UK horticultural businesses: we need your insight
Soil is one of the least‑understood pathways for the movement of plant pests and diseases. We have very little information on how soil is traded, treated, and stored in the UK.
Defra is asking growers, nurseries, importers and retailers to help with a survey examining how soil enters and is managed within the UK, including soil attached to imported plants. The project is being led by Suzannah Pearce from Defra's Plant Health policy team and aims to build a better understanding of current industry practices.
The findings will help inform plant health policy and improve understanding of potential risks associated with imported soil. Defra has published a call for comments through the UK Plant Health Information Portal and is encouraging businesses across the sector to take part.
Take part in the survey here: Survey on how soil commodities are traded, treated, and stored in the UK. The survey currently takes 6 minutes on average to complete.
This work is for a part-time PhD by one of the technical leads in the Defra plant health team as part of their role. If you have any questions about the survey, please contact suzannah.pearce@defra.gov.uk.