Research Subject Area: Horticultural Production

REF impact found 7 Case Studies

Currently displayed text from case study:

Applying solar energy research to the winemaking industry: SOLAR

Summary of the impact

This case study concerns the long term (energy) sustainability of emerging winemaking regions. Underpinning research in energy efficiency and renewable technologies informs the case study in determining energy usage and benchmarks, development of energy guidelines/policy, implementation by national professional bodies and adoption of energy best practice by the local industry. Impact is through the adoption and application of benchmarks by winemaking associations, directly influencing (through policy, regulations and standards) the energy expended in making wine. The study is underpinned by international publishing accolades (Solar Energy `Best Full Length Paper in Photovoltaics', Mondol et al, 2005) and a highly prestigious personal Royal Academy of Engineering Global Research Award to Smyth.

Submitting Institution

University of Ulster

Unit of Assessment

Architecture, Built Environment and Planning

Summary Impact Type

Economic

Research Subject Area(s)

Chemical Sciences: Physical Chemistry (incl. Structural)
Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences: Horticultural Production
Engineering: Environmental Engineering

CS1 - Commercial bumblebee trade – protecting Britain’s native pollinators

Summary of the impact

In 2005/06, Chittka's team evaluated the hazard of imported foreign bumblebees sold for commercial pollination in the UK and demonstrated a severe risk of them displacing native pollinators. The impact of this work for the UK environment is significant, since it resulted in a DEFRA policy review, mandatory licensing for using non-native pollinators by Natural England, and legal changes which place a fine of up £5,000 and/or 6 month custodial sentence for the uncontrolled use of such pollinators. As a result, all major commercial providers of pollinators now sell a UK native subspecies of bumblebee, Bombus terrestris audax.

Submitting Institution

Queen Mary, University of London

Unit of Assessment

Biological Sciences

Summary Impact Type

Environmental

Research Subject Area(s)

Biological Sciences: Ecology, Zoology
Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences: Horticultural Production

Exosect: an innovative electrostatic technology for environmentally friendly pest control

Summary of the impact

Based on innovative technology invented and developed through research at the University of Southampton, sustainable pest control products by spinout company Exosect are being employed around the world to preserve the global food supply. Since 2008 its bio-control products have been newly adopted in diverse situations: by Sainsbury's in response to consumer pressure to reduce chemicals in food; by Bayer CropScience, who bought rights, in a multimillion pound deal, to a product for the protection of bee populations; by English Heritage to preserve the UK's cultural heritage. The technology has inspired a US$1m Gates Foundation grant for poverty reduction efforts in sub-Saharan Africa and raised awareness among conventional pesticide manufacturers of the environmental and economic benefits of bio-control solutions.

Submitting Institution

University of Southampton

Unit of Assessment

Biological Sciences

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Biological Sciences: Genetics
Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences: Crop and Pasture Production, Horticultural Production

Increased productivity, profitability and environmental sustainability of commercial soil-based greenhouse production systems

Summary of the impact

Newcastle research into improving commercial soil-based greenhouse productivity has led to an increase in profitability (due to higher yields and lower costs) and a significant reduction in the negative environmental impacts of commercial, organic and other soil-based greenhouse crop production systems in Europe (UK, Greece and Crete). Newcastle's research has led to improved profits to UK organic tomato farmers estimated to be up to £100,000/ha/year and has allowed large scale organic greenhouse production to be a viable option to meet the demands of the UK organic market. In Greece increased profits are estimated at €25,000 per ha/year and in Crete the estimated value of reduced soil disease control and pest management is €110,000 per ha/year.

Submitting Institution

Newcastle University

Unit of Assessment

Agriculture, Veterinary and Food Science

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Biological Sciences: Plant Biology
Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences: Crop and Pasture Production, Horticultural Production

Development and evaluation of novel spectral modification films for horticulture

Summary of the impact

Polythene film manufacturers and the horticultural industry have benefitted since 2001 from research conducted at the University of Reading, which helped design and evaluate spectral (light wavelength) modification films for use in polytunnels and greenhouses. The research led to the development of several innovative products, including one launched in 2013, by leading polythene manufacturer BPI-visqueen. These new products established BPI-visqueen as an international leader in the market, which led to enhanced export sales for the company and a subsequent investment of £7 million in manufacturing facilities that created 40 new jobs in the Scottish community of Ardeer. Widespread adoption of these new film products, in the UK and internationally, has led to increased yields in crops such as UK strawberries.

Submitting Institution

University of Reading

Unit of Assessment

Agriculture, Veterinary and Food Science

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Biological Sciences: Plant Biology
Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences: Crop and Pasture Production, Horticultural Production

Regulation and Growth of the Biopesticide Industry

Summary of the impact

This research represents an interdisciplinary collaboration between the School of Life Sciences and the Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Warwick. The research focused on the commercialisation of biological pesticides or "biopesticides" - pest control agents from natural sources that are considered safer for humans and the environment than most conventional chemical pesticides and could potentially substitute for synthetic chemical pesticides. Biopesticide products can only be sold if they have been authorised by government regulators under UK and EU legislation. Prior to this research, only six biopesticide products had been commercialised in the UK. The research identified shortcomings in the UK biopesticide regulatory process and its associated policy network that acted as unnecessary barriers to the authorisation of biopesticides. A set of recommendations for an improved regulatory system was developed. The UK Pesticides Safety Directorate used the research to help implement a new scheme to facilitate the registration of biopesticides in the UK and therefore get more products to the market. The research was also used in 2008 to provide policy advice to the European Parliament on making greater use of biopesticides and other alternatives to synthetic chemical pesticides and improving the way they are regulated. In a 2007 report by the Science Advisory Council of the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the work was highlighted as helping to facilitate the emergence of a new biopesticides sector in the UK. Since the research was started, there has been a 430% increase in the number of biopesticide products approved in the UK.

Submitting Institution

University of Warwick

Unit of Assessment

Agriculture, Veterinary and Food Science

Summary Impact Type

Political

Research Subject Area(s)

Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences: Crop and Pasture Production, Horticultural Production
Medical and Health Sciences: Public Health and Health Services

Using Biotechnology to Protect Plants against Invertebrate Pests

Summary of the impact

Durham has a long-standing record of research into improving the resistance of crop plants towards pests, which includes pioneering work on genetic engineering of plants for insect resistance. The CpTI gene developed in Durham for enhancing insect resistance in transgenic crops has had a major impact on Chinese agriculture, due to the widespread deployment of GM cotton containing genes encoding Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin and CpTI. The SGK 321 transgenic cotton line was approved for commercial growing in China in 1999, and by the current REF period Bt/CpTI cotton was grown on approximately 0.5 million hectares of land, representing approximately 15% of the total transgenic cotton grown (which in turn represented 67% of total cotton production). The economic value of Bt/CpTI cotton is estimated as approx. £600 million per year.

Submitting Institution

University of Durham

Unit of Assessment

Biological Sciences

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Biological Sciences: Zoology
Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences: Crop and Pasture Production, Horticultural Production

Filter Impact Case Studies

Download Impact Case Studies