National Horticultural Forum
The NHF was established in 2002, following a recommendation of the Defra-commissioned review of horticultural R&D, chaired by Sir Colin Spedding, and entitled A Vision for Horticulture. Sir Colin recommended that 'An independent National Horticultural Forum should be established to create and update an overview or vision of the horticultural industry. It should identify the major R&D needs and the important contributions that the industry could make to all its stakeholders and to society generally.’ The recent review of the future role of the NHF restated this aim, emphasising that the NHF is a representative body for the industry presenting an independent, collective view of key conclusions in relation to horticulture to government.
Direct lobbying is not within the NHF’s remit but a number of the member organisations of the Steering Group have this as a key function of their own. There is no doubt that a collective voice, such as the NHF can provide, adds weight to any argument.
The NHF steering group meets about three times a year, under the independent chairmanship of Dr Andrew Colquhoun. The members of the Steering Group are senior representatives of:
- East Malling Trust for Horticultural Research
- Horticultural Development Company
- Horticultural Trades Association
- Institute of Horticulture
- National Farmers’ Union
- Royal Horticultural Society
- SCI’s Horticulture Group
Two representatives of the R&D Providers Group also attend Steering Group meetings.
The R&D Providers Group meets once a year and brings together members of the research community with funders and industry representatives. The group also receives regular up-dates on NHF activities.
The NHF is financially supported by members of the Steering Group and R&D Providers Groups.
In the six years since its establishment, the NHF has provided a unique opportunity for the major industry representative bodies to meet together to consider issues of importance across the industry.
Reports
- Skills Audit of Horticultural R&D in 2003. This examined the scientific and research skills available to horticultural R & D and identified areas of strength and weakness as well as making recommendations on how the latter should be addressed. (Read Report)
- Future of the UK Horticultural Industry 2005 was seen as a wake-up call to the industry as it found that the industry needed to evolve and become more professional if it was to survive in a competitive international marketplace. Several key areas of research were identified including improving packaging and reducing labour costs. (Read Report)
- Review of the Provision of UK Horticultural R&D, is what many consider to be a key report for the future of UK horticulture. It concluded that, unless action is taken now, the UK industry is set to lose the expertise and facilities that are desperately needed to provide the R&D needed for the industry to thrive in the future. The implications for HDC levy payers and the challenges it poses to HDC are immense. (Read Report)
Professor Simon Bright, who recently took up the post of Senior Executive Officer to Forum reviewed the challenges for the NHF in an interview published in the SCI Horticulture Group Newsletter (February 2010)
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