HDC - Horticultural Development Council : HDC launches funding opportunity to review tree fruit thinning

A new funding opportunity to review thinning methods on tree fruit crops has been launched today by the Horticultural Development Company (HDC).

The purpose of the funding is to review the most cost effective and efficient method(s) of thinning a range of tree fruit crops and to identify approaches worthy of further development with up to £12k available to undertake the work.

Under HDC's strategic objectives for Tree Fruit, targets were set to improve the quality, availability, consistency of supply, and shelf life of British tree fruit across an extended season with fruit thinning identified as a key research initiative to achieve this target.

The review should cover the major protected and outdoor production systems for tree fruit and all relevant methods practised or under development globally. Suggestions for suitable novel innovations, as yet undeveloped elsewhere are also welcome.

The deadline for proposals is 28 February 2014 with projects to commence on 1 April 2014. For full information on the tender and the application procedure, please visit the HDC tender page: www.hdc.org.uk/tenders .