Press Releases
27 January 2009
EMR
Gives Government Food for Thought
East
Malling Research (EMR), the UK’s leading scientific organisation supporting
the fruit growing industry, has called on the Government to invest in
research to help tackle the issue of food security.
As the
Government continues to persuade the public to consume ‘five-a-day’ with its
‘Change4Life’ campaign, the UK’s fruit and vegetable production is falling
well short of consumer demand leading to significant imports. Currently the
UK is only able to supply 10% of the fruit consumed in the country – the
lowest self-sufficiency figure of any agricultural or horticultural food
category. Scientists at EMR believe that this situation could be
dramatically improved if there was greater funding for horticulture
research.
In its
submission to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee’s enquiry
into ‘Securing food supplies up to 2050: the challenges for the UK’, EMR put
the case for greater R&D funding as a major way of protecting the country’s
consumers in the future.
Highlighting the importance of research to improve sustainability and drive
innovation to ensure the UK’s food security, EMR’s Chief Executive Colin
Gutteridge said: “We recognise that it’s not possible to grow bananas or
citrus fruits which make up a significant proportion of the fruit we
consume. However, the country still only produces a quarter of the apples
and 5% of the cherries it eats. This gap could be tackled by developing
more efficient methods of production and storage to improve the
profitability of growers through scientific research.
“The
consumption of fruit and vegetables is a key element of healthy diets. With
an ageing European population with increased rates of cancer, heart disease,
type 2 diabetes and obesity, medical research is showing that the prevalence
of these diseases can be mitigated by diets rich in fruit and vegetables.”
The
research work undertaken at EMR can play an essential role in improving
productivity, breeding of improved varieties, extending the post-harvest
growing season, reducing the use of pesticides and water, and developing new
storage techniques for many fruits. For example, the Bramley, the
quintessential English cooking apple, can now be stored all the year round
to ensure continuity of supply. The research on growing and storage
techniques that enabled this innovation was completed over three decades by
EMR.
Colin
Gutteridge added: “The Bramley, which is celebrating its 200th anniversary
this year, is a success story thanks largely to ongoing investment in
scientific research. Horticultural research has to be seen as a long term
investment which is why the Government must ensure it funds it so we are
well placed to tackle the major issues of climate change and its impact on
food security.
“The
UK’s ability to ensure its food security would be enhanced by encouraging
the indigenous fruit growing industry to increase production, which in turn
would improve our balance of trade deficit, encourage healthier diets and
reduce food miles. This can largely be achieved by supporting research and
development.”
For
further information on the work of EMR visit: www.emr.ac.uk.
ENDS
FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION OR TO ARRANGE A VISIT PLEASE CONTACT:
E-mail: andrew@maxim-pr.co.uk,
rachel@maxim-pr.co.uK
Back to Press Releases
2
March 2009
SIXTH-FORM STUDENTS
CELEBRATE THE LAUNCH OF NATIONAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING WEEK AT EAST
MALLING RESEARCH ON 13 MARCH 2009
In a celebration of science, East Malling
Research is hosting a conference for 16 -18 year olds on Friday 13th
March, at the East Malling Conference Centre, to coincide with the launch of
National Science and Engineering Week.
40 students from West Kent College are
expected to attend this event, sponsored by Research Councils UK.
It will start with a morning of talks
delivered mostly by young East Malling Research
scientists at the start of their
career. Topics will include:
1.
Plant/mychorrizal
associations
2.
Plant disease research
3.
Irrigation scheduling,
reducing water use and improving plant quality
4.
Commercialising intellectual
property
There will be the opportunity for students
to meet and
chat informally with the scientists over lunch and to browse scientific
posters on display.
After lunch, students will split into
groups for interactive sessions in glasshouses and orchards. This will
provide a forum for young adults to discuss and debate scientific ideas,
such as fruit selection and breeding methods and insect pest control and use
of pheromone technology, with young scientists.
It will provide students with access to
science in their local community and in a real world environment and dispel
common stereotypes about scientists and key scientific issues of the day.
Places have been limited to up to 40 students and teachers to encourage
discussion.
Timetable: Friday 13 March
10:00 – 10:15 Students arrive
10:15 – 12:00 Talks in the East
Malling Conference Centre
12:00 – 12:45 Lunch
12:45 – 14:00 Afternoon
demonstrations in glasshouse and orchard
***ENDS***
Notes for Editors:
-
East Malling
Research (EMR)
is an independent provider of research and
consultancy serving the food chain and other sectors of the land-based
industry. EMR builds on 90 years experience of successfully
delivering cutting edge research and development.
www.eastmallingresearch.com
-
Research Councils
UK (RCUK)
is a strategic
partnership through which the UK’s research councils work together to
champion the research, training and innovation they support. For more
information see
www.rcuk.ac.uk
-
National Science and Engineering Week
runs from the 6th to 15th March and is an
opportunity for people of all ages, areas and organisations to take part
in science, engineering and technology activities. It is coordinated by
the British Science Association, funded by the Department for
Innovation, Universities and Skills in partnership with the Engineering
and Technology Board. For
more information
visit
http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/web/NSEW
For further information
please contact:
Penny Greeves,
Communications Officer or Ursula Twomey, Communications Manager
Tel: 01732 843833
Fax: 01732
849067
Email:
penny.greeves@emr.ac.uk;
ursula.twomey@emr.ac.uk
East Malling Research,
New Road, East Malling, Kent ME19 6BJ
Back to Press Releases
2 March 2009
TOP FRUIT STORAGE DAY TO
HIGHLIGHT CONTROL OF STORAGE ROTS IN APPLE
Tuesday 24 March 2009, East
Malling Conference Centre
The East
Malling Research Association (EMRA) and Marden Fruit Show Society, have
invited leading researchers from the European ISAFRUIT project, to inform UK
growers of developments in control of storage rots in apple without the use
of pesticides.
Storage rots in the UK can account for
up to 10% in losses for growers, if
appropriate control measures are not applied. Speakers from Holland, Belgium
and the UK will outline their research on several non-pesticide techniques
such as hot water, biological control agents and GRAS (Generally
Recognized As Safe) treatments mainly with natural substances.
Where
hot water treatments are used, it is important that there are no adverse
effects on fruit quality. David Johnson from EMR will present results from
the ISAFRUIT project and discuss the possibility of developing safe,
effective hot water treatments for Cox, Gala, Braeburn and Golden Delicious
apples.
Dr Frank
Schrool will discuss his specific experience of developing hot water
treatments in Holland, while Dr Jijakli Haissam will outline his development
of new biocontrol agents, one of which is
effective against wound pathogens and is already being developed for
commercial production.
Dr Angela Berrie from EMR, will discuss
results from Defra-funded research, in which she developed what she
considers to be the best approach for controlling latent infections of
significance in UK stores e.g. Nectria. She will compare it with
results from her research on hot water and safe chemical treatments
investigated in the ISAFRUIT project. The latter approach is the preferred
option under investigation for mainland European conditions where
Gloeosporium, Penicillium and Botrytis are of greater
significance.
In
addition, Dr Luca Corelli Grappadelli from Italy will provide background to
the ISAFRUIT Project while Dr Sharon Hall from Warwick HRI will present
results from consumer studies carried out by social scientists in The
Netherlands, which examined consumer preferences for fruit, particularly
apple.
The “Safer fruit and
environment by replacing pesticide treatment against post-harvest rot” work
package of the European ISAFRUIT project aims to provide sustainable
alternatives to the use of pesticides for the prevention of post-harvest
losses of fruit due to rot. In this way pesticide load to the environment is
considerably reduced and fruits free of chemical residue that are safe to
eat with their skin, will be available for consumers.
