How Can UK Fruit And Veg Growers Increase Their Yield Without Access To A Range Of Biopesticides by Alison Withers
While biopesticide availability continues to lag way behind the EU and the USA UK fruit and veg growers will struggle to meet growing consumer demand for healthy, natural food.

The UK is a long way from self-sufficient in food. Between 1988 and 1993, approximately 55% of the fruit and vegetables consumed in the UK were domestically produced. Subsequently production went into decline and fell to 33% in 2006.

A total of 152,900 hectares of land is used for growing fruit and veg according to 2008 figures from Defra.

It breaks down into vegetables grown in the open (121,700), Orchard fruit in commercial orchards (20,800), Soft fruit including crops grown in Spanish tunnels (9,600) and Glasshouse crops of vegetables, salads and fruit (800).

On a crowded island with little room to expand growers need to make best use of the land they h ... Read more »