Fertiliser supplier Yara UK and research organisation NIAB EMR have signed a partnership which aims to develop high-performance irrigation and moisture-sensing technologies in commercial horticulture, with the scope for international developments in the future.
Part of the deal (which is described as the first of a possible series of future research collaborations between Yara UK and NIAB EMR, and ultimately NIAB) will see Yara UK undertake sample testing for The Water Efficient Technologies (WET) Centre.
Professor Mario Caccamo, managing director of NIAB EMR, said, “We warmly welcome Yara UK as a partner in The WET Centre, joining a successful innovative project dedicated to improving resource use efficiency and crop productivity in soft-fruit crops. We see this as a first step in the development of future collaborations between Yara UK and NIAB, focused on developing and sharing national and international crop research opportunities.”
Yara’s Giz Gaskin added, “NIAB EMR is currently working with Kenyan growers on developing fertigation for the production of beans,” he said. “Yara Kenya has recently put a focus on supporting growers with fertigation solutions expected to increase crop productivity and quality. The two share an identical goal in supporting Kenyan growers – working together would benefit local communities, the environment, Yara, NIAB EMR and, ultimately, the growers themselves.”