Fruit Research Innovation Hub

Latest innovation in fruit research

The Fruit Research Innovation Hub can be found at stand 700 during Fruit Focus, East Malling, Kent on Wednesday 12 July. Three tours to see the research exhibits will also take place throughout the day at 10:00, 11:00 and 14:00. Leaving from stand 700, they will give visitors a chance to see the latest advances in agri-technology, pest and disease research and sustainable innovation.

Growing Kent & Medway, Innovate UK and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) are joining forces for the fi rst time at this year’s Fruit Focus.

The Fruit Research Innovation Hub will demonstrate how it invests in innovation for the UK’s fruit sector by supporting discovery science and its translation into commercial use.

Visitors to Fruit Focus on 12 July at East Malling, Kent, will be able to explore cuttingedge research and innovation projects that have been funded to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing the fruit sector.

On display will be the latest near-market advances in agri-technology, from spectral imaging with artificial intelligence to machine learning for predicting optimumfruit harvest periods. There will be an opportunity to see how the industry’s understanding of new and emerging pest and disease threats is moving forward. The state-of-the-art research facilities at four Kent-based organisations will also be demonstrated.

Dr Nikki Harrison, programme director, Growing Kent & Medway, said: “By responding to the needs of local businesses and investing in the capabilities of our regional research organisations, the Kent and Medway region is emerging as an international leader for sustainable horticultural research.

“The Fruit Research Innovation Hub is a great opportunity to see the impact that national and place-based funding is making for both the sector and the region. The hub will demonstrate the advantage and value to UK businesses that collaborative funding approaches can deliver.”

Dr Katrina Hayter, executive director, healthy living and agriculture domain at Innovate UK, said: “Collaboration and knowledge sharing are central to the development of innovative ideas and to moving them from the drawing board to real life.

“Our Fruit Research Innovation Hub will allow us to showcase some of our success stories and engage with a range of experts and potential funding applicants from across the industry who can come together and each play their own key role in helping to develop the food sector of the future.”

Dr Karen Lewis, executive director for capability and innovation at the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), said: “We share the ambition of growers to invest in collaborative research and development that will contribute to supporting the sector in progressing its economic, societal and environmental goals.

“At the Fruit Research Innovation Hub we will be showcasing research projects from researchers across UK universities and institutes which aim to help address some of the most pressing challenges facinghorticulture and fresh produce.”

Some of the projects on display will include:

• Fotenix Limited: Integrating advanced camera hardware, 3D multi-spectral and laser-dot technology and AI services to enhance UK food production (Innovate UK)

• Machere Ltd: Identifying organic liquid fertilisers for aeroponic systems (Growing Kent & Medway)

• Air-seq: A revolutionary technology developed by Earlham Institute that uses DNA sequencing to provide early warning of airborne pathogens (BBSRC)

• University of Greenwich and NIAB, East Malling: Pheromone of Apple Sawfly, developing new tools to manage a re-emerging Pest (BBSRC).