This
event will take place on Tuesday, 24 March in the East Malling Conference
Centre. The cost, including lunch, will be £10 for EMRA, Marden Fruit Show
Society and ISAFRUIT members and £20 for non-members. Booking forms are
available from Barbara Walsh on 01732 843833 or at
barbara.walsh@emr.ac.uk
***ENDS***
______________________________________________________________
Notes for
Editors:
-
East Malling
Research
(EMR) is an independent provider of research
and consultancy serving the food chain and other sectors of the
land-based industry. EMR builds on 90 years experience of
successfully delivering cutting-edge research and development.
www.eastmallingresearch.com
-
East Malling
Research Association
is the principle conduit for the dissemination of knowledge and
information from East Malling Research. EMRA is a subscription-based
organisation whose constituency currently includes growers,
horticultural advisors, land owners, food producers, retailers,
researchers and agricultural manufacturers.
www.emra.org.uk
-
Marden Fruit Show
Society
is a registered charity which promotes the better growing, grading and
marketing of fruit. The Society organises the annual National Fruit
Show.
www.nationalfruitshow.org.uk
-
ISAFRUIT
(an EU
integrated Research Project under FP6) is the acronym for an integrated
research project with more than 300 scientists across Europe, the US and
New Zealand, working together towards a common goal. The objective is to
increase the consumption of fruit throughout Europe for the benefit of
human health, with particular emphasis on addressing bottlenecks such as
consumer preferences, fruit availability and quality, and
environmentally-friendly production. More information on the project can
be found at
www.isafruit.org or contact Dr
Sharon Hall, Science Communications Officer, Warwick HRI, Tel: 024 7657
5254
For further information
please contact:
Communications Office,
EMR
Tel: 01732 523723
Fax: 01732 849067
Email:
ursula.twomey@emr.ac.uk
Back to Press Releases
20 April 2009
BRADBOURNE HOUSE AND GARDENS OPEN DAY
26 APRIL 2009
Bradbourne House and, for the 29th
successive year, its gardens, including the Hatton Fruit Garden, at East
Malling in Kent will be open to the public on Sunday 26 April from 2-5pm.
All funds raised will be donated to the National Gardens Scheme.
The
Hatton
Fruit Garden, formerly the walled kitchen gardens of Bradbourne House,
consists of demonstration fruit tree plantings displaying 25 different fruit
training methods, plus 47 varieties of apple, 28 varieties of pear and
individuals of medlar, cherry, nectarine, peach and fig. 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. Although selective tree removal and replanting has occurred,
many examples of the original planting remain.
Bradbourne 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.
There will be displays by scientists from
world-renowned East Malling Research, including strawberry breeding and
insect sex pheromone exhibits plus a display of skulls which show how
carnivores and herbivores have adapted to their particular diets. Music
will be provided by the Tamarisk Trio plus a group of enthusiasts will
entertain visitors with a medley of 16th century music. In
addition, there will be juice and plant sales, children’s quiz and
refreshments.
Admission £3.50. Children (under 16) free.
Entrance on New Road, East
Malling,
Kent off the A20.
***ENDS***
Notes for Editors:
1. East Malling Research
(EMR) is an independent provider of research
and consultancy serving the food chain and other sectors of the land-based
industry. EMR builds on 90 years experience of successfully
delivering cutting edge research and development.
www.eastmallingresearch.com
2.
Bradbourne House
is a beautiful grade 1 listed building set in 20 acres of parkland, close to
the
village of East
Malling in Kent. It is owned by the East Malling Trust for Horticultural
Research, a charity, together with nearly 600 acres of adjoining land. The
Trust’s income supports horticultural research at the nearby world famous
East Malling Research Station, and elsewhere.
www.bradbournehouse.org.uk
3.
Digital photograph of fruit trees in Hatton Garden, Bradbourne House
pruned into fan or arch shapes, available on request.
For further information
please contact:
Communications Office
Tel:
01732 523723 Fax : 01732 849067
Email:
ursula.twomey@emr.ac.uk
East
Malling Research, New Road, East Malling, Kent ME19 6BJ
Back to Press Releases
22 April 2009
EAST MALLING RESEARCH
AND STC RESEARCH FOUNDATION to work in partnership
East
Malling Research (EMR) and STC Research Foundation (STCRF) have signed an
agreement to provide integrated applied science resources to the
horticulture industry. The agreement was announced today, at a meeting of
partners at STC.
The
collaboration links these two industry-focussed organisations and their
resources both, to deliver new opportunities and solutions to horticultural
problems to growers, but also to give funders confidence to invest in a
stable expertise resource.
EMR and
STCRF are owned and governed by Boards of Trustees drawn from the
horticultural industries and whose aims are solely based around research and
knowledge transfer. The collaboration, agreed by these like-minded Boards,
will enable their staff to share and build a larger expertise base. This
will give future stability to the new grouping and enable new staff
expertise to be more confidently recruited.
The collaboration addresses some of the challenges laid
down by the National Horticultural Forum report prepared by Jamieson &
Associates.
“Your
letter to us informing of your agreement was met with considerable approval
by the Horticultural Development Company (HDC) Board. We are looking
forward to visiting East Malling in June for you to present areas where you
see the new joined up structures delivering added benefits to our levy
payers funding” said Neil Bragg, Chairman of HDC.
Sarah
Pettitt, Chair of the NFU Horticultural Board welcomed the development. “The
industry needs a focus like this to persuade Government to commit funding to
help us cope with damaging legislation which is based on dogma rather than
science such as the EU pesticide proposals - 91/414. We will be encouraging
our members to fully support this initiative which takes control of our
innovation facilities back under the ownership of growers”.
David
Gwyther said “The compact between STC and EMR is extremely good news for
Ornamental horticulture. It gives real hope that a R&D base for UK growers
can now be sustained, despite the substantial cutbacks in Government funding
of research and the devastating effects these are having on providers.
Maintaining this R&D base is essential if our industry is to survive. This
requires high quality technical innovation in order to both compete globally
and to deal with new legislation. “
Graham
Ward and Oliver Doubleday, respectively the Chairmen of STCRF and EMR, were
delighted that this ground breaking agreement had been achieved to bring
together specialist organisations to create a total horticultural focus and
resource for our scientists. ”We believe it offers a new stable
partnership, to bring together the various parts of research funding from
pure research to growers, for long term future delivery of innovation to the
industry “.
***ENDS***
______________________________________________________________
Notes for
Editors:
-
East Malling
Research
(EMR) is an independent provider of research
and consultancy serving the food chain and other sectors of the
land-based industry. EMR builds on 90 years experience of
successfully delivering cutting-edge research and development.
www.eastmallingresearch.com
-
STC Research
Foundation
is an industry owned and controlled technology transfer facility in
Yorkshire specialising in protected and field salads and vegetables ....
www.stc-nyorks.co.uk
-
Digital photograph
available showing Colin Gutteridge and Martin McPherson shaking hands on
the deal
For further information
please contact:
Communications Office,
EMR
Tel: +44 (0)1732 523723
Fax: 01732 849067
Email:
ursula.twomey@emr.ac.uk
STC Research Foundation
Tel:
+44(0)1757 268275
Fax:
+44(0)1757 268996
Email
AnnBlack@stc-nyorks.co.uk
Back to Press Releases
24 April 2009
Pear Today
Gone Tomorrow?
Unproductive old English pear orchards are being grubbed
at an alarming rate with many being replaced by apple orchards, which is
putting the UK’s favourite pear on the commercial ‘endangered list’.
However, there’s hope
for the British Conference pear industry and its ability to satisfy growing
public demand, thanks to Sainsbury’s, East Malling Research (EMR) and
Chingford Fruit Ltd, near Dartford, who have joined forces to create the
Sainsbury’s East Malling Concept Pear Orchard.
Using technology that
has transformed the Dutch pear growing industry, EMR is now home to a UK
first – an intensive pear orchard, which when established will deliver 55
tonnes per hectare compared to only 20-22 tonnes produced in traditional
orchards.
The
investment is part of Sainsbury’s pledge to increase English Top Fruit
production to meet its customers growing demand for British local produce.
Colin
Gutteridge, Chief Executive of EMR, said: “The
British Conference pear
industry is under serious threat as apples
mature and produce commercial crops in three to four years, unlike pears
which grown in traditional British systems take in the region of five to six
years. This new pear orchard will dramatically demonstrate how UK growers
can improve the commercial viability of homegrown Conference pears.
