This scholarship has allowed Nicky to travel the globe looking at everything from wild low bush blueberry production in Nova Scotia, Canada, to high tech strawberry production in the Netherlands and anything in between.
"This is an exciting time to be growing berries and with the possibilities of protected cropping, the opportunities are endless," said Nicky.
Some key points of her study Intensive Berry Production Using Greenhouses, Substrates and Hydroponics. Is this the Way Forward? By Nicola-Anne Mann, 2014 Australian Nuffield Scholar.
- Berries are fast becoming the number one sellers in the fresh produce section of supermarkets.
- High tunnel production is the most common form of low-tech protected cropping of berries around the globe at present.
- The focus is shifting to production efficiency by looking at the best ways to optimise labour, water, nutrients, energy, pollination, improved genetics and timing
- The world’s most progressive growers are carefully selecting and blending substrates for specific berry crops.
- The pros of adopting protected cropping, substrates and hydroponics in the fresh berry industry outweigh the cons despite higher capital investment.
- Early adopters of this sophisticated and innovative method of berry production are considered pioneers in the industry.
- This report demonstrates why protected cropping, substrates and hydroponic techniques must be considered as viable berry growing methods.
Nicky Mann made all of her reports available to those interested.
Links are:
http://www.nuffieldinternational.org/rep_pdf/1450740021NickyMannFinalReport.pdf
Technical compendium:
http://nuffield.com.au/report/other/Nicky-Mann-Compendium-Intensive-berry-production-using-protected-cropping-substrates-hydroponics.pdf
Soilless articles:
https://nickymannnuffield2014.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/berries-nicky-mann-soilless-australia-vol-4-2015-summer-edition.pdf
If you would like to know more about completing a Nuffield Farming Scholarship check out Nuffield International website : www.nuffieldinternational.org
