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Research supporting the
horticulture industry:
leveraging the science base
Professor Simon Bright
Warwick HRI:
A Department of the University of Warwick
Plant, crop and environment research component
of Life Sciences research at Warwick
Legacy of horticulture research since 1949
National capability in horticulture relating to field vegetables,
ornamentals and glasshouse crops
Underpinning breeding and crop production
PhD, Masters and Undergraduate teaching
45 Academic Staff
Total 200 staff
~£10M/yr research grant and contract income
www.warwickhri.ac.uk
Skills development
60 PhD students in plant
science, crop science, agronomy
and environment
Masters students in
environmental bioscience,
horticulture and business
Undergraduate students in
Environmental biology
http://go.warwick.ac.uk/whri/study
Genetic Resource Unit
International gene bank
holding World collections for:
Brassica
Lettuce
Alliums
Carrot
>13,000 accessions in long-term storage at -200C
Examples of research impact
Hybrid leeks
80% of UK crop
Uniformity, quality, value
Reduced waste
Onion waste treatment
Composting and soil
incorporation uses 30,000
tonnes of waste
Better than chemical control
of white rot disease
Renewed focus on horticulture
Help to deliver
Healthy diets
Sustainable UK production
Global food security
Strategic research capacity eroded over
25yrs
Skills, Infrastructure, Resources
Fundamental science progresses apace
New energy from funders
Leverage fundamental science
New BBSRC strategy in Food Security
Impact from linkage and co-investment
Industry Partnership Awards, Industry Clubs, CASE
studentships, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships,
Warwick participates with multiple industry partners
Skills in translational sciences
Technology Strategy Board
£75M Innovation Platform in Sustainable Agriculture
& Food
First call in Crop Protection
3.5%
Yearly
Yield
Increase
1966-94.
Green revolution
Funding pays off in development
agriculture
Rapeseed
Wheat
Biotech breeding?
Soya
Paddy rice
Maize
Cotton
Barley
Sorghum
Dry Beans
0
Yearly Yield Increase 1995-2005. 3%
After H Braun, CIMMYT, J Snape JIC
Conclusions
Positive political drive on food supply
Will this lead to funding displacement or to new
investment in horticulture research?
Key requirements are recognised
More funding and continuity
More joined up
University sector has capability to respond to
the challenges of translational and skills
But has multiple pressures and drivers
Industry engagement and drive will be crucial