Charitable Activities
Historic Funding Awards - 2024
Nuffield Scholarships
Hannah Fraser (nee Flowers)
Hannah presented on her Scholarship at the Masters and Warden’s dinner in November 2024 and at the Nuffield Conference in Belfast.
The nutrient density of our food is in decline. The foods that span the human diet, from meat and fish to fruit, vegetables and grains, now provide us with far fewer vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals.
Hannah’s report looks at the importance of soil health, breeding and variety selection, biofortification and the role which animal feed can play in providing more nutrient dense food.
The Next Gen Fruit Group
The Council considered an application to sponsor the Next Gen Fruit Group.
The cost of the sponsorship is £2500.
The application set out the ambition for the Group which includes growing its membership, providing a positive networking opportunity for young people working in the industry, and fostering collaboration between members, leading to innovative solutions and shared best practices.
Update on Current Funding:
Polly Hilton
Polly has been granted an extension of 12 months by the Nuffield Foundation for completion of her travels and production of her report.
Research programmes
Apple Sawfly
Developing extraction methods to acquire adult insects for pheromone identification.
Francis Wamonje and Francesca Elliott provided the Council with a written summary of the project which was completed in November 2023.
The report makes it clear how the outcomes from the research would be communicated to the industry through a series of events and publications.
The Council has contributed £5,000 towards the cost of this project.
Too hot to pollinate
Pilot data on temperature regulation in commercial bumblebee hives.
Sarah Arnold provided the Council with a written summary of the project to date.
The research began in February 2024.
The Awards Council has committed £5,000 towards the cost of this research.
“In 2015, Natural England banned imports of non-native bumblebees. Since then, commercial pollination by bumblebees in the UK has been provided by Bombus terrestris audax which is thought to be less tolerant to higher temperatures. This piece of research is looking at the temperature thresholds at which commercial B. t. audax reduce their foraging to cool the nest, and the temperature at which they can no longer effectively cool the nest to a temperature cooler than the ambient air.”
Assessing the biocontrol effect of coir adapted beneficial microbes on Phytophthora root disease in berry production.
Matevz Papp-Rupar provided the Council with a video update of this research project.
The Council has committed £5,000 towards the cost of this research.
This research project is looking at bio controls for Crown Rot and Raspberry Root Rot. The project started by looking at a range of bacteria contained in the growing media. Over 300 bacteria were identified and then narrowed down to 5 which were thought to be the best strains for controlling the two diseases. The WCF funding has enable these five isolates to be tested in a semi commercial setting to assess the impact on yield and disease. The hope is that the results of these trials will encourage commercial plant protection manufacturers to introduce new commercial bio controls.
Travel award application.
An award of £1250 has been made to Sandra Landahl to enable her to present at the IX ISHS International Postharvest Symposium from 11th until 15th November 2024 in Rotorua, New Zealand.