Pioneering research facility recognised with UK Grower of the Year award
Directors and staff at a North Yorkshire horticulture research facility are celebrating after winning a prestigious award.
The team at Selby based Stockbridge Technology Centre were awarded the David Piccaver Science Award at the UK Grower of the Year awards at a gala dinner at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London on 25thFebruary.
A special award for 2015, the David Piccaver Science Award recgonises the organisation thathas brought innovation through research into profitable practice within the growing community.
Dr Martin McPherson and Dr Phillip Davies received the award from David Piccaver's daughter, Lizzie Lilley. Dr McPherson said: "David Piccaver was a giant in the horticultural industry and his contribution and passion is sadly missed. David was a Director of Stockbridge and gave us the encouragement and confidence to go ahead with this groundbreaking technology.
The award is atribute to David and to his contribution to horticulture and it is a real honour for the team at Stockbridge to win it."
Organised by Horticulture Week magazine, The UK Grower Awards 2015 celebrate the very best in the UK production horticulture industry. The dinner was attended by over 400 people who enjoyed a three course meal and after dinner entertainment.
The award comes at an exciting time for Stockbridge Technology Centre as its pioneering trial on LED lighting to grow crops has created much industry and media interest.
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 urban farms of the future.
Ends
Photo: Dr Martin McPherson and Dr Phillip Davies receive the award from David Piccaver's daughter, Lizzie Lilley
For more information or to arrange an interview with Dr McPherson, please contact Tracey Baty at three60 marketing on
Direct line: 01430 871360
Mobile: 07971 961574
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Notes to editors
David Piccaver was chairman of specialist producer JE Piccaver & Co and led numerous industry bodies and crop associations throughout his career, including the British Leafy Salads Association (BLSA), which he chaired from 2004 to 2009. He died in December 2013.
For more information about Stockbridge Technology Centre, please call 01757 268275or visithttp://www.stockbridgeonline.co.uk/
For more information about the UK
Grower of the Year awards, please visithttp://www.thegrowerawards.co.uk/home