Leading personalities from the agricultural and horticultural world will debate the place of new technologies in the future of the produce sector in a major new forum programme scheduled to take place alongside this year’s World Fruit & Vegetable Show, which takes place at the ExCeL Exhibition Centre in London on 8-9 October 2008.

The debate, entitled The Appliance of Science, will discuss the impact of technology in the sector, particularly with regard to providing sufficient food for a fast-growing population in a sustainable manner, at the right quality and at affordable prices. Speakers will discuss issues including the rising cost of food production, pesticide use, genetic modification of fruit and vegetables, and organics.

Peter Melchett, policy director of the Soil Association, will start the discussion; to be followed by responses from Professor Greg Tucker of the University of Nottingham, Dr Helen Ferrier, Chief Science and Regulatory Affairs Adviser of the National Farmers Union, and Alan Malcolm, CEO of the Institute of Biology.

Professor John Moverley, who will introduce and chair the forum, said: “I am very much looking forward to the Appliance of Science debate, which promises lively discussion of the issues the fresh produce industry needs to reconcile for continued success into the future.”

He continued: “The forum programme runs alongside the two-day exhibition and we are proud to be welcoming such a high calibre of speaker, who will give us some fascinating insights into issues vital to the fruit and vegetable business. Entry is free but all attending are asked to pre-register.”

The Appliance of Science session, just part of a wide-ranging forum programme over two days, begins at 10.30am on Thursday, 9 October, the second day of the World Fruit & Vegetable Show.

Other high-profile speakers during the two-day forum include Nigel Jenney, CEO of the Fresh Produce Consortium, John Giles of Promar International, Michael Stephen of the Oxobiodegradable Plastics Association and Kenneth Hayes of the Soil Association.

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