Cranfield University and Produce World win top KTP accolade
Release date: 10 November 2015
Cranfield University and the Produce World Group, one of the UK’s largest vegetable growers and suppliers, have won the RCUK Research Base Impact Award at this year’s prestigious Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) Awards.
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships is a UK-wide programme linking commercial organisations with academic institutions to help support and shape the future of British business. It is funded by Innovate UK, along with 12 other public sector partners, and aims to strengthen the competitiveness, wealth creation and economic performance of the UK by enhancing knowledge and skills, and stimulating innovation through collaboration.
Produce World and Cranfield University have been recognised for their work to establish a Soil Information Management System 'Soil-for-Life®' (SfL) which allows the company to map, assess and monitor soils across the business. The system, developed with Cranfield’s expertise in soil science and database design, allows Produce World to improve its use of soils to optimise soil fertility, match crops to soil type, and therefore improve marketable yield of vegetables and the sustainability of its farming business.
Soil-for-Life® drives continuous improvements in crop production resulting in direct increases in marketable yield and operational efficiencies. SfL is underpinned by the emergent, innovative and interdisciplinary field of ‘agri-informatics’, whereby statistics and database management techniques are used to exploit knowledge held in multiple ’big data’ sets.
The Awards celebrate the standout achievements of outstanding individuals and organisations. They were presented during a high profile ceremony as part of Innovate 2015, the UK’s flagship event held in partnership with UK Trade and Investment (UKTI). The event was attended by over 400 leading figures from the world of academia and innovation, as well as UK investors and international delegations.
Commenting, Dr Robert Simmons, Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Soil Management at Cranfield University, said: “It is a real privelege to be recognised for our work with Produce World. Through working together we have gained a greater understanding of UK horticulture production systems and the key soil management challenges faced by UK agri-business.”
Guy Thallon, Head of Research, Development and Innovation at the Produce World Group, commented on the future of the partnership: “At the Produce World Group we have continued to integrate Soil-for-Life into our Responsible Sourcing prgramme. We are also continuing to develop the technology. A new three-year project with Cranfield will allow in-depth analysis and exploration of ‘big data’, and provide scientific evidence to support sustainable intensification and maintain soil health at a field, farm and Group level.”
Dr Ruth McKernan, Chief Executive of Innovate UK, added: “The drive, creativity and results that knowledge transfer partnerships achieve are incredible and it’s no wonder they have been going for more than 40 years. It never fails to impress me what people can achieve given the opportunity and encouragement. It’s those top calibre partnerships that get through the independent nomination process for our best of the best awards.“
ENDS
For further information please contact: Alex Pryce, Cranfield University: or +44 (0) 1234 75 0111 ext 2840 or Peter Crowe: 07967 504034
Notes to Editors:
Cranfield University
Cranfield is an exclusively postgraduate university that is a global leader for education and transformational research in technology and management. www.cranfield.ac.uk
Agrifood has been a key strategic theme at Cranfield University for over 40 years. We possess internationally recognised expertise across both domestic and international food supply chains from primary food production, inputs - soil, plants and water, through to point of sale, waste reduction and applied informatics.
The Produce World Group
The Produce World Group grows and supplies quality fresh vegetables. It is the largest supplier in the UK, providing produce into major retailers, food service and food manufacturing customers.
Crops supplied by the Group include potatoes, carrots, parsnips, onions, leaks, garlic, cabbage, kale, cauliflower, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts. As well as conventionally grown vegetables, the Produce World Group is a leader in the organic category.
The company works with its expert grower partners to grow the widest range of top quality fresh vegetables. It owns leading organic grower Taylorgrown, and its expert agronomy and procurement team adds value along the supply chain by working with individual growers, grower cooperatives and joint venture partners.
Crops are washed, graded and packed at Produce World’s sites across the East of England. In addition to its headquarters in Peterborough, the Group has sites in Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire.
The company has a values-driven culture which is celebrated every year by its Pride of Produce World Awards. In addition, these values are manifested through the four pillars of its sustainability programme 4Life. They are Responsible Sourcing, Environmental Stewardship, Workplace Culture, and Community Impact.
Innovate UK
Innovate UK is the UK’s innovation agency. It works with people, companies and partner organisations to find and drive the science and technology innovations that will grow the UK economy - delivering productivity, new jobs and exports and keeping the UK globally competitive in the race for future prosperity. For further information visit www.gov.uk/innovateuk
UK Trade & Investment
UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is the Government Department that helps UK-based companies succeed in the global economy. UKTI help overseas companies bring their high-quality investment to the UK’s dynamic economy – acknowledged as Europe’s best place from which to succeed in global business. Visit: www.gov.uk/ukti