“By
increasing UK yields we will be able to reduce our dependence upon imports
and make significant environmental savings.”
The new
Sainsbury’s East Malling Concept Pear Orchard, planted early this year,
should produce its first fruits in 2010, compared to an orchard planted in a
traditional system, which is unlikely to fruit until 2015, and it should
produce nearly three times the yield of fruit.
Judith
Bachelar, Sainsbury’s Director of Brand said: “We sell more English apples
and pears than any other retailer so having an orchard of this kind means we
can make a massive difference to the availability of English pears to our
customers.
“Pears are hugely popular in the UK
with over 148 million pears sold per year in Sainsbury’s, the equivalent of
35 pears per customer per year. The Conference Pear variety is the UK’s
favorite pear, and at Sainsbury’s we sell 32.3% of British Conference Pears
grown, which is more than any other retailer.”
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.
The East
Malling Orchard will evaluate four different planting regimes (Traditional
bush, Multi V system, Double Head system, Single Stem ‘Run Thru’) and
demonstrate that it is possible to increase productivity per hectare in the
UK and make pear growing an attractive commercial proposition for the
English growers.
The orchard should demonstrate to
British growers which of the four growing techniques is most productive in
the British climate.
The initiative builds on the success
of Sainsbury’s original Concept Orchard launched in September 2006 followed
by Organic Concept Orchard launched in 2007. Both existing Concept Orchards
were designed to demonstrate that yields per hectare can be significantly
increased to meet increasing demand for British fruit
Dr Theresa Huxley, Sainsbury's
product technologist for pears, said: “This new Conference Pear Orchard
complements the Pear Sucker and Cherry and Plum DEFRA Link projects, both
looking at techniques to control key pest and diseases with minimal impact
on the environment, and towards which Sainsbury’s is financially
contributing.
“We are delighted that our Orchard is located at an
industry leading scientific research institute and look forward to using our
own commercial scale trial to showcase and share best practice from around
the world with British growers. It is another fantastic example of where
Sainsbury’s and its suppliers are investing in industry projects which make
a real difference to the British grower.”
Ends
For further press information contact:
·
Andrew Metcalf, Rachel Knight,
Maxim Tel: 01892 513033
·
Email: firstname@maxim-pr.co.uk
Back to Press Releases
1 May 2009
with
pic
FRUIT
EXPERTS WELCOME BEE RESEARCH
World
leading fruit experts in the heart of the Garden of England have welcomed
the announcement of £10 million to boost research to try and halt the
declining number of bees and other pollinating insects.
Scientists at East Malling Research, in Kent, are now hoping to work with
other UK researchers to bid for part of the funds to address current and
future pollination problems threatening apple, pear, cherry and plum
orchards.
The UK
has not yet suffered the colony collapse disorder experienced in North
America but the number of honeybees in the UK has fallen by 15 per cent in
the past two years. In addition, numbers of other pollinators, such as wild
bees, hoverflies and butterflies, also appear to be in decline.
The
research funding is being made available by the Government, which is working
in partnership with the
Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council (BBSRC), the Natural
Environment Research Council (NERC), the Wellcome Trust, the Scottish
Government and the Welsh Assembly Government.
Dr Michelle Fountain, an entomologist at East Malling
Research (EMR), is keen to see research progressed as quickly as possible to
avert a lack of successful pollination of fruit and other key crops –
threatening UK food security and leading to higher production costs and
price increases on the supermarket shelves.
She said: “The way bees are managed in the US is quite
different from the UK approach and, so far, the problems we are seeing with
honeybees here are not as dramatic as on the other side of the Atlantic.
“However, it is clear that our hives are being significantly
weakened with up to half of the UK managed honeybee colonies dying over the
winter – probably as result of a combination of complex factors, including a
variety of pest and diseases, loss of important natural floral resources,
and the inappropriate use of pesticides.
“While honeybees are very important for crop pollination we
also need a greater understanding of other potential managed and wild bee
pollinators.
“With top fruit, one of our key areas of expertise at East
Malling Research (EMR), it is possible that we could exploit the use of
solitary Mason bees with a system developed by Robin Dean, of CJ Wildbird
Foods, to enhance pollination in orchards.
“These bees are extremely effective at pollinating blossoms.
We often see them in our own gardens in early spring as they are more active
early in the season than honeybees.
“Working in partnership with complementary specialists at
other institutions, Dr Simon Potts, head of the Pollination Research group
at the University of Reading, and Robin Dean, of CJ Wildbird Foods, we can
investigate ways of increasing the numbers of solitary bees and other
naturally occurring pollinators in orchards in order to produce Class 1
fruit.
“Native bees thrive while pollinating our fruit trees but
they need other sources of pollen nearby to sustain them through the summer
months when the apple, cherry and pear blossom has long gone.
“By identifying more clearly the range of plants and habitats
these insects require, we will be able to assist fruit growers to manage
their hedgerows and broader landscapes to increase fruit pollination.”
ends
Caption:
Andrena flavipes,
one of
the ground nesting solitary bees, on a pear flower
[The
Andrena family have some really early emerging bees and are ideal
candidates as they are pollen collectors. The nest areas are relatively easy
to create in an artificial landscape]
Notes for
Editors:
-
East Malling Research
(EMR) is an independent provider of research and consultancy serving the
food chain and other sectors of the land-based industry. EMR builds on
90 years experience of successfully delivering cutting-edge research and
development
www.eastmallingresearch.com
-
University of Reading
is the UK's top University for impact in Agricultural Sciences – the
School of Agriculture, Policy and Development was ranked 8th in the
world in 2008 in agricultural sciences www.reading.ac.uk/apd
For
further media information and interview opportunities please contact:
Back to Press Releases
18 May 2009
HORTICULTURAL MANAGER APPOINTED AT EAST MALLING RESEARCH
East
Malling Research (EMR) has appointed Gary Saunders in the newly created role
of Horticultural Manager (Science). Gary will work closely with EMR’s Head
of Science, Farm Manager and science team leaders to facilitate new
scientific field activities and trialling.
Gary
will provide an important link between research scientists and field and
glasshouse staff as well as providing expertise and advice on current
commercial crop husbandry. He will also develop opportunities for EMR for
commercial trials and demonstration projects.
This
post will enable field-based research to be developed and allow EMR’s
commercial activities to be expanded, to deliver high quality plant trials
services, particularly within the fresh produce sector.
Gary is
an experienced horticulture manager and advisor with a strong commercial
focus and a track record in operations management and trials co-ordination.
A
scientist by training, Gary holds a BSc (Hons) in Horticulture from Wye
College University of London, where he received the IPPS prize for Best
Final Year Student. He also holds a post graduate diploma in soil science
and MPhil from Imperial where he studied soil and plant interactions.
Dr Chris
Atkinson, Head of Science at EMR said “It is very good news for EMR that
Gary has taken on this role. I’m looking forward to working with him to
develop and expand EMR’s ability to provide a wider range of trialling
services across the whole supply chain”.
Gary has
held positions as a Micropropagation Technologist at Notcutts Nurseries in
Woodbridge, Suffolk where he had sole responsibility for the day-to-day
operation of the Micropropagation Unit. He subsequently became Propagation
Growing Manager at Edward Vinson Plants in Faversham. Most recently Gary
held the position of Trials Co-ordinator and Advisor at Farm Advisory
Services Team (FAST) Ltd in Faversham where he was responsible for all
aspects of their trial programme.
Outside
work, Gary is a keen gardener and beekeeper who runs a 3 acre smallholding
in his spare time.
***ENDS***
Notes for Editors:
1.
East
Malling Research (EMR)
is an independent provider of research and
consultancy serving the food chain and other sectors of the land-based
industry. EMR builds on 90 years experience of successfully
delivering cutting edge research and development.
www.eastmallingresearch.com
2. Image: Gary
Saunders
For further information
please contact:
Communications Office
Tel : 01732 523723
Email :
ursula.twomey@emr.ac.uk
Fax : 01732 849067
East Malling Research, New Road, East Malling, Kent ME19 6BJ
Back to Press Releases
20 May 2009
Minister
Enjoys Fruitful Visit
A look behind the scenes at one of the UK’s most
important scientific research establishments was on the agenda when Jonathan
Shaw, Minister for the South East and MP for Chatham & Aylesford, visited
East Malling Research (EMR) last week.
