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While many of us have been complaining about the cold and snow this winter, some UK fruit growers are happy with the lower temperatures and the length of time that they have been around.

Winter chill, prolonged periods when the temperature stays above freezing but below 7^oC, is essential for the successful growing and harvesting of many perennial woody crops, particularly fruits such as apples, pears, blackcurrants and hops.

And recent warmer winters in many areas where fruits are grown, including the UK, have taken their toll. Milder and shorter winters may now be seen as the norm. And declining winter chill is expected to be a growing problem as temperatures continue to rise as a result of climate change.

Now, in a bid to help commercial growers across the world, plant specialists at East Malling Research acknowledge the need to seek a more detailed understanding of the science behind the winter chill effect that triggers consistent time of blossoming, and subsequent fruit development which maximises the yield potential the following summer.

Head of Science at East Malling Research, Chris Atkinson, said: �We must not fall into a false sense of security after this winter. We need to be investing in approaches that enable UK growers to adapt to the changes already apparent in winter chill as well as the further decreases forecast to occur by the end of the century.

�Our climate records, kept since 1913, when compared to data from other UK locations, show that throughout the country the amount of winter chill has already declined. In the south-east we are already experiencing a 12 per cent reduction in the number of chill hours each winter, while the number of spring frosts has declined by a much higher percentage.

�Climate scenarios of the future suggest that as concentrations of greenhouse gases continue to rise, and global temperatures increase, the amount of chill the UK receives will decline further. Under the worst-case greenhouse gas emissions scenarios, winter chill in Kent has been predicted to decline by more than 50 per cent by 2080. Winters will continue generally to become shorter and milder. This winter has been closer to our experiences of 25 years ago.

�This will impact significantly on growers. As the south-east�s climate fails to deliver the period of chill and dormancy required for maximising the yield of commercial perennial crops, the traditional varieties that require larger amounts of chill will likely be disappearing or migrating north to chillier or longer winters.

�UK fruit production can ill afford any reduction in production efficiency given the economic situation and the demands for high production efficiency per unit of available land.

�Forward-looking growers will need advice on how to adapt to these new demands in order to sustain UK-based food production levels. This may require the use of alternative cultivars with lower chill requirements.

�There may also be a need to use entirely novel replacement crops which have low chill requirements. UK grape production is increasing and this crop generally has a much lower chilling requirement than traditional tree fruits, particularly apples.

�We also need to consider that similar declines in winter chilling are likely to become apparent in other fruit producing areas around the world including those that are key to the UK reliance on imports of perennial fruit out of the UK season; we need to step up our R&D in this area to sustain overseas growers as well.

�We need more research into measuring and modelling chilling responses in perennial plants. We are unfortunately unable to advise growers regarding the chill requirements of newly available fruit cultivars.

�With a greater fundamental understanding of how plants actually measure and respond to chilling we should be able to help growers overcome some of the negative consequences of warmer winters. For example, this could include breeding programmes to develop cultivars that can thrive with less chilling and produce the high quality plants and fruits with the long-term storage capacity we need to supply UK consumers. �

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are important in contributing to food security, primarily through crop pollination but also through local food production. They are also an essential pollinator of wild plants and therefore, contribute to local environmental biodiversity. In recent years there have been increased threats to honey bee health, including pests, diseases and resistance to commonly used treatments for Varroa.

In recognition of these threats, Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government are implementing the �Healthy Bees Plan� which recognises the importance of working together with commercial and amateur beekeepers, their Associations and other stakeholders to promote and improve honey bee health.

There is a strong public interest in honey bees together with increased interest in the environment and awareness of declines in the number of bees which has encouraged more people to take-up beekeeping.

To better understand how to support new and existing beekeepers Defra has commissioned East Malling Research and People Science and Policy Ltd to explore beekeeping husbandry practices and where beekeepers get advice and information. The results of the study will be used to improve advice and training.

