AHDB launch four new Strategic Centres for field vegetable crops
Field vegetable producers are set to benefit from four new centres that will demonstrate the latest horticultural research in practice
Launched this year, the centres will showcase the latest ideas, science and technology to improve integrated pest management (IPM) strategies.
Located across the UK the demonstration sites will specifically focus on carrots, peas, onions and brassicas.
They will build on the success of AHDB’s variety trial programme, which has been running for over 20 years, by expanding to incorporate grower-led research trials.
Dr Dawn Teverson, Knowledge Exchange Manager at AHDB, said: “This is a great opportunity for us to show research in practice to encourage the industry to adopt new ideas. And it’s also an important way for us to work in partnership with growers to run demonstration trials showcasing solutions to the issues and challenges that are most pressing for them.”
Trials in the four centres will cover a range of topics to support IPM programmes, including; timing fungicide applications based on disease monitoring and forecasting, testing novel plant protection products, and developing an app to create UK pest distribution maps.
In addition to the established variety evaluation trials that are prized and trusted by the industry, further trials for 2019 include drilling depths and crop establishment for carrots and crop spacing to produce the required bulb size for onions.
The variety trials, funded by AHDB, provide independent performance evaluation of yield, quality, shelf-life and storage potential.
New varieties help to improve the continuity of supply to supermarkets, so shoppers can continue to have great quality products available for more of the year.
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