Ed Bedington
The future is looking more secure for Horticulture Research International following backing by food and farming minister Lord Whitty.
He said he broadly accepted the recommendations made in the recent quinquennial review of HRI.
And the minister added: "There is a clear need for skilled and strategic horticultural science to underpin our policies and industry needs. HRI is a substantial asset of horticultural science excellence."
He said that, subject to successful negotiations, a new structure for the organisation should be in place by April 2004.
The quinquennial review had recommended that two of HRI's five sites, East Malling and Wye, be either closed or transferred to other organisations and that a stable core grant of £5m-a-year for four years be granted.
A recent addendum to the review stated that the Efford site should also be closed. However, the University of Warwick along with HRI, is set to determine if a viable business plan can be prepared to allow Efford to continue under the proposed new HRI. Lord Whitty's announcement means DEFRA will now enter into detailed discussions with HRI and other parties, including the University of Warwick and the East Malling Trust for Horticultural Research, to establish whether the recommendations made in the review are achievable and affordable.
Professor Michael Wilson, chief executive of HRI, said he welcomed the announcement: "It is an extremely good thing. It is important that we have a clear script to work towards, and it means we can tap into all sorts of new opportunities.
"It will be painful over the coming year, but broadly speaking it is, quite frankly, the only answer.
"We could not go on as we were."
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The future is looking more secure for Horticulture Research International following backing by food and farming minister Lord Whitty.
He said he broadly accepted the recommendations made in the recent quinquennial review of HRI.
And the minister added: "There is a clear need for skilled and strategic horticultural science to underpin our policies and industry needs. HRI is a substantial asset of horticultural science excellence."
He said that, subject to successful negotiations, a new structure for the organisation should be in place by April 2004.
The quinquennial review had recommended that two of HRI's five sites, East Malling and Wye, be either closed or transferred to other organisations and that a stable core grant of £5m-a-year for four years be granted.
A recent addendum to the review stated that the Efford site should also be closed. However, the University of Warwick along with HRI, is set to determine if a viable business plan can be prepared to allow Efford to continue under the proposed new HRI. Lord Whitty's announcement means DEFRA will now enter into detailed discussions with HRI and other parties, including the University of Warwick and the East Malling Trust for Horticultural Research, to establish whether the recommendations made in the review are achievable and affordable.
Professor Michael Wilson, chief executive of HRI, said he welcomed the announcement: "It is an extremely good thing. It is important that we have a clear script to work towards, and it means we can tap into all sorts of new opportunities.
"It will be painful over the coming year, but broadly speaking it is, quite frankly, the only answer.
"We could not go on as we were."
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