To gain results that are useful and relevant the study needs to hear from beekeepers, especially those with less than two years experience. To take part in the study beekeepers in England and Wales should go to www.pspq.com/beestudy before the end of February 2010.

East Malling Research (EMR), recognised as an international centre of excellence for fruit research, will now focus totally on the advancement and application of horticultural science following a corporate restructure.

Under the auspices of Dr Mike Solomon, Chief Executive of EMR, the team of scientists will continue to help UK and international growers to improve production and quality, safeguard the environment and adapt to the impact of climate change.

Until now, EMR�s activities at East Malling have also included commercial operations. As a part of the restructuring, the East Malling Trust for Horticultural Research will become an incorporated charity limited by guarantee and EMR and East Malling Ltd will become subsidiaries of the Trust.

Commercial activities that would previously have come under EMR will become the responsibility of Adrian Padfield, Chief Executive of the East Malling Trust for Horticultural Research, who will also head up East Malling Ltd. This company will manage the East Malling Conference Centre, property lettings, the East Malling Farm and Malling Fine Foods, together with the commercial operations of the East Malling Trust.

Commenting on the restructuring, Dr Ian Graham-Bryce, Chairman of East Malling Trust for Horticultural Research, which is the UK�s largest independent funder of fruit research and owner of the 600 acre farm estate, said: �Recently Hilary Benn Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, heaped praise on the work of the team at EMR and rightly said that food security is as important to this country�s future well-being, and the world�s, as energy security.

�This move allows the EMR management to focus on what they do best, and that is horticultural and scientific research and their already strong ties with industry and Defra to secure further funding for their work. The Trust will continue its strong support for EMR, which in recent years has been running at approximately �1 million annually.�

A one day conference, organised jointly by East Malling Research (EMR), Sainsbury�s and English Apples and Pears Ltd (EAP) will focus closely on all important aspects of the UK pear industry from production, to market and consumers.

There is a great opportunity for the UK pear industry to expand to meet growing consumer demand for UK produce, which is presently undersupplied. Organisers have therefore invited leading experts from across Europe to discuss how UK pear orchards can be made more productive and profitable and the steps that need to be taken to encourage UK growers to expand production.

The weaknesses and limitations of UK orchards and production methods will be analysed and compared with that in continental Europe where pear growing is regarded as more profitable than apple growing, to see what practical lessons can be applied by UK growers.

Examples of what UK-funded science at EMR has to offer the pear grower will also be presented, including control of pear sucker, a devastating pest of pears, and in the application of field irrigation strategies to pear production systems.

� The UK pear market and industry Adrian Barlow, English Apples and Pears Ltd

� The economics of intensive pear production Wouter van Teeffelen, WTE Fruitadvies, NL

� Pear breeding for the �Alternative Variety� Jean-Paul Reynoird, Pepinieres Georges Delbard, FR

� Application of water research to pear growing Mark Else, East Malling Research

According to Adrian Barlow of EAP �Against the background of the upsurge of consumer demand for local supplies and the Government�s call for an increase in UK horticultural production of 20-25%, the UK horticultural industry is presented with enormous opportunities. UK pears account for less than 20% of total UK demand. As an industry, we need to identify the factors that constrain UK production and also the solutions to the problems. This event should be extremely helpful for the whole of the industry in reaching some conclusions.�

For more information and booking forms, please contact Ursula Twomey, Telephone 01732 843833, e-mail ursula.twomey@emr.ac.uk, www.eastmallingresearch.com

FARMERS and consumers alike could reap the benefits of more sustainably produced local cherries and plums, thanks to East Malling Research (EMR).

Tree specialists at EMR have launched a major initiative to combat sustainably the most common pests and diseases facing stone fruit growers in the UK, enabling more of the fruit to be grown and sold locally.

EMR is looking at new, more environmentally-friendly ways to control common pests and diseases � such as aphids, brown rot, plum fruit moth and light brown apple moth � without leaving chemical residues.

