East Yorkshire carrot specialist MH Poskitt has partnered with AIM-listed Eden Research Plc in trials designed to improve the quality of vegetables - with weeds.
The venture focuses on the use of a new bio-fungicide, after growers linked lower disease and pest pressure in parsnips to the presence of mugwort.
Initial results using an extract in trials with potatoes, carrots and parsnips suggest it could help combat fungal disease - potentially helping protect against the likes of late blight - with a £55 million cost to farmers annually.
The partnership will support research and development with the aim of bringing forward a commercially viable product.
Poskitt, of Kellington, near Goole, is a root vegetable specialist, growing and packing 80,000 tonnes of crops for major supermarkets.
Guy Poskitt, managing director, said: “We are delighted to be working with another British company championing sustainable agriculture as the goal posts get higher for quality, residue-free produce in supermarkets.
“Following successful results in our initial field trials, we are excited about potentially finding an alternative treatment to phytophthora (late blight), which remains one of the biggest challenges faced by root vegetable farmers.”
If left untreated it can destroy entire crops, be they conventional or organic.
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Eden, admitted to the AIM in 2012, brings expertise of plant-derived sustainable chemistry and product development to the partnership. It has invested around £14 million in developing and protecting its work, with the first European Commission approvals secured in May 2013.
It comes as options for chemical control have been further limited with a ban of one active ingredient being used coming into force in the next year.
Sean Smith, chief executive of Oxfordshire-based Eden Research, said: “Our partnership with innovative grower Poskitt is an excellent example of collaboration in 海角视频 agriculture. Eden and Poskitt share the mutual goal of advancing sustainable alternatives for crop protection in the 海角视频 and further afield.
"When we first heard about Poskitt’s discovery and the initial R&D, we were keen to get involved due to our experience in developing plant-derived chemistry into effective products. Poskitt’s initial observations and field evaluation work are an excellent example of how innovative Britain’s farming sector is, and we look forward to working with Poskitt on this project and achieving positive outcomes for the future of 海角视频 crop protection.”
A two-year project timeframe has been outlined between Eden and Poskitt, with the latter having built up from a 600 acre tenanted farm to an agriculture business with more than 6,000 acres of both owned, rented and contracted farmland in Yorkshire and beyond, with on-site washing and packaging capabilities.