The Growers’ Better Levy Group (GBLG) is calling for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to support a grower managed research agency run by growers following the ballot on the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB) statutory levy for horticulture and potato growers.

Made up of a voluntary group of 36 highly influential, independent and representative business operators in the horticulture and potato sectors, the group believes in a future with a collaborative approach to innovation, research and development, as well as knowledge exchange and connecting researchers to growers.

“The aim of the group is to ensure a healthy and sustainable UK horticultural industry within which businesses can thrive,” said Martin Emmett, an ornamental grower.

“We feel that our proposed way forward on how R&D is conducted for the industry is the right approach and has the support of all 36 businesses involved, as well as a number of research organisations and grower groups.”

Priority areas

The group has outlined all the priority areas of critical Innovation, Research & Development required by the UK’s horticulture and potato sectors and has also defined how a grower-run R&D investment board might operate.

The group chair, Phil Pearson, group development director at APS Group, added:

“We have met Victoria Prentis from Defra and explained that we want to see the green light, and Defra’s support for, an independent, grower-managed research agency funded by an investment levy.

"The R&D would be directed by an elected, independent board of representative growers who would decide on research priorities and projects, in consultation with the wider industry, including businesses and grower associations.”