Chair of the NFU Horticulture and Potatoes Board, Martin Emmett, called for greater government support with water, labour and removing barriers to investment in an exclusive video interview at Festival of Fresh 2026.
Speaking to FPJ editor Fred Searle at FPJ’s summer festival, hosted by G’s near Ely, Emmett highlighted opportunities for the government’s forthcoming Horticulture Sector Growth Plan to “maximise the competitiveness of the UK fresh produce industry”.
He noted that the end of the Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme has created an unlevel playing field with the EU, exacerbated by rising cost pressures such as the huge increase in electricity standing charges and Biodiversity Net Gain.
“These are all barriers to investment in growth in our sector,” he said. “It’s our opportunity to challenge and change that balance – to put the UK’s industry on its most competitive footing.”
In addition, labour and water have been consistent challenges for growers during Emmett’s four years at the NFU.
On labour, he called for greater certainty around worker numbers from year to year and an expanded seasonal worker scheme to support increased UK production.
When it comes to water, he urged government support with growers’ capital investment in areas such as rainwater harvesting, water storage systems, and application technologies.
Emmett also highlighted opportunities for import substitution in crops such as tomatoes, in which the UK is only 20 per cent self-sufficient, and called for barriers around health-based marketing to be reconsidered.
