The National Horticultural Forum
The NHF was formed in 2002 following the Spedding report into the future of R&D provision for the horticulture industry. The organisations represented on the NHF Steering Group include the Institute of Horticulture, the Horticultural Development Company (HDC), the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), the National Farmers Union (NFU), the RHS and two representatives of an R&D Providers Group (established by the NHF in 2004 and currently composed of 21 member R&D organisations). These organisations provide the finance for the operating costs of the NHF.
The Forum’s mission is to provide a clear and consistent view of wider horticultural research and development issues and their context.
The NHF has produced a number of reports with the financial support of the IoH including:
A review of the provision of UK horticultural R&D, published in August 2008
The Skills audit of horticultural R&D , published in March 2004
These reports give a comprehensive view of the state of the production sector of horticulture and the support of IoH for the preparation of these reports and their publication on our website indicates our firm commitment to this sector. The most recent report into R&D provision recommends that IoH supports the Grow Initiative (superseding the Careers in Horticulture booklet) to foster careers training. This has been agreed and IoH is now a funding member. The Report also acknowledges that there is a new political climate and will to acknowledge the once derided value of national food security and the I0H considers this to be a major opportunity for re-ordering Defra's priorities in support of the industry.
The review of UK horticulture by the consultants Promar International is extremely comprehensive in the areas of hardy nursery stock, brassicas, protected salads and soft fruit. It was, however, written before the recent dramatic financial and economic events which make some of the statistics and comments out of date, but it is the best review of the market currently available.