The EMR team has joined forces with specialists from the Natural Resources Institute at the University of Greenwich at Medway, the University of Kent at Canterbury and Warwick-HRI to share expertise.

The scientists will be designing a sustainable integrated pest and disease management system for commercial growers that will leave no chemical residues within the fruit and have significantly less environmental impact than previous approaches to commercial stone fruit production.

The five-year research project is being supported through the Horticultural LINK programme by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD).

It is also being backed by a wide range of industry partners including Sainsbury�s, K G Growers, Berry World, Summer Fruit Co, and Mack Multiples, as well as the Horticultural Development Company and East Malling Trust.

Introducing the research project at an East Malling Tree Fruit Day, the research consortium chairman, John Leigh-Pemberton, said: �There have been longstanding difficulties discouraging commercial growers of stone fruits � traditional tree size, weather conditions leading to fruit splitting, pests and disease, and an over-reliance on pesticides.

�However, the effects of climate change and the development of new varieties are promising a much brighter future for reliable stone fruit production in the UK.

�We have resolved the tree size issue, we can overcome fruit skins splitting and all that is left is tackling frequent pests and diseases � including more recent arrivals such as the light brown apple moth.

�We are now focusing on biological controls, reducing the environmental impact of growing these fruits, encouraging improved biodiversity and meeting consumer demand for residue-free fruits.�

The research team headed by Professor Jerry Cross, of EMR, is looking at a range of biological controls and approaches based on a deeper understanding of the lifecycles and spreading mechanisms of pests and diseases.

For example, the team noted that common black ants thriving in undisturbed soil in orchards not only take advantage of the honeydew produced by aphids but also assist in moving aphids to new tree shoots and areas within the orchard. One method of aphid control under investigation is exploiting the ants to carry entomopathogenic fungi that will attack the aphids and leave the ant unharmed. The technique has proved already successful in both the laboratory and field trials.

Another strand of the research programme involves developing sex pheromones to attract pests such as the plum fruit moth and the light brown apple moth to disrupt reproductive cycles and better target spraying programmes.

� EMR is the principal UK provider of top-class basic, strategic and applied horticultural research

� EMR scientists integrate their knowledge of breeding, molecular genetics, genomics, pest and disease biology and management, crop and post harvest physiology, agronomy, environmental science, food product development and consumer research, to address current industry issues and deliver innovative solutions

� EMR is currently engaged in eight HORTLINK projects including integrated pest and disease management, optimising water use and using plants as soil biomfumigants

For further information or to arrange a visit to East Malling Research please contact:

� Delphine Houlton, Andrew Metcalf or Andy Rayfield, at Maxim, tel: 01892 513033

Bradbourne House, a privately owned, Grade 1 listed house and for the thirtieth consecutive year, its gardens will be opened to the public on Sunday 25 April in aid of the National Gardens Scheme.

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 Hatton Fruit Garden, formerly the walled kitchen gardens of Bradbourne House, consists of demonstration fruit tree plantings of particular interest to amateurs.

Originally planted in 1945 and inspired by the fruit plantings in Louis XIV kitchen garden at Versailles, the fruit garden was set up as a memorial to the art of tree training and pruning and as a source of information for gardening enthusiasts. The concept was to establish a fruit garden with trees planted at appropriate spacings to show the economic use of ground, without over-crowding. Although selective tree removal and replanting has occurred, many examples of the original planting remain.

Staff from East Malling Research will show how the fruit trees have been trained and pruned to produce cordons, espaliers, goblets, pyramids, fans, arches, crowns, le bateau, arcure forms etc. 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.

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, www.eastmallingresearch.com

Bradbourne House, a privately owned, Grade 1 listed house and for the thirtieth consecutive year, its gardens will be opened to the public on Sunday 25 April in aid of the National Gardens Scheme.

The house and gardens are owned by the East Malling Trust of whom world-renowned East Malling Research is now a subsidiary.