Accepting an invitation
from EMR and the East Malling Trust for Horticulture Research, which is a
major funder of research of top fruit and soft fruit in the UK,
Jonathan Shaw had the opportunity to meet leading scientists in plant
breeding, entomology and water management.
Commenting on his visit, Jonathan Shaw said: “I
was pleased to have the opportunity to learn about the excellent work at
East Malling Research.”
During the visit the Minister saw how, through
scientific research, EMR had been able to reduce the amount of water used to
grow a tonne of strawberries from 50 tonnes to only 8 tonnes of water, which
has major implications, not just for UK growers but also producers in Spain
and southern Europe.
Oliver Doubleday, Chairman of EMR, said: “We were
delighted to have the opportunity to meet the Minister and showcase some of
the groundbreaking work being undertaken by our scientists. At a time when
the world is facing the challenge of a growing global population, increased
pressure on resources such as water, and the impact of climate change, the
scientific endeavours at EMR are even more important than ever.”
The tour also included the new intensive Conference Pear
orchard, developed at EMR, in partnership with
Sainsbury’s and Chingford Fruit Ltd. The
aim is to persuade British growers who have been grubbing up their
Conference Pear orchards at an alarming rate that the crop can be
commercially viable as the EMR orchard will increase yields from 20-22
tonnes per hectare to 55 tonnes per hectare.
ENDS
Caption:
Inspecting the Concept
Conference Pear Orchard. Left to right: Oliver Doubleday, EMR; Jonathan
Shaw MP and Minister for South East; Will Sibley, East Malling Trust
For further press information contact:
·
Andrew Metcalf, Rachel Knight,
Maxim Tel: 01892 513033
·
Email: andrew@maxim-pr.co.uk,
rachel@maxim-pr.co.uk
Back to Press Releases
8 June 2009
STUDENTS CHOOSE A TREE
FROM THE MALLING HERITAGE CENTRE
Students from The Malling School selected
a ‘family’ apple tree donated by the new ‘Malling Heritage’ plant centre at
East Malling Research (EMR), to plant in a garden that the students are
developing.
The tree
they chose has three varieties ‘Egremont Russet’, ‘Suntan’ and ‘Fiesta’
grafted to one rootstock, which makes it ideal for the school garden. This
tree will provide a continuing link to science and EMR, as two of the
varieties ‘Suntan’ and ‘Fiesta’ were bred at this world renowned centre of
R&D.
The
garden is being developed as part of an ASDAN course (see Editor’s Notes)
and the students are transforming a neglected corner of the car park into a
wildlife haven and vegetable patch.
Lisa
Estorffe, who manages the plant centre said “I am delighted that ‘Malling
Heritage’ can support this garden project designed to inspire learning
outside the classroom and offer a place for relaxation. ‘Malling Heritage’
was set up this year to celebrate over 90 years of fruit research by EMR’s
scientists and to provide another stream of income to support continuing
scientific research”.
Students
and teachers of all subjects will be encouraged to use the Garden to support
learning, including Science, PHSE, Art, Food Technology, and Geography.
There is also an after school gardening club working on the project.
Future plans include developing a variety of different habitats, a kitchen
garden, a wormery and composter, benches and willow sculpture. The ASDAN
teachers are confident the Garden will generate a desire to care for and
respect our environment.
The
‘Malling Heritage’ tree centre is part of Malling Fine, Food and Drink the
commercial sales arm of East Malling Research. Many tree fruit and
ornamental varieties on sale were bred at East Malling and feature
prominently within the 'Malling Heritage' range. Trees are available for
purchase from the Malling Heritage Centre from the Gatehouse at New Road
East Malling on Saturdays 11am - 3pm.
If
anybody would like to visit or offer help/donations for the Malling School
Garden please contact Val Thomas on the main school telephone number.
***ENDS***
Notes for Editors:
-
East Malling
Research (EMR)
is an independent provider of research and
consultancy serving the food chain and other sectors of the land-based
industry. EMR builds on 90 years experience of successfully
delivering cutting edge research and development.
www.eastmallingresearch.com
2.
Fine Food and Drink develops
and sells added value fruit and vegetable products to wholesalers and
retailers as well as processing fruit for use as ingredients. Much of the
fruit that we use is grown on our own farm and all profits from sales of
produce go to support research into fruit growing.
www.mallingfinefoodanddrink.co.uk
-
ASDAN
rewards learners’ success in a range of skills and settings from Entry
Level to University Entrance
www.asdan.org.uk
-
The Malling School,
Telephone 01732 840995. www.themallingschool.kent.sch.uk
For further information
please contact:
Chantelle Jay or Lisa
Estorffe
Tel: 01732 843833
Fax: 01732
849067
Email:
chantelle.jay@emr.ac.uk;
lisa.estorffe@emr.ac.uk
East Malling Research,
New Road, East Malling, Kent ME19 6BJ
Back to Press Releases
23 June 2009
with
pics available
Scientists Serve Up Winning Strawberry Formula
As the
nation sits down to watch Wimbledon 2009 and tucks into the quintessential
summer delight of strawberries and cream, how many people realise the impact
they are having on the environment.
Work
undertaken in Kent at East Malling Research, with funding from Defra and the
strawberry industry, has shown that it takes on average 70 tonnes of water
(70,000 litres) to produce 1 tonne (1,000 kg) of strawberries. This means
that each 250 gm punnet of strawberries requires 17.5 litres of water during
production.
Currently, some commercial strawberry growers can use up to 150 tonnes of
water (150,000 litres), per tonne of fruit. Much of the UK crop is produced
in areas already classified as under severe water stress and legislation put
in place to protect the environment will limit the availability of water for
irrigation in the future ’
However,
the good news is that now the East Malling scientists, recognised as world
leaders in developing and growing soft fruit, have been able to reduce
consumption per tonne of class 1 fruit to 10 tonnes of water while
maintaining commercial yields and growing sweeter berries. The amount of
vitamin C and other antioxidants was also improved which will benefit
consumers and help to improve berry shelf-life.
The
scientists have discovered that by measuring the soil’s moisture content and
the transpiration of the plants they can trick the plant into thinking it is
growing in dry soil.
As a
result, the roots send hormones signals to the shoots, telling them to
reduce leaf growth and water loss and put more resources, such as important
flavour compounds, into the developing fruit.
Mike
Solomon, Chief Executive of East Malling Research, said: “Not only does our
research present significant and tangible benefits for the nation’s
strawberry growers who produce in excess of 70,000 tonnes each year, but it
also reduces the environmental impact required to produce the fruit.”
At the
same time as developing more efficient water management techniques, the East
Malling scientists
lead the way in breeding new varieties of strawberry.
Working closely with the industry, East Malling Research has
released 17 new varieties, each designed to meet the needs of the growers in
terms of yield, time and time of harvest, since 1984. This year, more than
20 million individual strawberry plants developed from East Malling Research
varieties will be sold.
Mike
Solomon added: “Our water management expertise is also helping to reduce
water inputs and improve product quality in potatoes, ornamental shrubs and
potted flowering plants and herbs. This work has global significance and
could help many communities where irrigated crops are grown in areas of
restricted water availability.”
ENDS
For
further press information contact:
·
Andrew
Metcalf, Delphine Houlton, Maxim, Tel: 01892 513033
·
Email: andrew@maxim-pr.co.uk,
delphine@maxim-pr.co.uk
Back to Press Releases
15
July 2009
With pics available
PLANT EXPERTS IN
FRONTLINE BID TO COMBAT MALARIA
Plant experts at East Malling Research in
the heart of Kent are at the centre of a global drive to save more than one
million lives each year and the UK countryside could soon feature fields of
a new crop dedicated to treating malaria.
