Skills gap in plant science ‘putting UK at risk of disease’

The decline in expertise in plant pathology needs to be reversed to give the UK a better chance to detect and control diseases which could hit the countryside and gardens, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) urged.

Experts who can conduct more rigorous inspection of plants and plant material coming into the country are particularly important for early detection and control of new and existing diseases.

But research in plant pathology has almost declined and universities are withdrawing degrees in the field, according to the British Society of Plant Pathologists.

Degrees are vanishing in the face of a lack of student interest, which is fuelled by a lack of jobs for them to apply for.

The decline in plant pathology expertise is part of a wider skills gap in horticulture, an industry which contributes £9bn to the economy each year, the RHS warned.

Horticulture employs 300,000 people, including crop growers, gardeners, scientists, tree surgeons and turf specialists.

But a survey of 200 businesses, as part of a report commissioned by leading horticultural organisations that highlights the shortage of skilled professionals, revealed that more than 70 per cent struggled to fill skilled vacancies.

Sue Biggs, director general of the RHS, said urgent action was needed to save British horticulture.

“We need to ensure there is sufficient funding to support horticultural learning and skills in development in further education institutions across the UK.

“We need to encourage and create more opportunities for plant pathologists, for instance more skilled people at borders and ports to monitor plant movement into the UK.”