UK: Rt Hon Michael Jack CBE opens STC new research facility

Key players in the world of horticulture joined Stockbridge Technology Centre directors and staff for the official opening of its new LED High Wire facility last week. Over fifty people, including representatives from academia, industry and retail, were present as the Rt Hon Michael Jack CBE unveiled a plaque to commemorate the opening of the Selby research facility's latest innovation.

Stockbridge Technology Centre's Chief Executive Graham Ward, OBE said: "The LED High Wire facility is a research glasshouse that is testing the potential of energy efficient LED lights to allow crops to be UK grown for superior freshness and taste.
The first crop that we are trialing is midi tomato cultivar, Sunstream and the first fruits were available before Christmas. They taste like tomatoes used to taste - delicious and full of flavour!"

Visitors listened to talks from Stockbridge Technology Centre's Director of Science, Dr Martin McPherson and Chair of the Tomato Growers' Association, Nigel Bartle, before they were invited to the glasshouse to see the crops and to taste the fruit.
After a visit to the multi-layer LED4CROPS facility, the guests enjoyed a lunch with a trio of Stockbridge grown tomato based starters including a tomato consommé with balsamic pearls that was created by Provenance Inns' Group Chef Dean Wade to much acclaim.

In his closing address, Michael Jack proposed a vote of thanks to Graham Ward and his team and said: "Today has opened our imaginations to all sorts of possibilities. I'm impressed by the team's enthusiasm and vision and by the fact that they have taken a high tech idea and created a commercial outcome."

Stockbridge Technology Centre's Yorkshire tomatoes are being distributed to the catering trade by Delifresh and are available from retailer members of the East Yorkshire Local Food Network.

Stockbridge Technology Centre is an independent, not for profit organisation that is wholly owned by the UK horticultural industry and is a centre of excellence in technology transfer to agriculture and horticulture. It leads the way in research into LED lighting and the new facility for tall crops such as tomatoes complements an existing facility looking at benches or layers of crops that could be a model for city farms of the future.

The development at Stockbridge Technology Centre has been made possible through widespread support from the industry but especially Norfolk tomato grower Cornerways Nursery, British Tomato Growers Association (TGA), Philips Lighting and Cambridge HOK.