7
THECOMMERCIAL GREENHOUSEGROWER • MARCH 2018
NEWS •
CHP losing its advantage,
Dutch figures show
The financial advantage toDutchgreenhouse growers of
heating their structures viaCHP, compared to a gas boiler,
has dropped close to aero, a new editionofWageningen
University’s8uantitative informationon BDutchD
greenhouse horticulture reports. But while theprice of
the electricity that is soldback to theDutch national
gridhas fallen so low as tomake the economicsmore
questionable, CHP still has thebenefit of improving a
business’s carbon footprint, it says. The report also shows
how the industry is continuing to consolidate.More than
two thirds of theDutchgreenhouse area is nowownedby
Supply chain bodies
agreeBrexit stance
The governmentmust secure aBrexit deal thatmaintains
‘free and frictionless’ tradewith theEU and continued
access to an adequate supply of permanent and seasonal
labour for growers and food chainbusinesses, says a
groupof 37organisations including theNFU, British
GrowersAssociation and the FreshProduceConsortium
FPC . Their joint statement follows ameeting inFebruary
to establish theUK food industry’s common viewonwhat
objectives it feels theUKgovernment shouldpursue in
its negotiations on the country’swithdrawal from theEU,
to ensure the future success of the food and farming
industry. FPC chief executiveNigel 1enney said: ¸All food
and farmingbusinesseswill bedeeply affectedwhen
ourmembershipof theEuropeanUnion ceases.Many
currently rely on a highproportionof non-UKpermanent
and seasonal labour sourced fromwithin theEU"many
arepart of highly sophisticated and integrated supply
chains that rely on the free Åowof goods between theUK
andother EUmember states, free of tariffs and customs
check, and subject only to necessary phytosanitary
checks" andmany operate under an array of regulations
andprogrammes derived fromBrussels and applicable
to all EUbusinesses. ¸It is clear that the effect of the
decision to leave theEU is already being felt in the
sector as uncertainty and lack of clarity affects business
confidence.¹ In a report on food trade underWorldTrade
Organisation rules, shouldnodeal be reachedbetween
theUK and theEU,MPs on theEnvironment, Food and
Rural Affairs committee have calledongovernment to
establish a fund to support UK’s farmers andgrowers as
they adapt to thepost-Brexit environment.
20%of thebusinesseswhile half is operatedby nurseries
larger than5ha. Theprotected area of cut Åowers has
halved since 2000, with roses and chrysanthemums
shrinking themost.While the area of Åoweringpot plants
has expandedby 40%, growthhas tailedoff in recent
years. Although the total area of glasshouse-grown
salad crops has declined since 2012, the areadown to
tomatoeswent upby 55%between 2000 and 2015, with
productionof vine and cherry varieties takingover from
beefsteak and classic types. The area of sweet peppers
was alsoon the rise until 2010, sincewhen it has dropped
back" at the same timepepper growers have opted to
increase their output of red fruit at the expense of green.
Correction
It was stated in the last issue of TheCommerical
GreenhouseGrower that Hawkesmill Nurserieswere
inviting thepublic to come along to their nurseries, this is
not the case. TheHawkesmill team are happy towelcome
customers old and new tomeet them at the nurseries
whenever theywish to, but the nurserieswill not be open
to thepublic.
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