UK: Webinar to be held on horticultural sector growth

UK: Webinar to be held on horticultural sector growth The UK government's forthcoming horticulture sector growth plan represents a major opportunity to transform what is grown, what is eaten and how a more resilient food system is built. With growers continuing to face soaring energy costs, policy uncertainty and fragile supply chains, Green Alliance is hosting a timely webinar on what the promised plan must deliver.

At the heart of the discussion is a vital question: how can British growers be supported to increase production and reduce the impact of overseas disruptions on the UK's food supply? Speakers include Lee Stiles, secretary of the Lea Valley Growers Association, and Beth Bradshaw, policy and advocacy lead at the Obesity Health Alliance (OHA).

Source: Green Alliance Frontpage photo: © Andrey Popov | Dreamstime Publication date: Fri 21 Aug 2026 Related Articles → See More UK: Webinar to be held on horticultural sector growth Mexico to host first International Symposium on Vertical Cropping Systems and Nutritional Quality Mexico will host a new international conference on blueberry cultivation Hong Kong fresh produce trade show expands buyer and technology programs Open Farm Days opens a window into Saskatchewan growing Program announced for Propagate! 2026 Seed Your Future doubles Career Day program at Cultivate’26 Registration open for JPFA International Symposium on Plant Factory Indoor Ag-Con opens call for speakers for 2027 edition South Korea prepares for 2027 world strawberry expo Related Articles UK: Webinar to be held on horticultural sector growth Mexico to host first International Symposium on Vertical Cropping Systems and Nutritional Quality Mexico will host a new international conference on blueberry cultivation Hong Kong fresh produce trade show expands buyer and technology programs Open Farm Days opens a window into Saskatchewan growing Related Articles Program announced for Propagate!

Why this matters: For operators, this is a water-management story. The useful signal is that direct substrate measurements can help cut drain loss materially without giving up yield or fruit quality, which is exactly the kind of controllable efficiency gain a facility can build on.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does substrate sensing matter in free-drain strawberry systems?

Because drain percentage tells a grower what already happened, while substrate moisture and EC data show root-zone conditions directly. That makes it easier to cut water loss without guessing.

What is the operator takeaway from this trial?

If the thresholds are understood well enough, growers can reduce drain water materially while protecting yield and fruit quality, which makes sensing an operational tool instead of a reporting tool.

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