Horticulture to go Greener
Graeme Cross, Top Fruit Development Adviser, Greenmount Campus, CAFRE
The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) in partnership with the Horticultural Trade Association (HTA) is organising a conference entitled ‘The Green Challenge’ focusing on sustainability in horticulture. It will take place on Thursday 5 February 2009 from 10.00am to 4.30 pm at Greenmount Campus, CAFRE.
The organizing committee recognize the need to deliver timely and relevant information to horticulture businesses on sustainability which will assist them with the development of their business.
‘The conference is an excellent opportunity to hear at first hand about trends in sustainability, to see it in practice and to network with fellow members of the horticultural industry’ said Michele Shirlow, H.T.A
Invited speakers include Dr Alan Knight, OBE, U.K. Sustainability Development Commission (SDC) who will outline his vision on the major challenges of sustainability facing UK horticulture over the next decade.
The SDC advises government and monitors performance across a series of policy areas including climate change, economics, energy, health, housing and transport. He has worked with numerous national and international organisations on sustainable development matters.
The conference will include a presentation from Ms Sharon Russell-Verma of Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP). WRAP work closely with local authorities, the retail sector and others to tackle waste and have ambitious targets for reduced national CO2 emissions and improved economic benefit through recycling. Sharon will explain the uses and benefits of composts from recycled materials, with reference to recent case studies on fruit, salad and tree crops.
Farm Energy Centre (FEC) Services is the UK’s leading energy consultancy with specialist expertise in the farming and horticulture sectors. Mr. Tim Pratt of FEC will outline the choices available to improve energy efficiency in horticulture, including cost control for heating and refrigeration, as well as opportunities for renewable energy adoption.
The afternoon provides an opportunity for guided tours of the renewable technologies at Greenmount’s Horticulture Development Centre, including their biomass boiler, solar panel and wind turbine installations. There will also be demonstrations of recycling practice, rainwater collection and crop production using biodegradable pots.
A trade exhibit will also take place at the conference.
For further information on the conference, please contact Mr. Kieran Lavelle, Senior Horticulture Development Adviser on (028) 37515651 or email kieran.lavelle@dardni.go.uk
Dr Raja Harun, Senior Horticulture Technologist, and Mr Kieran Lavelle, Senior Horticulture Development Adviser at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), Greenmount Campus viewing a one year old Crinodendron hookerianum (Lantern Tree) grown in 30 percent peat reduced growing medium. The cutting which was taken in February 2008 was potted in June 2008.
Dr Raja Harun, Senior Horticulture Technologist, and Mr Kieran Lavelle, Senior Horticulture Development Adviser at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), Greenmount Campus looking at composted spent mushroom compost for use in a growing medium.