The Hatton Fruit Garden, formerly the walled kitchen gardens of Bradbourne House, consists of demonstration fruit tree plantings of particular interest to amateurs.

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, www.eastmallingresearch.com

Mr John Harrison, Headteacher at Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys, said: �Commander Antonelli�s visit has been inspiring. We work hard at the school to help boys set themselves challenging targets and goals; to pursue personal excellence. Tony�s talk showed the boys how much can be achieved with hard work and determination and I am sure it will live long in the memories of everyone lucky enough to have been there�.

Tony Antonelli, who was visiting the school as part of a national tour, is a veteran of two space flights whoand has himself experienced weightlessness and the freedom from gravity for 24 days, 3 hours, 57 minutes and 35 seconds. In his last flight Tony Antonelli docked with the International Space Station and completed 186 orbits of the Earth, travelling 4,879,978 miles in 11 days, 18 hours, 28 minutes and 2 seconds.

Tony Antonelli was joined on the mission by Piers Sellars, a former pupil of Cranbrook School, who was born in Crowborough.

ENDS

--
Andrew Metcalf
Director
Maxim
Tel: 01892 513033
Fax: 01892 513081
Mob: 07990 574680
E-mail: andrew@maxim-pr.co.uk
Web: www.maxim-pr.co.uk

As well as getting the chance to visit historic Bradbourne House at East Malling, members of Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council�s rural board had the opportunity to meet scientists at the cutting edge of UK horticultural research.

On a visit hosted by The East Malling Trust, Members toured East Malling Research, widely recognised as a national centre of excellence. They also visited Bradbourne House, a stunning Grade 1 listed building that can trace its roots back to Tudor times and is now a thriving venue for events and weddings under the Trust�s management.

Bradbourne House, and surrounding buildings, including the historic Stable Block, is also an increasingly important centre for local employment, with more than 40 businesses operating on the 600 acre farm estate, near Maidstone.

Will Sibley, recently appointed Chairman of the Trust, took the opportunity to showcase its role as the UK�s largest independent funder of horticultural research and the value of the industry to the UK economy. He also highlighted how the development of dwarfing rootstock technology and fruit storage techniques had transformed the world�s top fruit industry, such as apples and pears.

He said: �When it comes to the Borough�s rural economy, the Trust and the scientific work undertaken by East Malling Research is something which Tonbridge & Malling, and Kent, can be very proud of. The work is helping to underpin the country�s ability to produce more food and also reduce our reliance on imports and improve our food security.�

Cllr Mark Worrall, Leader of Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council, says: �I would like to thank Will Sibley and the East Malling Trust for organising a most interesting visit, which gave us all a fascinating insight into the valuable research being undertaken at the Research Centre. There is no doubt that the Trust is playing a vital role in helping to sustain the UK economy and I look forward to hearing more about the innovative technologies and techniques that are being developed.�

As the use of water in agriculture becomes a growing national issue due to drier winters and warmer summers, the board met the East Malling Research scientists who are developing techniques to help potato growers use less irrigation water. As a crop, potatoes account for more than half of all the irrigation water used by agriculture in the UK.

The scientists also demonstrated their innovative pest control techniques as well as the strawberry breeding programme managed by Dr David Simpson, which is creating the strawberry varieties of the future.

For further information please contact:
Andrew Metcalf, Maxim Tel: 01892 513033 E-mail: andrew@maxim-pr.co.uk

22 July 2010

New Fund to Finance Research Fellowships

The next generation of applied scientists who will underpin the future health of the horticulture industry are to be given financial support following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding.

The agreement struck between the Horticultural Development Company (HDC) and The East Malling Trust (EMT) will see the setting up of a fund for awarding Research Fellowships. HDC will provide the monies to establish and maintain the fund and HDC and EMT will together agree a mechanism for the fund to operate. It is envisaged that the fund will build towards supporting four or five research fellowships of �40-50K p.a., depending on emerging research priorities.

Recognising the fact that world-class research rarely if ever happens overnight, the Research Fellowships will be awarded on the basis of a minimum five-year contract.

