The Cucumber Growers’ Association (CGA) recognise that, if the UK cucumber industry is to survive in the long term, it is vital that it satisfies the increasing demand for uninterrupted supplies of good quality, traceable produce grown using pest and disease management practices that eliminate chemical residues. To do this, the industry must first establish how to grow all year round crops efficiently, which is the basis of this project. However, this will not be at any cost. The project team are determining optimum production levels in relation to energy use and other inputs.
The need for this study was originally identified by the CGA membership at the 2001 Technical Conference / AGM. Responsibility for determining the feasibility of the venture was delegated to a group of CGA members with complementary specialist skills. This organising group found a suitable site for an experimental glasshouse unit and liased with ten manufacturers / suppliers (links) to form a consortium of partners who were prepared to provide “in-kind” support in the form of equipment and expertise. A formal feasibility study (jointly commissioned by the CGA and HDC) was completed in July 2002, which demonstrated that the venture was technically and economically viable.
Stockbridge Technology Centre Ltd. (STC) was chosen by the CGA as the principal contactor with overall responsibility for the co-ordination of financial and practical aspects of the project.
