Abstract
The UK government is committed to helping the horticultural industry reduce the amount of peat it uses because of the implications of peat extraction for biodiversity and carbon storage. Peat use in soil improver materials has almost ceased but the growing media industry is still heavily dependent on peat, despite efforts by the industry to move to reduced peat growing media and peat-free formulations where possible. The project has been designed to address two key objectives: Objective 1 To determine the costs to industry, to date of reducing peat use to reach the 90% peat-free target. Objective 2 To determine the costs of a range of scenarios for post-2010 peat use reduction targets. The data to address these questions will be obtained via a series of structured interviews undertaken by ADAS Consultants. Three key sectors within the industry will be approached: growing media manufacturers, retailers (both large multiples and small independent retailers) and a number of professional growers producing either edible or ornamental crops. ADAS will use its knowledge and experience of the industry to select appropriate companies on a national basis within each sector to interview to gain a balanced response. The responses obtained will be interpreted by an ADAS Economist and appropriate budgets and analyses will be prepared. As well as addressing the two key objectives, other tasks will also be undertaken as part of the project including; producing a list of possible future costs the industry will have to cover as part of attaining the peat free targets, any extra costs to the consumer/amateur gardener; identifying potential social costs as a result of extracting less peat, determining the effect on the industry of reduced peat demand. The project including questionnaire scoping, interviewing, data analysis and report writing will be undertaken over a period of 8 months (15 January 2009 – 1 September 2009). The information generated by the project will be used in the horticultural use of peat work strand which forms part of the larger Defra Partnership project to protect and enhance peat soils and the habitats they support.
United Kingdom