Research and Development Strategy

Protected Ornamentals

The Protected Ornamentals (PO) sector Panel is one of three ornamentals panels within the HDC, the others being Hardy Nursery Stock (HNS) and Bulbs and Outdoor Flowers (BOF). This Protected Ornamentals sector Panel encompasses production of protected pot plants, pack bedding and in-door cut flowers, as well as associated plant propagators. With important cross-sector topics, such as energy and water use, this PO panel will work closely with the other newly formed Protected Edibles sector Panel, to ensure that the levy funds are spent on research efficiently.

A number of generic priorities have been identified which pertain in particular, to the efficient use of all available energy sources. Initiatives addressing the efficient use of energy will continue to dominate the activities and expenditure of the Protected Ornamentals Panel over the next few years. Considerable progress has been made in transferring existing technologies and knowledge; the challenge for the future will be to identify the next step change that can offer already energy efficient growers, the chance to further reduce energy inputs by 10% or more.

The target of reducing labour costs per unit of production is a major challenge and involves business management, capital investment, staff training and in some instances, legislative issues. For container-grown crops such as pot plants and bedding plants, substantial commercial developments in plant spacing and handling systems have already been developed and often the only barrier to adopting such automation will be financial.

Crop protection will remain a priority area for R&D funding. Robust biological control solutions are sought for the ornamentals sectors and the key will be to provide overall control strategies that work in practice. The Panel supports the development of sustainable and robust disease control measures through the optimisation of the growing environment. The integration of pest and disease control with efficient energy use is a challenge that must be pursued.

Legislative pressures are increasing. Hence, greater emphasis will need to be placed on issues such as the efficient use of water, minimizing run-off from nurseries and compliance with the waste management regulations. There is considerable scope to tackle these issues through a range of knowledge transfer initiatives delivering immediate assistance to growers.

The Panel is conscious that the needs of all growers, in particular growers of minor crops, may not be covered by this R&D Strategy and hence will encourage a proactive approach by HDC staff to contact these growers to establish how their needs might be best served from levy funds.

Debbie Wilson
HDC Research Manager

Download R&D Strategy (XLS - 72K)