The food and farming sector in the East of England will grow from around £8 billion in 2010 to around £16 billion in 2020. Most growth will come from increased production, added value, renewable energy and renewable materials.
On-farm renewables is an exciting area of innovation, which includes essential oils, fibre, pharmaceutical and biomass crops, biofertilisers and biopesticides. Increased development in these areas will help to reduce the UK’s dependency on fossil resources, whilst decreasing the environmental impact of agriculture and food production and the health risks associated with the use of synthetic chemical products.
The East of England boasts major capacity in the processing of hemp, flax and other fibre crops. These can be used to make bio-based materials for use in car parts and building materials, which reduces the carbon footprint of the automotive and construction industries.
InCrops supports the development of sustainable growing methods that could replace peat. These include the use of biochar, coir, wood or bark and compost. Seaweed (macroalgae) is another valuable source of nutrients for soil improvers.
Biochar is produced when biomass is treated at elevated temperatures in low oxygen conditions to yield a carbon rich solid. Biochar has unique properties that can potentially help reverse the degradation of soils caused by intensive agriculture whilst enhancing crop yields and reducing the need for fertiliser and other inputs. It also has the potential to mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration and is a viable replacement for peat. The University of East Anglia’s biomass gasification plant is the only significant producer of biochar in the country. This will permit effective field trials as well as extensive research.
Compost made from food or green waste is a valuable source of nutrients and diverts material from landfill where it would become a source of methane. Vermicomposting, using worms to make the compost more biologically active and improve numbers of beneficial micro-organisms, takes this to the next level.
InCrops works to apply low-carbon technology to glasshouse crops, particularly peppers, tomatoes and salad vegetables. This has dramatic energy efficiency outcomes and increases the viability of a UK-based industry. Our work also looks at supporting new or under-utilised crop plants. To find out more about how we have helped a Norfolk grower of saffron, click here.
InCrops also has expertise in hydroponics, the practice of growing plants in a mineral nutrient solution, without soil. We can offer you support to overcome barriers and to explore this technology.
We are at the cutting-edge of growing functional foods, which bring health benefits, in the East of England. For more information, click here.
InCrops can help to take your innovative ideas to a wider market. This case study shows how we helped a company addressing pesticide resistance to gain new commercial contacts.