HIP
Plans for a fresh produce-specific centre turned down by Innovate UK, but industry invited to take part in wider agricultural bid
The future of fresh produce research has been dealt a blow after plans for a Fresh and Prepared Produce Innovation Centre were rejected.
Innovate UK – the new name for the Technology Strategy Board – turned down proposals for the new centre, which would have highlighted major challenges facing the sector, including increasingly restrictive regulatory controls on the use of pesticides and other inputs, consumers’ demands and unpredictable weather conditions.
Innovate UK is investing £200m in new technology and innovation centres, but the body decided not to fund a fresh produce-specific centre.
Instead the Horticulture Innovation Partnership (HIP), which co-ordinated the bid and expressed its disappointment at the outcome, said it has been invited to represent the sector at a collaboration event on January 15th organised by Innovate UK to build consortia for the Centres for Agricultural Innovation.
“We are encouraged by this and will take a full and active part in the consortia building event,” said HIP chair Mary Bosley.
“The HIP’s priority remains, as we have always stated, to make sure that the fresh produce sector is positioned to take best advantage of whatever landscape of innovation centres are eventually funded, while taking account of the industry’s identified needs,” Bosley added.
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.