These include the Institute of Horticulture, the British Onion Producers Association, the Asparagus Growers' Association and the Processors & Growers Research Organisation.

The bodies join associations from across the industry (listed below), which have joined Save Our Science in calling for match-funding from the Government for the grower levy raised by the Horticultural Development Company (HDC) for industry research.

This week, the campaign has called on professionals from across the horticulture industry to urge their MPs to sign an Early Day Motion (EDM) laid by All-Party Parliamentary Gardening & Horticulture Group (APPGHG) chairman Ann Cryer, which calls for government funds for horticultural R&D.

The EDM highlights deep concern that the decline in UK research and development capacity will mean that the UK is "unable to address the scientific challenges raised by new EU-crop protection legislation" (see box, below).

In a statement of support for Save Our Science, British Onions chairman Alastair Findlay said: "Recent ideologically based EU pesticide legislation has placed enormous question marks over carrot and onion production. Answers will have to be found. A major proportion of producers' contributions have had to be diverted to essential SOLA support to the detriment of other important research."

Echoing Findlay's comments, Asparagus Growers' Association chairman Andy Allen said: "The reduction in the availability of crop protection products for our relatively minor crop group is of great concern to our members."

Calling on everyone within the sector to write to their MPs, director general David Gwyther of APPGHG sponsor the HTA said: "The decline in support for R&D in the sector means the industry will find it difficult to meet the challenges raised by the EU crop protection measures and will prevent progress in productivity."

- To view all statements of support for the Save Our Science campaign, go to www.Horticulture Week.co.uk/sossupport.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

This week the Save Our Science campaign is calling for supporters to write to their MP asking them to sign an Early Day Motion (EDM) highlighting the horticultural R&D crisis.

The EDM draws attention to the "significant reduction" in resources and funding for R&D in production horticulture in the past 20 years and highlights concerns that the decline in R&D capacity will mean the UK is "unable to address the scientific challenges raised by EU crop-protection legislation".

The EDM was submitted by Ann Cryer, chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Gardening & Horticulture Group. So far 33 MPs have signed up.

Contacting your MP

- When contacting your MP you need to use the full name of the EDM, which is as follows: EDM 1670 Horticulture Research and Development.

- For the full text of the EDM go to www.horticultureweek.co.uk/edm.

- To view the EDM's progress go to the parliamentary website at edmi.parliament.uk/edmi.

- To find out how to contact your MP go to findyourmp.parliament.uk.

- For more on Horticulture Week's Save Our Science campaign go to www.horticultureweek.co.uk/soscampaign.

In other developments, Save Our Science has recently:

- Called on Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Committee chairman Michael Jack MP to urgently resume the Defra science inquiry launched last year - and to place the horticultural R&D crisis at the top of its agenda.

- Prepared a position statement as part of plans to seek manifesto commitments from the main political parties for the objectives of campaign in the run-up to the next election.

CAMPAIGN SUPPORTERS

Since Horticulture Week launched the Save Our Science campaign at the end of May this year, professionals from across the industry have been giving their backing for the campaign's key aims.

Alongside those individuals, many industry bodies from all corners of the horticulture world have backed the call for match-funding by the Government for money raised by growers for research and development through the HDC levy.

Industry bodies backing the Save Our Science campaign include the
following:
- Asparagus Growers' Association
- Brassica Growers Association
- British Carrot Growers Association
- British Crop Production Council
- British Independent Fruit Growers' Association
- British Leafy Salads Association
- British Onion Producers' Association
- British Protected Ornamentals Association
- East Malling Research
- Horticultural Development Company
- Horticultural Trades Association
- Institute of Horticulture
- National Farmers' Union
- National Horticultural Forum
- Processed Vegetable Growers Association
- Processors & Growers Research Organisation
- Stockbridge Technology Centre
- Warwick HRI
- West Sussex Growers' Association
- To view statements of support, visit
www.HorticultureWeek.co.uk/sossupport.