In the wake of the vegetable shortage that forced UK supermarkets to impose limits on the number of
certain items that could be purchased by customers, a team of British
scientists has made a breakthrough that could help to ensure that such problems
become a thing of the past.
Working out of the John Innes Centre (JIC) in Norwich, the
team have developed a new form of growth-accelerated broccoli that they claim
goes from seed to harvest in as little as 8-10 weeks; a substantial reduction
on the 14-21 week growth time stated by Harvest to Table. The researchers say that this could allow for two full crops per season
in the field, thereby doubling annual production. In protected conditions, the
crop could be planted all year round.
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Judith Irwin of the JIC sits alongside the new broccoli - Img: Press & Journal |
Speaking of the new development, JIC head of business
development, Jonathan Clarke, said, “The continuity of food production is being
challenged by changes in our climate. Here at the John Innes Centre we have
been challenging the way people think about how we produce food.
“As part of this approach we are considering the potential
of moving some forms of food production into contained horticultural production
systems – these could range from simple glasshouse or growth rooms to more
complex vertical farms.
“This new line of broccoli could be grown in such systems
and would overcome the problem of seasonality and our dependence on imported
crops.”
The breakthrough was made possible by drawing on existing
research into vernalisation, defined by the Encyclopedia of Life Sciences as ‘the promotion of flowering in response to a prolonged
period of growth at low temperatures’. By manipulating this behaviour and removing
the cold requirement from the equation, the crop can be brought to harvest in
less time. Judith Irwin of the JIC explains:
“We harnessed our knowledge of how plants regulate the
flowering process to remove the requirement for a period of cold temperature
and bring this new broccoli line to harvest faster. This means growers could
turn around two field-based crops in one season, or if the broccoli is grown in
protected conditions, four-five crops in a year.”
The newly developed broccoli will still have to go through
some rigorous flavour and nutritional testing before it becomes available in
our shops, but early progress certainly looks promising.
Sam Bonson
Sam
is an aspiring novelist with a passion for fantasy and crime thrillers. He is currently
working as a content writer, journalist & editor in an attempt to expand
his horizons.
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