Sphagnum Farming UK - First Steps to Commercial Peat-Free Growing Media

泥炭作为一种生长介质的商业开采是不可持续的，DEFRA要求在2030年之前停止。开采的泥炭地是通过不饱和泥炭层氧化产生的二氧化碳净排放源，相当于英国每年18.5至23 MtCO 2 e，相当于英国每年CO2排放量的4%。泥炭作为替代品的需求仍然很高，符合商业园艺性能，MPS开发了世界上第一个生产BeadaGel的体外生产系统并获得专利（商标）用于繁殖和播种泥炭藓在规模商业规模农业收获和加工作为泥炭替代生长介质产品- BeadaGro（商标）。种植泥炭藓的唯一替代方法是转移泥炭藓植物，这对脆弱的生态系统是有害的，其中许多是受法律保护的，大规模的不可持续的。这个合作项目的目的，与农民和商业种植苗圃，是发展和展示泥炭藓农业的商业可行性的各个方面。该项目包括开发植物克隆，以最大限度地提高生长和产量优化，以及生物控制方法，以防止疾病和杂草侵扰。将开发和试验用于大规模田间播种、收获和作物加工的机械和协议。园艺生长试验将证明收获的泥炭藓作为泥炭替代生长介质的有效性。泥炭藓种植也提供了一个恢复碳平衡的机会，通过光合作用吸收二氧化碳，在试验期间，曼彻斯特城市大学将监测二氧化碳的捕获。

Commercial extraction of peat as a growing media is unsustainable and mandated by DEFRA to cease by 2030\. Exploited peatlands are a net source of carbon dioxide emissions through oxidation of the unsaturated peat layer, equating to between 18.5 to 23 MtCO2e/year in the UK, equivalent to 4% of annual UK CO2 emissions. Peat remains in high demand as alternatives, meeting commercial horticultural performance, are unavailable at scale.MPS have developed and patented a world-first in-vitro production system to produce BeadaGel (trademark) for propagating and seeding Sphagnum at scale for commercial scale farming to harvest and process as a peat alternative growing media product - BeadaGro (trademark).The only alternative method to seed Sphagnum is to translocate Sphagnum plants which is damaging for fragile ecosystems, many of which are legally protected and unsustainable at large scale.The aim of this collaborative project, with farmers and commercial growing nurseries, is to develop and demonstrate all aspects of commercial viability for Sphagnum Farming. The project includes developing plant clones to maximise growth and size for yield optimisation, as well as biological control methods to prevent disease and weed infestation. Machinery and protocols will be developed and trialled for large scale field seeding, harvesting and crop processing. Horticultural growing trials will demonstrate the effectiveness of the harvested sphagnum as a peat alternative growing media. Sphagnum farming also offer an opportunity to restore carbon balance, absorbing carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, during the trials Manchester Metropolitan University will monitor carbon dioxide capture.