The Growing Media Taskforce, an industry group consisting of the Garden Centre Association (GCA), Growing Media Association (GMA), National Farmers Union (NFU), and Responsible Sourcing Scheme (RSS) and chaired by the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), has submitted its response to the government’s consultation on the use of peat in horticulture, putting forward evidence that argues against legislation and calls for government to commit to taking action that will enable access to alternatives. 

Views from across the industry, including growers, manufacturers and retailers, have shaped what stands as horticulture’s response to a Defra proposal to ban peat from retail sale by 2024.  

Acknowledgment of the need to transition to peat-free as part of a wider commitment to improving the sustainability of horticulture is at the heart of the response, which outlines opportunities for government and industry to collaborate and highlights the unintended consequences a ban would have on an industry that has well-documented positive effects on society – particularly people’s mental health and wellbeing – is a key enabler in government’s green ambitions and contributes £29bn a year to GDP and generates £6.3bn in tax revenues. 

With latest figures showing peat-use continuing to decrease across the board*, the taskforce says that primary legislation is not necessary and instead government should commit to working with industry to unlock policy barriers to speed up access to materials such as wood, coir and green waste.  

Chairman of the HTA and Chair of the Growing Media Taskforce, James Barnes, said: “Horticulture is a green industry at its core, providing the trees and plants that will enable government to progress towards net zero and achieve the goals of its 25-year environment plan. There is no question that peat use should be phased out, however, without access to the necessary quantities of alternatives, it is not dramatic to predict huge damage to UK growers and retailers and a knock-on effect for the millions of people who enjoy gardening.” 

The response also raises the concerns of the edible horticulture sector, with particular regard to the challenges that mushroom producers and the propagation of some brassicas and leafy salad crops face.  Both rely heavily on peat, as its benefits are not easily replicated.   

“Growers are investing in finding suitable alternatives but more time and collaboration with government is required”, Barnes continued.  “As a sector geared towards providing the nation with healthy, affordable British food, we are asking government to work with us until such time a commercial material delivers the biological benefits of peat, without unintentionally impacting our domestic food security. 

“Our response to this consultation sets out how we can ensure a manageable transition to peat-free growing media and demonstrates that collaboration, not legislation, is the key to finding solutions to the complex challenges of the issue.  

“Defra’s proposals represent further new regulatory policy from the Government that will impact our industry despite the Government’s principles outlined to do the opposite in their recent publication ‘The Benefits of Brexit’**. 

“The industry is already working incredibly hard to advance progress through education, by way of the Responsible Sourcing Scheme for example, and product development. Government action needs to complement this - by way of funding for more research and development and grants for new technologies and removing policy barriers to the alternatives we know are out there. ” 

The taskforce has committed to end the sector’s use of peat, pledging to remove it from the retail market as early as 2025 and no later than the end 2028.

Read the full Growing Media Taskforce submission using this link

Here is the Headline Summary from the submission:

1. The Growing Media Taskforce has developed a challenging, yet achievable programme of activity to attain peat free status for horticulture, without the need for regulatory action. Some areas are focussed on industry actions, others on Government actions.

2. A buoyant horticulture sector contributes positively to society, to the economy and fulfils many of the Government’s own ambitions around climate change mitigation and a healthy environment. This sector is at risk if the transition away from peat is not managed correctly.

3. To remove peat from horticulture is not a question of if, it is entirely a question of when. The taskforce in 2021 committed to end the sector’s use of peat, pledging to remove it from the retail market as early as 2025 and no later than the end 2028. For professional horticulture, the range is between 2028 and 2030.

4. Of paramount importance is the urgent implementation of a manageable transition from peat to peat free growing media. For that, Government assistance is essential, without the need for legislative action. That Government assistance needs to be in the form of access to peat alternatives, research and development, the principle of exemptions and understanding fully the unintended consequences of introducing primary legislation. A ban is unnecessary, and the measures Government have proposed in this consultation will not achieve a healthy, productive, peat-free UK horticulture sector.

5. Government actions should not harm an industry that at its very core contributes to excellent mental health and wellbeing, adds positively to the healthy eating agenda, enhances the environment, and supports green jobs and the green economy. Food security, green cities, plant-based nutrition, afforestation are examples of areas that must all be considered when proposing to remove peat from horticulture. The full set of Taskforce recommended Government actions can be viewed in ANNEX C of the full submission (link above)

6. The Taskforce is disappointed with Defra’s economic impact assessment, and its use in justifying its preferred policy proposals. The Impact Assessment is not reflective of the true costs to the sector and is based upon flawed assumptions, not least the assertion that peat is extracted for horticulture from over 5,000 hectares of land. Such inaccuracies create serious flaws in Defra’s assessment of the environmental and economic consequences of the policy options. Without positive government action the horticulture sector – both ornamental and edible - will be harmed. On the other hand, positive government action to aid peat removal, for example on enabling greater access to peat alternatives, co-ordinating the required research and development and ensuring businesses can access capital investment has been omitted from consideration.

7. The unintended consequences of introducing legislation must be considered and evaluated before introduction. Pulling one policy lever – e.g., the removal of peat in horticulture without a commercially viable alternative material, may have unintended consequences e.g., food security and access to affordable food.