New growth for SCI with Horticulture Group
Special interest groups represent the core ethos of SCI, helping us to provide
focused, high-calibre
opportunities for science and engineering professionals
involved in the broad church of the chemicals industry
 SCI has launched its newest recruit, the SCI Horticulture Group, joining an already impressive list of specialist groups. Members came from all over the UK to attend the invitee-only inaugural meeting in February 2008.
No time was wasted in setting up a steering group to drive forward its activity, together with a number of key proposals and decisions for the future.
The unanimous consensus to emerge from the meeting was the need to promote every aspect of horticulture, as well as focusing on more international work and reaching members at an earlier stage in their careers.
Two substantial events to provide a platform for members to share and exchange ideas have been planned and a new area on SCI's website (Group homepage).
Following on from its split with the Institute of Horticulture (IoH), where members resigned en masse after a motion to merge the SCI with the IoH was rejected, the formation of the new group was the logical next step, according to Mike Hall, one of the meeting organisers. Hall said: ‘We felt that the structure at IoH did not cover the full spectrum of horticulture, both in England and overseas. Those of us who proposed the SCI merger want to see a more robust and engaging focus that covers all aspects of horticulture, particularly with a more commercial and international focus. We believe that SCI, with its links to the business, science and education world, has the necessary skills and expertise to make this a reality.’
SCI chief executive Andrew Ladds said: ‘We are not in competition with anyone – the new group has its own distinct objectives that it wants to achieve, and SCI is the natural vehicle for members to attain those objectives.
‘At SCI, we have the necessary expertise and contacts that will help members of the Horticulture Group to not only access inside information on what is happening in their sector, but also make full use of SCI’s extensive contacts bridging the worlds of science, business and education to maximum effect by providing that all important interplay between horticulture, plant science and business.
‘By engaging fully and working closely with commercial growers, skills councils, colleges, universities and learning networks, SCI can help professional horticulturists and those studying in the sector develop the necessary skills and contacts they need to operate in all arenas.’
The Group has the full backing of luminaries in the horticulture world, such as Richard Hirst, head of horticulture at the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) and Michael Paske, the former vice president of NFU.
Some of the areas where the Group will be looking to develop activity include global crop production systems, food management, marketing and technology, landscape design, amenity management, clean, low-carbon technology, waste and water management, and sustainability issues.
Hall commented: ‘I have already joined SCI, and I will be encouraging others to do so as well, because the Group, through SCI, can provide members with tangible activity. What struck me about the event, and I am sure other participants felt the same, was that there was a stated aim at the beginning of the meeting, which the whole team worked through, resulting in a set of actions being drawn up to take the Group forward.
Andrew Ladds concluded: ‘It is great to see that so much has already been achieved in such a short time. I believe the Horticulture Group will continue to build on the resounding success of this first meeting and grow bigger and stronger to bring about the changes that all members want to see in response to a changing sector.’
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