Blab Politics
Horticulture Leaders Urge Action on Labour, Water and Crop Protection at Festival of Fresh
At the 10 June 2026 Festival of Fresh in Cambridgeshire, a panel on production and politics convened to tackle the looming hurdles that threaten the UK horticulture sector.
Martin Emmett, chair of the National Farmers Union (NFU) horticulture and potatoes board, kicked off the discussion by stressing the indispensable role of seasonal workers. "The industry needs to get that message across about how vital seasonal workers are to our sector," he said, linking labour needs to the current leadership crisis in the Labour Party and broader shifts in government priorities.
Emmett warned that the sector faces "unique taxation" pressures, including the cost of Biodiversity Net Gain and rising standing charges, and that confidence in investment has been eroded. He also noted a lack of concrete evidence that the government treats food security as a national security issue, adding, "We don’t see the actions that underpin that," and calling for clearer policy signals.
The keynote address, slated for Defra farming minister Dame Angela Eagle, was cancelled at the last minute. In her absence, the panel outlined the horticulture sector’s key requests for the forthcoming Horticulture Sector Growth Plan.
Simon Conway, chair of Horticulture Crop Protection (HCP), argued that the industry needs "action, not writing" from the plan. He warned that the upcoming Standardised Plant Protection (SPS) agreement and a reset of the EU relationship could disadvantage UK growers if they lose access to the broader range of pesticides currently available in Europe.
Chris Rose, spokesperson for the newly‑formed UK Fruit and Veg Association (UKFVA), said the sector requires a replacement for the Producer Organisation funding that will end in 2025. "We do need more than switch‑on, switch‑off grants; they don’t work for horticulture," Rose said. He added that the sector does not need a large new budget, but rather better prioritisation of existing Defra funds.
Water security emerged as a major concern. John Shropshire, chairman of G’s, explained that the company’s plan to build a 700 million‑cubic‑metre reservoir has been delayed because planning authorities could not grant permission. He described the authorities’ actions as "incompetence" and urged the industry to prepare for scenarios where water supplies are not guaranteed.
Emmett called for investment in reservoirs, harvesting and application technologies, noting that capital expenditure in these areas is a priority. He also urged the sector to secure the resources and policy support needed to maintain food security and a resilient horticulture supply chain.
Despite the challenges, the panel concluded on a cautiously optimistic note. All three speakers highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence to transform the sector, from data management to accelerating plant genomics. They also noted a growing interest among young people in horticulture careers through graduate and training programmes.
The discussion underscored that the horticulture sector faces a convergence of labour, water, crop protection and investment challenges. Industry leaders are urging the government to deliver tangible action through the Horticulture Sector Growth Plan and to address the practical barriers that threaten the sector’s sustainability. The next steps for the sector include submitting evidence to Defra to shape the growth plan, monitoring the outcome of the SPS agreement, and engaging with planning authorities on water infrastructure projects.
Martin Emmett, chair of the National Farmers Union (NFU) horticulture and potatoes board, kicked off the discussion by stressing the indispensable role of seasonal workers. "The industry needs to get that message across about how vital seasonal workers are to our sector," he said, linking labour needs to the current leadership crisis in the Labour Party and broader shifts in government priorities.
Emmett warned that the sector faces "unique taxation" pressures, including the cost of Biodiversity Net Gain and rising standing charges, and that confidence in investment has been eroded. He also noted a lack of concrete evidence that the government treats food security as a national security issue, adding, "We don’t see the actions that underpin that," and calling for clearer policy signals.
The keynote address, slated for Defra farming minister Dame Angela Eagle, was cancelled at the last minute. In her absence, the panel outlined the horticulture sector’s key requests for the forthcoming Horticulture Sector Growth Plan.
Simon Conway, chair of Horticulture Crop Protection (HCP), argued that the industry needs "action, not writing" from the plan. He warned that the upcoming Standardised Plant Protection (SPS) agreement and a reset of the EU relationship could disadvantage UK growers if they lose access to the broader range of pesticides currently available in Europe.
Chris Rose, spokesperson for the newly‑formed UK Fruit and Veg Association (UKFVA), said the sector requires a replacement for the Producer Organisation funding that will end in 2025. "We do need more than switch‑on, switch‑off grants; they don’t work for horticulture," Rose said. He added that the sector does not need a large new budget, but rather better prioritisation of existing Defra funds.
Water security emerged as a major concern. John Shropshire, chairman of G’s, explained that the company’s plan to build a 700 million‑cubic‑metre reservoir has been delayed because planning authorities could not grant permission. He described the authorities’ actions as "incompetence" and urged the industry to prepare for scenarios where water supplies are not guaranteed.
Emmett called for investment in reservoirs, harvesting and application technologies, noting that capital expenditure in these areas is a priority. He also urged the sector to secure the resources and policy support needed to maintain food security and a resilient horticulture supply chain.
Despite the challenges, the panel concluded on a cautiously optimistic note. All three speakers highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence to transform the sector, from data management to accelerating plant genomics. They also noted a growing interest among young people in horticulture careers through graduate and training programmes.
The discussion underscored that the horticulture sector faces a convergence of labour, water, crop protection and investment challenges. Industry leaders are urging the government to deliver tangible action through the Horticulture Sector Growth Plan and to address the practical barriers that threaten the sector’s sustainability. The next steps for the sector include submitting evidence to Defra to shape the growth plan, monitoring the outcome of the SPS agreement, and engaging with planning authorities on water infrastructure projects.