It is estimated that there are more than
400 million malaria infections and more than one million deaths from the
mosquito-spread disease annually in 109 countries. Up to 80 per cent of the
deaths are in Africa alone with the poor, women and children under five
years old most severely affected. Furthermore, people weakened by malaria
become susceptible to many other diseases and infections such as HIV/AIDS.
The financial impact of the disease on
individual households and countries is dramatic and economists have
suggested that the annual net benefit of eliminating just half of the
malaria in Africa between 2002 and 2015 could be up to $35 billion.
In many places, treatments used for the
mosquito-spread disease developed to replace quinine are rapidly becoming
ineffective, as the disease has developed drug resistance. It has also
recently been identified that a potentially fatal variant of the disease,
previously noted in monkeys, is now affecting humans.
The solution to this major international
problem seems to lie in a rather insignificant looking weed. If the promise
of the East Malling Research programme is realised, newly bred stock of this
plant may become a common sight in fields across the country.
In the 1970s a Chinese pharmacopeia,
dating from 340AD, was discovered which included a recipe for a tea to treat
fever made from the dried leaves of Artemisia annua (Sweet Wormwood).
Researchers quickly discovered and
described the chemical structure of Artemisinin –
the active ingredient in the yellow-flowered scented plant, which is native
to Asia but now widely naturalised.
Artemisinin is mainly concentrated in the
hairy fern-like leaves, stem and clusters of flowers in the newer growth of
the annual weedy plant, which stands about two metres high.
Discovery of its effectiveness in treating
malaria was heralded as a major breakthrough. Just five years ago Ethiopia
made an Artemisinin-based treatment its first line of defence against
malaria. This proved 100 per cent effective when used correctly replacing a
previous drug treatment with a 36 per cent failure rate.
With such a powerful treatment available,
demand for Artemisinin has increased dramatically from 2 million treatment
courses in 2003 to 200 million for 2010.
The World Health Organisation is
determined to make high quality Artemisinin far more widely available.
However, Artemisia annua grown in parts of Africa as a cash crop has failed
to produce the levels of Artemisinin required while production in parts of
Asia has often fallen short of World Health Organisation specifications.
In a bid to meet escalating demand and
improve the quality of Artemisinin available, a major research project
sponsored by Defra through the Renewable Materials LINK Programme and a
consortium of scientific and commercial specialists, was launched with East
Malling Research.
The £900,000 four-year project is taking
advantage of East Malling Research’s world-leading experts in horticulture
and plant management to assist in the wider-scale, commercial production of
what is, in essence, a wild plant.
Other consortium partners are focusing on
the successful extraction of Artemisinin from the plant material as well as
techniques of converting Artemisia annua from a horticultural “plug plant”
to an agricultural field crop with mechanised seed drilling and harvesting.
The East Malling team, led by Dr Chris
Atkinson, has been conventionally breeding some of cultivars of Artemisia
annua to produce stronger stock plants better suited to the variability
of the UK climate, maximise the density of vegetation to each plant,
standardise harvesting times and maximise seed production.
The team is using their detailed
understanding of the biological mechanisms within plants and how
environments can be manipulated to standardise not only the propagation and
growth of individual plants but also the chemical constituent Artemisinin in
specific parts of the plant. This will maximise the production and retention
of key components such as Artemisinin.
The research and development consortium
has seen the East Malling Research working
alongside Botanical Developments Limited (Lead), Frontier agriculture
Limited, Humber VHB Limited, De Montfort University, and NIAB (National
Institute of Agricultural Botany).
The consortium has succeeded in breeding
plants with almost double the quantity of Artemisinin previously recorded
and successful field trials in southern England were completed in 2008 with
over 200 hectares having been grown in total.
In addition, new techniques to extract and
purify Artemisinin from the plant material are being developed by Kent based
consortium partner Botanical Developments Ltd.
Colin Hill, consortium chairman, said:
“The extraction levels are looking highly positive achieving 80 per cent
plus of pure Artemisinin which I do not believe has been achieved
commercially before.
“We have demonstrated that, with the new
breeding stock, parent plants and field trials, Artemisia annua is capable
of being an industrial pharmaceutical crop for production within the UK. We
can really help meet the growing demand for Artemisinin to tackle malaria,
which blights the lives of so many people worldwide.
“As a result of our work with Artemisia
annua, we have developed new scientific and technological approaches to
pharmaceutical and industrial crop production which will be of benefit to
other plants and applications.
“Commercial production of Artemisia
annua and delivering Artemisinin worldwide is within our sights. We have
achieved so much but there are still a number of questions our research has
raised which need answering before commercial production can be properly
established.
“When this current project ends in 2010 we
will be aiming to move forward with further research to improve the
establishment of drilled seed, weed control during the early growth stages
and harvesting techniques.
“It will cost approximately £400,000 to
complete this work and we will be seeking further partnerships and investors
to help us achieve our goal of establishing a new crop in the UK and helping
resolve one of the biggest health problems the world faces.”
Factfiles
Malaria
-
Around 400 million
cases of malaria worldwide each year – the vast majority in developing
countries, sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia
-
In Africa a child dies
from Malaria every 30 seconds
-
Malaria is spread by
infected female anopholes mosquitoes biting people
-
Microscopic malaria
parasites mix with mosquito saliva and are injected into a person when
they bite
-
Five types of malaria
parasite infect humans -
Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae, P.knowlesi
(Monkey malaria)
-
There is no malaria vaccine available
Artemisia annua
-
Also known as Sweet
Wormwood, Sweet Annie, Sweet Sagewort or Annual Wormwood
-
Clusters of yellow,
camphor-scented flowers on single stems with fern-like leaves
-
Traditionally used in
herbal medicines to treat chills and fevers
-
The anti-malarial
substance Artemisinin was identified in 1972
-
There are suggestions
that Artemisinin may also be helpful in the treatment of some forms of
breast cancer, prostate cancer and leukaemia – research is ongoing
-
Artemisia stems,
marinated in rice vinegar, are served as a salad in some parts of China
and considered a delicacy – more expensive than meat
Research
-
£900,000 funding for
four years was made available in 2006 by Defra, Botanical Developments,
Frontier Agriculture Ltd, East Malling Research, Humber VHB, National
Institute of Agricultural Botany, De Montfort University and the
National Artemisia Collection
-
The project has
demonstrated that: high quality Artemisinin can be extracted from newly
bred Artemisia annua suitable for the UK climate; these plants
contain twice the normal levels of Artemisinin; Artemisia annua
can be established as a field crop with seed drilling and co-ordinated
harvesting.
-
The next steps are to
seek partners and investors for a shorter research programme, costing
around £400,000, to improve further seed drilling, weed control and
harvesting techniques
East Malling Research
-
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 customers include:
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,
commercial companies, EU, retailers, growers, levy bodies and Research
Councils (EMR is affiliated to the
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council)
-
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 about EMR visit www.emr.ac.uk
FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION OR TO ARRANGE A VISIT PLEASE CONTACT:
Back to Press Releases
28
July 2009
Government
Minister Sees Fruits of Scientists’ Labours
East Malling Research
(EMR) was at the heart of the debate on how the UK can produce a greater
share of the fruit and vegetables that it consumes every year, when the Kent
research establishment welcomed Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for
Department of Environment, Farming & Rural
Affairs (Defra).
Already keen to accept
an earlier invitation from EMR and the East Malling Trust for Horticulture
Research, Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Defra, took the chance
to look behind the scenes at the groundbreaking scientific research being
undertaken in Kent, before opening a fruit
and vegetable forum.
The Fruit & Vegetable
Round Table event at EMR, was hosted
by Defra and attended by seniors representatives from growers, industry
bodies, food marketing bodies, independent and multiple retailers, research
organisations and government agencies.
First stop on his whistle stop tour was the scientific
breakthrough by EMR which has made it possible to reduce the amount of water
used to grow a tonne of grade 1 strawberries from 70 tonnes to only 10
tonnes of water, while also improving the taste and increasing the levels of
antioxidants and Vitamin C in the berries. The work has major implications,
not just for UK growers but also fruit and vegetable producers in Spain,
southern Europe and China.
