Horticultural Innovation Partnership outlines plans for Supply Chain Group to bring greater collaboration and understanding
The Horticultural Innovation Partnership (HIP) is establishing a Supply Chain Group to help better understand what is needed to drive the industry forward.
HIP, which was established in March 2013 and published its first annual report last week, has identified a diverse range of players from growers to consumers that will form the new group. It will also look to include views from related sectors such as agricultural equipment, packaging and transport.
The new group, which was recommended as a result of an analysis of the supply chain, will aim to identify the challenges requiring innovation, with an initial focus on the fresh produce sector.
The analysis also identified the need for a separate Ornamentals Group, which has now been formed and is focusing on the amenity and landscape industries.
A Research Funders Group has also been set up, aiming to achieve “better co-ordination and connection between funders through the sharing of knowledge to deliver a more effective pipeline of relevant research for horticulture.”
In a further success for the project, HIP has won the competitive tender to become co-ordinator for the BBSRC Horticulture and Potatoes Initiative, wherein HIP is “steering researchers to focus on industry-relevant challenges and ensuring that funding goes to those who will accelerate the translation of results into practical applications.”
HIP outlined its next steps as continuing to engage with funders, research providers and supply chains to achieve better co-ordination of funds and deliver a more effective pipeline of relevant research; performing a detailed analysis of the landscaping supply chain; and exploring mechanisms to bring further supply chain research funding into the community.