18 March 2011

Elizabeth Truss MP opens British Sugar's 'carbon friendly' horticultural business expansion

Today, British Sugar celebrated 10 successful years of its horticultural business, Cornerways Nursery, and the opening of its third phase expansion by Elizabeth Truss, MP for South West Norfolk.

The expansion has taken the glasshouse from 11 hectares to 18 hectares, raising production from 80 million tomatoes to around 140 million tomatoes annually, making Cornerways the UK's largest tomato nursery, with the first fruit being harvested this month.

Cornerways Nursery benefits from its proximity to the Wissington Sugar Factory's Combined Heat & Power (CHP) Plant, with more than two hundred and forty miles of piping carrying hot water from the CHP plant to the glasshouse to help maintain the temperatures which suit tomato plants.  The nursery is recognised as the most 'carbon friendly' commercial greenhouse in a Horticultural Carbon Footprint Report by Bangor University and funded by the Horticultural Development Company.  The nursery's carbon dioxide footprint within the report does not include any emissions for greenhouse heating, and according to the report, heating is the primary source of emissions for all other commercial growers.  In addition, carbon dioxide, a by-product from the CHP boiler, is pumped into the greeenhouse to be absorbed by the plants during photosynthesis rather than vented into the atmosphere.

Seeking innovative ways to minimise waste and maximise the value from its raw materials, Cornerways supports British Sugar's commitment to achieving environmental and soclal sustainability throughout its business.  The opening of the expansion includes a new energy management system incorporating a 1 million litre water storage buffer tank, so when the nursery's heating demands are low the tank stores the hot water to be reused later.

Cornerways Nursery has grown significantly since the opening of phase one in 2001, when the glasshouse covered just 5 hectares.  The nursery has continued to expand by using innovative techniques to exploit the use of carbon dioxide, heat and water.  The fitting of energy saving screens during phase one enabled the development of phase two during 2007 by a further 6 hectares.  Finally, the new energy management system has been the catalyst for the phase three expansion opened today.

Colm McKay, Agriculture Director, British Sugar UK commented, "We are delighted to celebrate the success of Cornerways Nursery with the new expansion being officially opened today by Elizabeth Truss MP.  Cornerways clearly demonstrates British Sugar's commitment to minimising waste whilst sustainably increasing our growth within the UK tomato industry to meet customer demand for home-grown tomatoes."

Cornerways Nursery holds the Red Tractor and LEAF (Linking Environment & Farming) mark of accreditation and the British Retail Consortium Global Standard for Food Safety.
 

Note to Editors:
Cornerways tomatoes are sold through the major retailers, food service suppliers and local businesses, through the producer group 'Intergrow' and international produce business, The Greenery.