A key focus of the round
table event was on how as a nation the UK could increase its average daily
intake of fruit and vegetables from the current 2.8 portions a day to the
target of 5 portions a day. According to the government, the current
shortfall costs the NHS an estimated £6bn per year and accounts for 42,000
premature deaths every year.
Oliver Doubleday, Chairman of EMR, said: “We were
delighted to have the opportunity to show the Secretary of State and
colleagues from Defra, some of the exciting science being undertaken here.
“Scientific research needs to be at the heart of the
debate about how we are able to produce more, reduce our dependence on
imports and also persuade more people to consume British grown fruit and
vegetables. We are perfectly placed to enhance production by improving the
viability and yields of crops as the climate changes, but also tackling
pests while greatly reducing the need for pesticides.
“However, EMR’s work is also important in ensuring that
consumers can be persuaded to eat more locally produced fruit and vegetables
by tackling the issues of storage and appearance, and enhancing the
nutritional values as we’ve shown in many fruits.”
During the visit, Professor Jerry Cross showed the
Secretary of State how EMR had helped to crack the sex pheromone code of the
European Tarnished Plant (ETP) bug in partnership with the Natural Resources
Institute at the University of Greenwich, and safeguard the crop for many
strawberry growers. One bug is able to deform the crop of 40 strawberry
plants making production uneconomical. The research has developed the first
pheromone lure and trap for the male ETP bug, and the first for this group
of bugs anywhere in the world.
Jerry Cross said: “By cracking the code, which has cost
the strawberry industry millions of pounds in crop damage over the last 20
years, we can now help improve the profitability of local growers but also
reduce the need for broad spectrum pesticides which kill beneficial bugs as
well as the ETP pest. Importantly, EMR is now well placed to help tackle
similar pests damaging other crops around the world, such as cotton and
alfalfa.”
The tour included the new intensive Conference Pear
orchard, developed at EMR, in partnership with
Sainsbury’s and Chingford Fruit Ltd. The
aim is to persuade British growers who have been grubbing up their
Conference Pear orchards at an alarming rate that the crop can be
commercially viable as the EMR orchard will increase yields from 20-22
tonnes per hectare to 55 tonnes per hectare.
Throughout the
roundtable event there was a broad recognition of the need to strengthen the
UK’s research capability but also ensure that the country’s growers can tap
into the scientific knowledge that already exists in order to improve their
performance and profitability.
ENDS
Caption:
L-R: Dr Ian Graham-Bryce,
Chairman of East Malling Trust
for Horticultural Research,
Rt Hon
Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Defra, and Oliver
Doubleday Chairman of East Malling Research.
For further press information contact:
·
Andrew Metcalf, Maxim Tel: 01892
513033
·
Email: andrew@maxim-pr.co.uk
Back to Press Releases
COUNTRYFILE VISITS EMR
With issues such as food security and climate change
increasingly in the news, research at EMR is more important than ever. Jules
Hudson from BBC's Countryfile gets an insight into how EMR's scientists are
hoping to address these issues in the future. He finds out how we can waste
less water on irrigation and how we can produce higher yields and longer
growing seasons.
Click here to review the programme on BBC iPlayer or log on to
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00ml704/Countryfile_06_09_2009
Back to Press Releases
GARDENERS' QUESTION TIME
4 September 2009
Matthew Biggs from BBC 4's Gardeners' Question Time
visited Fruit Focus in July this year and spoke to EMR's Mark Else, Graham
Caspell, Jerry Cross and Neil Hipps about EMR and how their research will
benefit growers and help to ensure Britain's food supply and tackle climate
change.
Visit BBC
iPlayer to listen again.
Back to Press Releases
15 October 2009
‘SECURING A SAFE AND
SUSTAINABLE UK FOOD SUPPLY’
Members’ day at East
Malling
With
recent media coverage of food security in mind the East Malling Research
Association (EMRA), will host a meeting on the important topic of ‘Securing
a safe and sustainable UK food supply’ on 27 October 2009 at the East
Malling Conference Centre.
EMRA
have invited speakers from many and varied areas of expertise to take a
practical look at the issues involved in supplying fresh produce. Subjects
like food security, health and successful waste management are currently
making headlines around the world. Through this event we hope to shed light
on what we understand about these issues and what science has to offer the
grower and others involved in the food industry.
Topics
which will be covered at this event include:
-
Food security and
climate change – Dr Chris Atkinson (EMR)
-
Breeding strawberries
for improved quality and reduced waste – Adam Whitehouse (EMR)
-
Reducing fresh produce
waste – Andrew Parry (WRAP)
-
Phytochemicals in
berries and their effects on health and disease prevention – Dr Gordon
McDougall (SCRI)
-
Food borne pathogens
and fresh produce – Linda Nicolaides (Natural Resources Institute)
-
The environment and
pesticide residues – Prof. Jerry Cross (EMR)
-
Promoting assured fresh
produce production through the Assured Produce/Red Tractor scheme –
David Clarke (Food
Standards Agency)
-
Using quality compost
in the field – Martin Wood (WRAP)
-
Bees and Food Security
– Robin Dean (Red Beehive)
Dr Chris Atkinson, Head of Science at EMR
said “We are excited about the diverse content of this timely event and look
forward to some interesting discussion of a wide range of factors in this
important area of food security.”
East
Malling Research (EMR) has long been at the cutting edge of fruit and edible
crops research. With its industry connections and collaborative work it is
ideally placed to explore the possible problems and pitfalls of maintaining
a sustainable fresh food supply in the UK.
“Securing a safe and sustainable UK Food
supply” begins at 10.00am and finishes at 4.00pm. The cost, including lunch
will be £10 for EMRA members and students or £20 for non-members. The event
will be registered for BASIS and NRoSO points.
For more information and booking forms,
please contact Penny Greeves or Barbara Walsh, Telephone 01732 843833 or
Barbara Walsh, telephone 01732 843833 or e-mail
penny.greeves@emr.ac.uk;
www.eastmallingresearch.com
***ENDS***
Notes for Editors:
-
East Malling
Research
(EMR) is an independent provider of research
and consultancy serving the food chain and other sectors of the
land-based industry. EMR builds on 90 years experience of
successfully delivering cutting-edge research and development.
www.eastmallingresearch.com
-
East Malling
Research Association
(EMRA) is the principle conduit for the dissemination of knowledge and
information from East Malling Research. EMRA is a subscription-based
organisation whose constituency currently includes growers,
horticultural advisors, land owners, food producers, retailers,
researchers and agricultural manufacturers.
www.emra.org.uk
For further information
please contact:
Communications Office
Tel: 01732 523723 (DD)/843833
Email:
penny.greeves@emr.ac.uk
Fax: 01732 849067
East Malling Research, New Road, East Malling, Kent ME19 6BJ
Back to Press Releases
15 October 2009
Funding for
Crop Protection Research Welcomed
News that the government
is to invest £13m in scientific research to increase UK food production and
help reduce its environmental impact, has been welcomed by horticultural
experts at East Malling Research.
The government's
Technology Strategy Board (TSB) has announced a research and development
funding competition focusing on crop protection. The aim is to help improve
the productivity and environmental performance of the UK's growers of arable
and horticulture, forage and non-food crops by funding collaborative
research projects between scientists and industry.
Based in Kent, the
scientific team at East Malling Research will be bidding for the funding.
They are recognised as international crop protection leaders, thanks to
their work on pest and disease management, including disease-resistant crops
and novel and non-chemical approaches to pest prevention.
Dr Chris Atkinson, Head of
Science at East Malling Research, said: “This is clear and positive evidence
that the government has listened to the concerns raised by the industry that
our failure to develop new crop protection tools would leave UK crops
vulnerable to pests and diseases. The news that the government is placing
crop protection at the heart of the scientific agenda recognising the need
to safeguard UK production is important, and to be welcomed.”
The scientists, and
horticulture industry, have collectively voiced their concerns over the
withdrawal of key crop protection tools, such as certain pesticides, due to
changes in EU regulations. These changes coincide with the growing impact of
climate change which is enabling many of our current pests to reproduce in
greater numbers thanks to milder winters. The scientists are also
anticipating the appearance of new pests and diseases in response to climate
change in general, which will have implications for UK food production.
