The scope of technical research out of NIAB at East Malling is wide ranging and impressive. The NIAB research tours share this research and development with visitors throughout the event.
Examples of tour topics for this year include:
Pathology Research – Soft fruit growers need alternative approaches both to predicting pathogen infection and to control pathogens once they have infected soft fruit plants. Visitors on this tour will find out more about how NIAB researchers are predicting infection by Mucor and Rhizopus using climatic conditions and pathogen inoculum levels plus info on three commonly used biological control agents in strawberry.
Vine and Wine – Grapevine and wine science research at East Malling is funded by UK wine producers to study topics and challenges that are relevant to the UK wine industry, cool climate grapes grown and wines being produced here. Visitors will learn about training systems, rootstocks and varieties, mechanical weed control, fertigation and frost mitigation systems. Don’t miss the new winery and a chance to meet with oenologist, Belinda Kemp.
Fruit Research & Innovation – Join a guided walk from the Growing Kent & Medway Innovation Hub to hear about the UK funding landscape and how Growing Kent & Medway and wider UKRI agencies are supporting fruit research. As well as the latest ag-tech and robotics, you will see trials and research demonstrations in the glasshouse, vineyard and orchard, funded by Growing Kent & Medway, BBSRC and Innovate UK.
Many of the 2022 research tours were fully booked. Please pre-register today here and don’t miss the expanded schedule of research tours taking place at Fruit Focus 2023!
