Sustainable Intensification of UK plum production

食品零售业正在经历消费者对英国种植的新鲜农产品的需求日益增长，并希望用国内农产品替代进口。由于不可靠和低效的种植系统，目前对本土李子的需求无法满足。该合作项目将开发综合新技术，以解决现有的主要生产问题和限制新鲜李子。通过将高密度种植系统与新的砧木、品种和树形结构的操作相结合以提高产量，再加上保护性种植制度和将调节作物负荷、果实成熟和显著延长季节的组成技术，将实现这种园艺作物的可持续集约化。这种密集和有利可图的种植系统将使英国种植者能够自信地投资于李子生产，为英国园艺业带来巨大的经济影响（> 1000万英镑/年）。

The food retail industry is experiencing increasing demand from consumers for UK grown fresh produce and would like to substitute imports with home produce. The demand for home grown plums cannot currently be met due to unreliable andinefficient cropping systems. This collaborative project will develop integrated new technologies that will address the major existing production problems and limitations for fresh plums. The sustainable intensification of this horticultural crop will be achieved through integration of a high-density growing system with new rootstocks, varieties and manipulation of tree architecture for increased yield, coupled with protected cropping regimes and component technologies that will regulate crop load, fruit ripening and give significant season extension. This intensive and profitable growing system will enable UK growers to confidently invest in plum production, delivering substantial economic impact (>£10 m/yr) to the UK horticulture industry.