Final week to submit evidence to the House of Lords Committee on the Horticultural Sector

31 March 2023

The public call for written evidence on the challenges faced by the horticultural sector in England needs to be submitted to the House of Lords Committee on the Horticultural Sector by 6pm on 10 April 2023. The final report will be published by 30 November 2023.

 

The Committee is keen to hear from a diverse range of individuals and organisations. To ensure the voice of those working in the sector is central to their inquiry, the Committee plans to engage directly with those willing to share their views and experiences later in the year.

 

Lord Redesdale, Chair of the Committee, said:

“Horticulture is worth billions to the UK economy. From healthy fruit and vegetables to the multitude of crop and plant varieties that can be grown in the UK, it is a fundamental component of a secure food supply, supports the wellbeing of millions of people, and could provide innovative solutions to the challenges presented by climate change. Despite this, horticulture has been continually overlooked and undervalued.

 

“The industry has long been calling for more support to realise these benefits. Our inquiry will explore what is needed to ensure the sector can lead the country towards net zero, deliver skilled green jobs, and innovate to put the UK on the map as a science superpower.

 

“Our Committee would like to hear from a range of individuals and organisations, from farm workers, growers and gardeners to genomics researchers and robotics experts. Tell us how we can make these ambitions a reality.”

 

The committee website lists a full list of topics they want to address.

 

Earlier this month, HTA’s chairman, James Barnes, gave evidence focused on the value and contribution of the sector to the UK economy, environment, and biodiversity and how the industry underwrites half of the 25-year Environment Plan. Plus, with regular gardeners totalling 30 million, the mental and physical benefits of being in nature-based spaces are well established. He set out the potential to boost all these benefits if the right conditions are set and levers pulled.

 

You can follow the progress of the inquiry at the following link: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/648/horticultural-sector-committee/.

 

Submit evidence here: https://committees.parliament.uk/call-for-evidence/3065/