Signed at Fruit Focus, held at East Malling Research on Wednesday, July 21, the agreement will establish a Research Fellowship Fund to provide financial support for applied science, designed to nurture the horticultural sector.

The new Fund, provided by the HDC, will be administered by EMT and overseen by a Governance Committee. The committee will ensure the research matches the needs of the industry and its initial membership will consist of two representatives from EMT and HDC, and one representative each from Horticulture Trade Association and British Protected Ornamentals. One representative each from ADAS, East Malling Research and Stockbridge Technology Centre will be invited to be in attendance at each meeting of the committee.

Signing the Memorandum of Understanding, Will Sibley, the recently appointed Chairman of EMT, said: �This funding will enable the industry to develop its nationally significant work, and to facilitate the employment and mentoring of a new generation of science specialists.

Neil Bragg, Chairman of HDC and a co-signatory of the Memorandum, said: �This is an extension of the HDC�s commitment to develop the applied scientist capability for the industry. The HDC Board recognises that without such an approach there will be no continuity of science provision for the future.�

ENDS

For further information or photographs please contact: Andrew Metcalf, Maxim
Tel: 01892 513033 E-mail: Andrew@maxim-pr.co.uk

Co-operation is root to scientific success, says leading horticultural institutions

The University of Reading and East Malling Research in Kent have announced a new collaboration to advance research in horticultural crop science.

The two institutions have signed an important Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as part of their ongoing commitment to further learning and knowledge in this area.

The MoU was signed by Professor Gordon Marshall, Vice Chancellor of the University of Reading, and Dr Mike Solomon, Chief Executive of East Malling Research, at a ceremony at the University.

The newly-forged relationship opens the door for the development of joint research programmes exploiting the strengths of both organisations. This will include joint bids for funding for research and knowledge transfer, a closer involvement of East Malling Research in the University�s research on the National Fruit Collection at Brogdale, and the training of the next generation of crop scientists.

The MoU will help ensure that research in horticultural crop science is economically sustainable and supported adequately by industry. The agreement also outlines how the two institutions will tackle the issues of academic standards and quality, Intellectual Property and funding over the next five years.

Dr Mike Solomon said: �This agreement is a strong statement of intent to foster genuine and mutually beneficial collaboration and one which we are confident will be well received by the horticultural sector and those organisations that support it. The MoU comes at a time when a spirit of collaboration and co-operation, rather than competition, is much needed.�

Prof Gordon Marshall added: �The University of Reading's and East Malling Research's MoU brings together the complementary skills of two leading UK horticultural research providers to meet future food security challenges. Research collaboration, rather than competition, is the way forward in responding to society's and industry's horticultural science research needs. I hope that this MOU sends an important positive signal to both government and the horticultural industry.�

The University of Reading has an international reputation in the food security and its alumni have produced many of the key players throughout the food supply chain.

Reading has long been involved in researching the impacts of climate change in agriculture and horticulture and remains a leader in this field with its investment in the Walker Institute for Climate Systems Research. In recent years the University has pioneered and championed the use of spectral filters and ushered in a new generation of crop forecasting techniques with the grower in mind.

East Malling Research is widely recognised as the UK�s leading research centre for the horticultural industry. As well as developing the first dwarf rootstocks and storage technologies, which are now used throughout the world, the scientists in Kent have been at the heart of improving the sector�s ability to improve yields, environmental performance and adapt to the impact of climate change.

The scientists at East Malling Research recently completed the DNA fingerprinting of more than 2,200 apple and 500 pear trees in the National Fruit Collection at Brogdale, near Faversham, which is managed by the University of Reading on behalf of Defra (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).

For more information please contact either Rona Cheeseman, press officer at the University of Reading, on 0118 378 7388 or email r.cheeseman@reading.ac.uk or for EMR enquiries, Andrew Metcalfe on 01892 513033 or email andrew@maxim-pr.co.uk

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