James Moffatt Joins AHDB Horticulture Panel

AHDB Horticulture welcomes nine new panel members.

Starting in January 2018 for a three-year term, the new panel members will provide advice to help AHDB Horticulture’s strategy and help assess and plan research projects.

James Durnford of Allensmore Nurseries, Edward Holmes of J & A Growers, Gary Woodruffe of Bordon Hill Nurseries, Andrew Fuller of Neame Lea and James Moffatt of James Coles are new AHDB ornamentals nursery stock panel members.

Moffatt said: “In order to combat the issues of staffing, I would like to see the industry embrace technology and mechanisation as much as possible to ensure all areas of any business run as lean and as efficiently as possible.

“AHDB is and needs to keep on looking at this side of the industry. I was interested to learn that AHDB is funding research into robotics specifically targeted at horticulture; I’m sure this will have benefit to the growers if not now, then in the near future.”

Tim Casey of J&V Casey, John Cappalonga of Gee Vee, Emily Livesey of Lower Hope Fruit and Russell George Graydon of Adrian Scripps are new edibles members.

Fruit manager Livesey said: “I believe the panel can really help the industry by continuing their support of research into issues such as improvements to soils, pests and diseases and technology advancement to help improve productivity and quality to help growers remain profitable in testing times.

“The clear challenge over the next three years will be having enough seasonal labour. The industry will need to change and look to innovation to help address that challenge.” Gary Taylor is chairman of AHDB Horticulture and is due to stand down in 2018.

9 January 2018, by Matthew Appleby.

Original source: https://www.hortweek.com/ahdb-horticulture-welcomes-nine-new-panel-members/ornamentals/article/1454002