UK horticulture needs to focus more than ever on new technology to achieve high production at low cost, according to an industry economist.

Speaking at the ADAS/Syngenta UK Vegetable Industry Conference, held in Peterborough earlier this month, Sean Rickard said: “I believe UK agriculture is on the brink of greater prosperity than it has seen in the past,”

“Now is not the time to turn backwards, with ideas of extensification that can only lead to low productivity and high cost production; such a route has no place in today’s economy.”

Rickard said he does not believe consumers are willing to pay any more for crops grown extensively, or that such systems will deliver any environmental benefits.

“Organic sales amount to no more than the country spends on cat food,” he claimed. “It will never be anything more than a niche market for an elite few consumers.”

Rickard urged growers to adopt new science-based ideas and techniques as soon as possible - that can both deliver higher yields, and enhance the environment more effectively, he claimed.

“Growers need to raise productivity as quickly, or faster, than national productivity, if they are to maintain and raise incomes in the future.” Rickard said, adding that there is huge scope for farmers to raise their incomes, if they can take back some of the value that is added on to their crops before they reach consumers.

He alos warned that few farmers have the necessary skills to turn to raw materials into processed products themselves; instead they should be looking to use their assets to invest in new business opportunities and skilled people, who can successfully operate farmer-controlled businesses (FCBs) on their behalf, he said.

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