Richard Harnden

Director of Research, BerryGardens

 

 

Science for the future             

Dr Mark Else

EMR Programme Leader

 

                       

 

Innovation through collaboration:

The vision of the Technology Strategy Board

Calum Murray

TSB Lead Technologist

 

           

Widening the crop protection armoury

Professor Jerry Cross

EMR Programme Leader

 

                                   

Food Advanced Training Partnerships (Food ATPS)

Dr Richard Frazier

Director of the Food ATP

Reading University

 

                       

The new generation of plant scientists at East Malling Research

8 x 1 min biographies

 

 

           

Closing remarks

Marion Regan

 

12.30  

Buffet lunch

 

                       

 

The event is free of charge and includes a buffet lunch. To attend this event, please contact Angela Chapple on 01732 843833 or at angela.chapple@emr.ac.uk, or return the slip below by Tuesday 9 April.

 

 

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