Dr Chris Atkinson
continued: “Our work in developing sustainable, environmental and consumer
friendly innovative crop protection strategies, such as that on pheromones
to attract and trap harmful bugs, is going to be vital over the coming
years. At the heart of the announcement is the need to secure industry
matched funding and we hope that, despite the current economic downturn,
this can be achieved.”
The TSB announcement has
been welcomed by East Malling Trust for Horticulture Research, which is the
UK¹s largest private funder of fruit research.
Dr Ian Graham-Bryce,
Chairman of the Trust, said: “This is excellent news and comes at a time
when there is a real danger that funding for vital research, which underpins
the nation’s ability to feed itself and adapt to the implications of climate
change, is seriously under threat. With DEFRA withdrawing direct funding for
EMR early next year, we would have become the largest funder of the
scientific work undertaken at East Malling, a situation which is not
sustainable.”
A total of £7m of the £13m
funding will be delivered by the TSB with the Department for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) adding £3.5m and the Biotechnology and
Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) providing £2.5m.
Dr Ian Graham-Bryce
concluded: “Bringing together funding from the TSB along with that from
DEFRA and BBSRC has to be welcomed as this should help improve the flow of
innovation founded upon fundamental research, which can then be applied to
protect crops for the benefit of the growers, consumers and the
environment.”
The competition, which is
open to all UK-based companies and research organisations either through
business-to-business or science-to-business collaborations, will start
taking entries in January 2010 with successful applicants being notified
early in June.
ENDS
For further information contact:
Andrew Metcalf,
Maxim Tel: 01892 513033 E-mail: andrew@maxim-pr.co.uk
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
Back to Press Releases
23 October 2009
EMR Scientist Makes House
Call
The future for UK
horticulture research and its impact on our ability to increase domestic
production was the focus of a major presentation given to the All Party
Parliamentary Group on Science and Technology in Agriculture by the head of
science at East Malling Research.
Chris Atkinson of East
Malling Research (EMR) was joined at the House of Commons by Neil Bragg,
Chief Executive of the Horticultural Development Company, and Professor
Simon Bright, Director of Warwick-HRI.
The All Party Group,
chaired by Rt Hon. Jane Kennedy MP, former Minister responsible for science
at Defra, brings together MPs from both sides of the House of Commons to
improve the understanding of the role of science and technology in 21st
century agriculture, but also to identify any policy, knowledge-based or
regulatory barriers to its adoption.
Dr Chris Atkinson said:
“The future of horticultural research in the UK is a hot topic at the moment
given the increasing interest in how we, as a nation, are going to adapt to
the impact of climate change in terms of what we can produce.
What is very clear is the
need for all involved, whether it is the government, industry or the
scientific community, to collaborate and agree a common way forward. If we
don’ then our ability to produce what we need will be seriously undermined.”
Dr Atkinson’ presentation
concluded that food industry R&D was a priority requirement, along with a
reversion in the decline of training and education within the agriculture
sector as a whole. He also listed the importance of the need for long-term
investment in R&D programmes and the capital investment to maintain
facilities which had previously been provided by Defra.
Speaking after the
meeting, Rt Hon Jane Kennedy MP, said: “ood security is our most basic human
need, and continued advances in agricultural science and technology will be
essential to feed a rapidly increasing world population in the face of
climate change and limited natural resources such as land and water.
There is increased
recognition among politicians that renewed public investment in research of
practical benefit to agriculture and food production is needed.”
The All Party Group
meeting coincides with a call by the Royal Society for £200m per year for
the next 10 years to be invested in agricultural and horticultural research
to meet the food needs of the world’ growing population.
The Society’
report,(Reaping the Benefits: Science and the Sustainable Intensification of
Global Agriculture) highlights the need to improve irrigation-water
management, and comparative genomics - analysing genes responsible for key
traits and marker-assisted selection to speed up the development of new
varieties, all of which are areas of specialism at EMR.
ENDS
For further press
information contact:
Back to Press Releases
Back to Home page
17 November 2009
EMRA TREE FRUIT DAY AND AMOS MEMORIAL LECTURE
East
Malling Conference Centre
Tuesday 24 November 2009
The East Malling Research Association (EMRA)
is hosting a technical day next week on Tree Fruits in which scientists from
East Malling Research (EMR) will provide practical advice or elucidate the
results from a diverse range of current projects covering pest and disease,
agronomy and fruit production research.
Topics will include:
-
Apple zero residue production: optimism versus reality - Dr Angela
Berrie
-
Optimum treatment timing to reduce overwintering codling moth
populations - Prof. Jerry Cross
-
Using pheromones to monitor capsids in UK fruit crops - Dr Michelle
Fountain
-
Fruit maturity in relation to infection by Nectria in Bramley - Dr
Xiangming Xu
-
Overview of apple fingerprinting of the National Fruit Collection -
Felicidad Fernandez
-
Improving water use efficiency in apple rootstocks - Dr Olga Grant
-
Using quality compost in apple production: does it affect soil
biodiversity and crop growth? - Dr Jean Fitzgerald
-
Developing biocontrol methods and their integration in sustainable pest
and disease management in plum and cherry production - John
Leigh-Pemberton and Prof. Jerry Cross
Directly following the EMRA Tree Fruit Day, the 2009
Amos Memorial Lecture entitled
"The
Origin of the Apple" will be
delivered by world-renowned scientist Dr Barrie Juniper from the University
of Oxford.
Dr Juniper will provide a general history
of the evolution and spread of the apple and explain why the familiar large,
sweet, cultivated apple is so different in size and taste from the fruit of
other wild apple species. He will have a particular mention for Bramley’s
Seedling, in this the year of its 200th anniversary.
Barrie Juniper, is an
Emeritus Reader at the University of Oxford and Emeritus Fellow of St
Catherine’s College, Oxford. He is a pioneer in the study of plant
surfaces, including the specialised ones of insect-catching carnivorous
plants. His research interests also include the interaction between people,
their animals, and the evolution of crop plants. He is the co-author of
‘The Story of the Apple’.
The Lecture will fascinate
anyone who wishes to know more about the origin and natural history of
apples including gardeners, researchers, students, and anyone with an
interest in diet, well-being, and the benevolent effects of plants on the
emergence of humankind.
The Amos 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 EMRA Tree Fruit Day begins at 10.15 am
and finishes at 2.30pm. Cost, including lunch will be £10 for EMRA members
and students or £20 for non-members. The event will be registered for BASIS
and NRoSO points. The Amos Memorial Lecture will follow at 3pm and is free
of charge.
For more information or to book these
events, please contact Ursula Twomey, Telephone 01732 843833 or e-mail
ursula.twomey@emr.ac.uk,
www.eastmallingresearch.com; EMR, New Road, East Malling, Kent ME19 6BJ.
***ENDS***
Notes for Editors:
-
East Malling
Research
(EMR) is an independent provider of research
and consultancy serving the food chain and other sectors of the
land-based industry. EMR builds on 90 years experience of
successfully delivering cutting-edge research and development.
www.eastmallingresearch.com
-
East Malling
Research Association
(EMRA) is the principle conduit for the dissemination of knowledge and
information from East Malling Research. EMRA is a subscription-based
organisation whose constituency currently includes growers,
horticultural advisors, land owners, food producers, retailers,
researchers and agricultural manufacturers.
www.emra.org.uk
For further information
please contact:
Communications Office
Tel: 01732 523723 (DD)/843833
Email:
ursula.twomey@emr.ac.uk
Fax: 01732 849067
East Malling Research, New Road, East Malling, Kent ME19 6BJ
Back to Press Releases
 7
December 2009
7 December 2009
SCIENTISTS PUT NATIONAL FRUIT COLLECTIONS TO THE TEST
Fruit specialists at
East Malling Research have successfully completed the DNA fingerprinting of
more than 2,200 apple and 500 pear trees in the National Fruit Collection.
