Tomato Facts

Research and Development Priorities

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Research And Development Priorities For British Tomato Growers

Objectives and Priorities for Research

The sole requirement British Tomato Growers have of research is that it should help them to sustain and improve the profitability and competitiveness of their businesses. This entails the development and implementation of best practice from currently available technical information, in addition to incorporating knowledge provided by new research. The TGA wishes to encourage novel or blue-sky research, but principally it needs to see developed the broad common ground shared by all growers, without compromising commercially sensitive areas.

Tomato growers have faced severe economic pressures in recent years, primarily as a result of downward pressure on prices, caused by oversupply in Europe and the increased competition between UK retailers. Currency exchange rates have favoured imports into the UK, although this is changing at the time of writing this review, and there has been rapid expansion of production in southern Europe. Production costs have increased at the same time, of energy and labour in particular

There have been substantial structural changes in the industry as a result of these forces. There has also been a major change in the types of tomatoes produced. This has been a response to market demands for new products, especially those with improved flavour, but also seeks to add value and to make British products distinctive from imports. This approach is achieving some success and there is a strong demand for high quality, competitively priced British fruit.

These factors have all operated against a background of increasing demands for food safety and environmental protection, which British growers are confident they can achieve at the highest level.

Regrettably this period has also coincided with a contraction of research and development resources and facilities, so that it has never been more important to focus on the principle needs and priorities of growers, which this document seeks to address.

Four distinct objectives have been identified and are detailed in this document. Targets have been set and possible strategies to meet these targets are detailed.

In the TGA's earlier R&D Strategy Document (August 1999), high, medium or low priority rankings were assigned to individual topics. In view of the current constraints on research funding and facilities, it has not been thought worthwhile to include other than high priority areas. Of these however, optimising production efficiency, particularly in relation to the two major costs of labour and energy use and maximising fruit quality, represent the highest priorities.

Objective 1

To improve profitability by increased production efficiency through better use of resources, particularly energy and labour.

Targets

A reduction of 30% in energy and labour use per unit of production over 10 years.
The optimisation of inputs.

Strategies

General

Conduct economic research to secure comparative data on British and overseas production in order to identify problem and opportunity areas.

Production

Seek and capitalise on all opportunities to improve yields per unit input.
Develop more accurate yield prediction models for all fruit types.
Optimise the use of carbon dioxide, including the response of alternative tomato types and the interaction of these with plant populations.
Optimise the root zone with regard to its physical and chemical environment and the application of water, through improved monitoring and control, both for conventional and Organic systems.
Develop closed or low ventilation greenhouses.
Monitor technical developments and the economic aspects of year round production employing supplementary illumination.

Labour use

Identify appropriate ergonomic solutions to crop husbandry and harvesting activities and develop best practice in these areas.
Develop novel growing systems and investigate the potential for glasshouse robotics.

Energy use

Develop improved energy efficiency systems to reduce costs, whilst optimising the cost-benefit equation. These include insulation and environmental control options, the latter with particular regard to optimum humidity and CO₂ control.
Capitalise on opportunities provided by CHP or other energy and CO₂ generating facilities.

Notes

These strategies need to take account of differences in response between tomato types i.e. classic, cherry, cocktail, plum and beef tomatoes and between fruit harvested loose or on the vine. We would hope that experienced physiologists should be able to offer guidance in these areas, using response data for classic types, without the need for experiments with growing crops, which are unlikely to be affordable.

Objective 2

To maintain and develop preferred supplier status with customers and consumers by creating a greater differentiation of premium quality British products from competing imports.

Target

For consumers to identify British products as being of exceptional flavour and eating quality, wholesome, fresh, safe and healthy.

Strategies

Exploit "natural" technologies for the delivery of a unique product and avoid technologies (such as Genetic Modification), which are currently unacceptable to consumers.
Provide research data on the nutritional content of British tomatoes in order to promote the health benefits from their consumption. This would take account of the range of nutrients involved (carotenoids, flavonoids, vitamins and others). Much of the research in this area has focussed on single components only. An examination of the effects of cooking fresh tomatoes, on the bio-availability of lycopene for instance, should be undertaken to provide comparisons with claims for processed tomato products in this area.
Identify those pre- and post-harvest factors, which can be modified to improve fruit quality, as perceived by the consumer, and product integrity through the marketing chain. Particular difficulties need to be addressed with regard to the quality of vine-harvested products. These include evenness of ripening, fruit splitting and the control of truss length and form.
Identify parameters which limit fruit quality and investigate methods by which greater control can be exerted, including the aerial and root zone environment.

Objective 3

To avoid losses caused by pests and diseases, by using integrated crop management and without recourse to pesticide intervention.

Targets

To achieve the optimum economic level of pest and disease control.
To have available a wide range of natural and biological solutions, including the use of predators, parasites, fungal and bacterial agents.
To achieve zero use of pesticides.
Monitor for new pests and diseases which may become established, especially with predicted climate change, and seek integrated solutions.

Strategies

Develop improved control strategies and biological solutions for those pests and diseases which may currently require pesticide intervention and thus compromise the objective of zero pesticide use. These include:
Develop strategies for pest and disease likely to be influenced by the more specific requirements of organic production, such as Macrolophus and mealy bug.
Develop optimisation of the glasshouse environment to reduce pest and disease pressure. This includes improved humidity control and attention to risks from condensation.
Improved hygiene measures.
Closed glasshouse systems and investigation of the benefits of glasshouse screening.
Maintain expertise in the UK to enable monitoring both here and overseas for new pests and diseases, or those occurring elsewhere with a potential to establish here, and act quickly where cases do occur:

Objective 4

To maintain a competitive advantage over foreign imports and satisfy consumer concerns over environmental issues, through the use of technologies which allow growers to adopt more environmentally sensitive and sustainable systems.

Targets

Zero production of non-recyclable waste entering air, water, soil or landfill.
Operation of closed irrigation systems without risk to yield or fruit quality.
Assist the development of Organic production systems and the solution of particular problems in such systems, which currently represent 7-8% of the British tomato production area.

Strategies

Develop systems for the disposal of leaves and other plant material by composting or other alternatives to landfill.
Develop reliable recirculation systems so that the risks of disease are very low, with no crop penalties. This is particularly important with regard to reduction in water use, which will be required under new legislation.
Use substrates and other recyclable production materials e.g. biodegradable substrates.
Identify and investigate constraints or difficulties with Organic systems, such as adequate nutrition for long-season crops, rotational considerations and specific pest and disease issues, including spider mites, mealy bugs, vascular and foliar diseases.

If you have any comments or queries regarding this document, please contact us at:

Tomato Growers' Association
Pollards Nursery
Lake Lane
Barnham
West Sussex
PO22 0AD

Tel: 01243 554859
Fax: 01243 554645
Email: tga@britishtomatoes.co.uk