World class science from financially stable facilities is vital if the British horticulture industry is to remain competitive and able to rise to the joint challenges of both growing food and protecting the environment, the NFU has warned. NFU horticulture board chairman Sarah Pettitt sounded the note of caution ahead of the NFU/HDC summer conference at Stockbridge Technology Centre. She said funding cuts had been responsible for the loss of a number of R&D facilities over the past ten years, taking with them valuable scientific expertise.