The fingerprinting at
East Malling Research (EMR) has been led by Felicidad Fernández, a molecular
geneticist and plant breeder. Ms Fernández and her team will be publishing
their results next year.
The National Fruit
Collection at Brogdale, near Faversham, is owned by Defra (the Department
for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs). It is a living record of the
country’s horticultural heritage and a valuable genetic resource for
breeding programmes aiming to improve fruit quality and adapt fruit growing
to meet the challenges of climate change and the need for sustainable
production.
Working with European
Collaborative Programme for Crop Genetic Resources, the EMR team has
identified a number of suitable genetic markers enabling them to reliably
distinguish between cultivars.
The unique fingerprint
of each specimen in the collection is revealed using DNA extracted from leaf
samples through a technique called polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in
combination with a semi-automated Genetic Analyser. Computer software then
enables the fingerprints to be compared to identify any duplicate cultivars
within the collection.
More than 40 duplicates
have been identified so far in the pears of the National Fruit Collection.
These include synonyms such as ‘Jean de Witte’ and ‘Blickling’, and
‘Southworth’ and ‘Vermont Beauty’ as well as an accession wrongly introduced
as ‘Achan’ that has turned out to be ‘Autumn Bergamot’.
Duplicates in the apple
collections from Brogdale are also likely to be uncovered when all the data
from the orchards have been processed.
Ms Fernández said: “The
curators of the National Fruit Collection will have to make decisions about
duplicates in maintaining our definitive horticultural heritage.
“Genetic fingerprinting
and analysis is a major breakthrough. Identifying individual cultivars in
the past was a very difficult, very time-consuming task and only a handful
of people ever gained the knowledge and expertise to do it successfully.
“The DNA markers which
have now been established across Europe will be extremely important for the
horticultural industry and the licensing of varieties of fruit as well as
the correct identification of rootstocks when, for example, orchards are
being planted.”
Ms Fernández and the
EMR team also undertake commercial fingerprinting for growers, propagators
and breeders of a wide range of fruits including apple, pear, cherry,
strawberry and raspberry.
ends
East Malling Research
-
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 customers include:
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,
commercial companies, EU, retailers, growers, levy bodies and Research
Councils (EMR is affiliated to the
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council)
-
EMR is currently engaged in eight HORTLINK projects
including integrated pest and disease management, optimising water use
and using plants as soil biofumigants
-
For further information about EMR visit www.emr.ac.uk
For further media
information or to arrange a visit please contact:
Back to Press Releases
26 January 2010
CHILL REALITY OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE
GARDEN OF ENGLAND
Potential interviewees:
Chris Atkinson Head of Science at East Malling
Research
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 7oC, 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. “
ends
For
further media information or to arrange an interview/site visit, please
contact:
East Malling Research
-
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
customers include:
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,
commercial companies, EU, retailers, growers, levy bodies and Research
Councils (EMR is affiliated to the
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council)
-
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
about EMR visit www.eastmallingresearch.com
Back to Press Releases
2 February
2010
NEW STUDY OF BEEKEEPING PRACTICES
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.
To find more information and to take part
in the study go to
www.pspq.com/beestudy,
alternatively contact Alan Worley on 020 3102 8137
or e-mail
alan.worley@peoplescienceandpolicy.com
***ENDS***
Notes for Editors:
-
East Malling
Research
(EMR) is an independent provider of research
and consultancy serving the food chain and other sectors of the
land-based industry. EMR builds on 90 years experience of
successfully delivering cutting-edge research and development.
www.eastmallingresearch.com
-
People Science and
Policy
is an independent public policy consultancy that specialises in science
and society issues.
www.peoplescienceandpolicy.com
-
Honey bees
differ from
bumble bees and solitary bees in that they produce honey which is kept
as a winter food store for the colony. Honey bees are social insects
with three castes, the queen bee, workers and male drones which have a
complex infrastructure in the hive. Although the queen bee is generally
the only reproductive female in the colony, there may be between 30,000
and 50,000 worker bees, also females, in the active season. The male
drones are seen in the spring when new queens fly and mating occurs.
-
Beekeeping
is an ancient practice. One of the obvious benefits is the collection of
honey, which has even been depicted in cave paintings. Other products
include beeswax, pollen, propolis (which is a resinous mixture thought
to have health properties) and royal jelly. Bee farmers manage large
numbers of hives at a commercial or semi-commercial level, either for
revenue from bee products, and/or for hire for pollination purposes.
Beekeeping also makes a fascinating hobby, which has seen an upsurge at
an amateur level in 2009.
-
Department for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
www.defra.gov.uk
-
Healthy Bees Plan.
For more
information please see http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/growing/bees/index.htm.
-
Welsh Assembly
Government.
www.wales.gov.uk
For further information
please contact:
Dr Chantelle Jay
Tel: 01732 843833
Email: chantelle.jay@emr.ac.uk
Fax: 01732 849067
East Malling Research, New Road, East Malling, Kent ME19 6BJ
Back to Press Releases
5 February 2010
Restructuring at East Malling
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.”
ENDS
For further information please contact:
·
Andrew Metcalf, Maxim Tel: 01892 513033
E-mail: Andrew@maxim-pr.co.uk
East Malling Research
-
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 customers include:
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,
commercial companies, EU, retailers, growers, levy bodies and Research
Councils (EMR is affiliated to the
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council)
-
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
about EMR, visit www.eastmallingresearch.com
Back to Press Releases
8 February 2010
PEAR
GROWING FOR THE FUTURE
25 February 2010
East Malling Conference
Centre
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 programme for the event includes the
following:
·
The
UK pear market and industry Adrian Barlow,
English Apples and Pears Ltd
·
Retailer / customer perspective Theresa Huxley,
Sainsbury’s PLC
·
Improving pear growing at A. Scripps Ltd James Simpson,
A. Scripps Ltd
·
Limiting factors in UK pear growing Tim Biddlecombe,
FAST Ltd
·
The
economics of intensive pear production Wouter van Teeffelen,
WTE Fruitadvies, NL
·
The
Concept Pear Orchard Francis Wheatley,
Chingford Fruit Ltd
Henk Nooteboom,
Verbeek Nursery, 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
·
Pear
sucker research Jerry Cross,
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
***ENDS***
Notes for Editors:
-
East Malling
Research
(EMR) is an independent provider of research
and consultancy serving the food chain and other sectors of the
land-based industry. EMR builds on 90 years experience of
successfully delivering cutting-edge research and development.
www.eastmallingresearch.com
-
English Apples and
Pears Ltd
is a limited registered company formed in 1990 to
organise and develop the promotion of the English industry. The Company
acts as a trade association, to promote and safeguard the interests of
its members, all of whom are English growers, and to promote English
grown apples and pears.
www.englishapplesandpears.co.uk
-
J Sainsbury PLC.
Sainsbury's Supermarkets is the UK's longest standing major food
retailing chain, having opened its first store in 1869. The Sainsbury's
brand is built upon a heritage of providing customers with healthy,
safe, fresh and tasty food. Quality and fair prices go hand-in-hand with
a responsible approach to business. Sainsbury’s stores have a particular
emphasis on fresh food and we strive to innovate continuously and
improve products in line with customer needs.
www.j-sainsbury.co.uk
-
Photograph of East
Malling Concept Pear Orchard available on request.
For further information
please contact:
Ursula Twomey or Penny greeves
Tel:
01732 843833
Email:
ursula.twomey@emr.ac.uk; penny.greeves@emr.ac.uk
Fax:
01732 849067
East Malling Research, New Road, East Malling, Kent ME19 6BJ
Back to Press Releases
17 February 2010
With
pic (2)
SCIENTISTS JOIN FORCES TO BOOST CHERRY AID
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.
ends
Captions:
Light brown apple
moth damage to cherry fruit
Cherry black fly
East Malling Research
·
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
customers include:
Department for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, commercial companies, EU,
retailers, growers, levy bodies and Research Councils (EMR is affiliated to
the
Biotechnology and
Biological Sciences Research Council)
·
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 about EMR visit www.eastmallingresearch.com
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
Back to Press Releases
|
