RHS welcomes Defra food growth study

Garden and greenhouse experts at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) have welcomed the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) decision to launch a food security assessment.

Environment minister Hilary Benn recently stated the country would have to alter the way in which it produces and processes its crops in order to ensure there is an affordable supply in future.

A major focus of the study will be sustainability – both from a local and international perspective.

It will also look at how carbon emissions from food production can be cut to help protect the environment.

RHS director general Inga Grimsey said: "In the past few years, campaigns by the RHS and other organisations have sparked a huge increase in the number of people growing their own fruit and veg."

She added garden and greenhouse growers can play their part in protecting the environment by cultivating food at home.

Meanwhile, the RHS recently revealed scientists at its Garden Wisley site have discovered a new plant disease never seen before in the UK.