New industry reps to join Horticulture Development board

Three new industry representatives are to join the Horticultural Development Company (HDC) Board.

Marion Regan, a soft fruit grower from Kent, independent consultant Michael Mann, who has a background in the bulb and cut flower industry, and West Sussex ornamentals grower and training consultant Martin Emmett have been named as the new board members.

Emmett, who has sat on the Horticulture LINK project management committee for 10 years, says he is 'delighted' to be joining the board at what he believes to be a potentially exciting time for the industry.

"I'm keen to help HDC with its work raising the profile of the ornamentals sectors with policy makers and others outside horticulture. Some feel it plays second fiddle to edible crops – and while I don't think it does within HDC, it does need to be better recognised for the socio-economic contribution it makes to the UK."

Regan says she believes HDC is vital to horticulture's success.


"HDC funds are always limited in comparison with what needs to be done so we need to spend them wisely – and HDC already has a good record of doing that because it’s good at keeping its finger on the pulse of the industry.

'It's easy to take HDC's work for granted but we use it every day on the farm, from crop protection products applied under EAMUs to the work that’s been done at East Malling on irrigation."

Mann, who is currently vice-chairman of the Protected Ornamentals Panel, says joining the board is an opportunity to make more of a contribution to the horticulture industry.

“One thing I’m keen to ensure on the board is that even the smallest growers feel they have the opportunity to have their voices heard about what they need HDC to be doing for them. I also want to make sure we get the right balance of expenditure to likely uptake of results by growers. I’m keen on the new approach being taken where panels create their own project proposals and put them to tender – this will ensure projects are even more useful to growers.” he said.

The new board members replace Harriet Duncalfe, outgoing Chair of the Soft Fruit Panel, Alan Davis, outgoing Chair of the Protected Ornamentals Panel, and Gordon Flint, outgoing Chair of the Bulbs and Outdoor Flowers Panel, whose terms of office on the HDC board each end this month. Regan, Mann and Emmett will each take up the subsequent Panel Chair vacancies.