Sarah Fairhurst, HR manager, Porters Horticultural, and chairman, BPOA "At the moment R&D is vital to our business to en-sure that pests and diseases are controlled, especially in the face of Europe's change of the pesticide laws.

"We desperately need to make sure that we develop new weapons to protect the industry for the future. I'd say climate change will raise potential problems as well, with the weather being unpredictable; either warm and wet or warm and very dry.

"Last year, downy mildew on Impatiens was a major problem, although it looks like we will be all right this year as the weather is so good. But if it happens again the industry could be in trouble. At the moment the R&D has been fantastic but if the funds dry up it could devastate entire crops. There is always the risk of things like tobacco whitefly coming over here too.

"I think the Horticultural Development Company has been reacting really well by contacting other countries to see what they're doing. It's just a shame that our government doesn't seem to consider the industry as important as other governments around the world do."

Phillip Effingham, technical director, Marshall Bros, and chairman, Brassica Growers Association "Obviously, we are extremely concerned with R&D funding practices. Continual withdrawal is hurting our UK R&D, making it very difficult to face future challenges - particularly those presented by the pesticides legislation.

"The other concern with R&D is that 90% of people involved in the industry are less than 10 years away from retirement. There is limited scope for mechanisation and large parts of the immigrant workforce are repatriating.

"Previously we had the confidence that new technologies would be developed and keep us competitive, but now we are scarcely one step ahead. In other countries such as the Netherlands they have a government that takes an active interest in the industry.

"I think the pound-for-pound initiative is the best we can hope for at a time of economic crisis, but if growers are prepared to put their hands in their pockets to develop what is a very basic necessity then the Government should be prepared to match that."

Nigel Bartle, manager, Cornerways Nursery, and chairman, British Tomato Growers Association "R&D transfer is fundamental to our business. The research landscape changed dramatically over the past 25 years and it is incredibly important that we keep up and keep adapting. Any extra funding is vital in terms of tomato growing.

"Eighty per cent of tomatoes consumed in the UK are imported. We are competing with countries like the Netherlands that are far better supported by government.

"We need government support. As tomato growers we have been working to eliminate pesticides, but for that you need new technology. We are not asking for massive handouts, just some help."

Andrew Richardson, joint managing director, Johnsons of Whixley "Without a doubt the industry has seen a massive reduction in investment over the past 20 years.

"Our Government appears to have had the policy of doing as little as possible, unlike our competitors on the Continent who are far better supported. We are in a situation where we have to become more efficient, deal with climate change and cope with problems concerning infections in plants worldwide.

"The industry needs a good base of R&D in a way that it has never needed before. Sadly, we don't have one and a lot of the people and facilities that did exist have gone.

"We need some kind of worldwide database so that money is spread as efficiently as possible. It would also be good to see more international collaboration between bodies like the Horticultural Development Company."

Brian Tompsett, farm manager, Alan Firmin "There is less and less research paid for by the Government these days. We actually host quite a lot of trial work in conjunction with East Malling Research and it is vital work. If we don't do it, it just won't get done and this does put a burden on the grower.

"Research is vital for us in order to remain competitive in the industry and to maintain standards for the consumer.

"We are competing with imports that are grown using chemicals we cannot use - and with countries that have governments that support them more - which means we need much more R&D to achieve a level playing field.

"There are numerous major problems facing us like pear sucker, mussel scale and codling moth control. It is putting so much pressure on the grower and it is such an important subject.

"We could be growing a lot more apples and pears if we had more support from the Government, and it would have huge benefits for the environment in terms of reducing food miles."

David Piccaver, chairman, British Leafy Salads Association, and managing director, JEPCO "Going pound-for-pound, to me, seems a very satisfactory way to get through this. It is a good investment for the Government as it all hangs around the issue of food security, to which they have not paid much attention.

"The trouble is that the importance of R&D doesn't become obvious straightaway, and although we already know the situation is critical with the closure of facilities, it may be four to five years before we really feel the effects of it.

"R&D has always been vital, whether it is trying to develop more efficient practices or to develop new technologies.

"If we are to stay ahead of the game, we need to be more efficient and it will become even more important when we are trying to embrace the environment."

Anthony Snell, soft fruit grower and NFU board member "At a time when we have economic recession, climate change and, more than anything, worries about basic food supply - and people are worrying about whether we are going to have enough food to feed everyone - it seems mind-blowingly obvious that we need to invest in research and development.

"We don't really have any major heavy industry left in the UK. Agriculture and horticulture are the only real industries that have survived in this country, so it is vital that we invest in them for the future.

"We need to look more carefully at genetic modification and developing new products, even if it is expensive. We have been ahead of the game for many years but everybody has caught up now, and unless we invest for the future we will find that we get left behind."