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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