Here is a point made by Jo Hunt that is relevant to all the growing groups. Maybe the policy group could liaise with him and the HGFC Steering Group and do some lobbying?
A major problem is a dearth of skilled workers and no local training. UHI have an HND in Horticulture but it is focused on garden centres. UHI are interested in developing sustainable/local food production and marketing degree units: JoH did some scoping work for them on this (in 2018). The barrier is that SG agri department don’t think it a priority, and see SRUC as the only possible actor. With more encouragement and the right support, JoH thinks UHI would and could have an interest in a more comprehensive degree around growing at this latitude.
France and Spain have degree courses and local growers have been bringing over skilled students for summer work. However, producers face uncertainty this year because of Covid and Brexit. Could HGFC groups create a demand pull for training? In the short term could a dearth of skills for community growing and a large GH be a show stopper?
JoH pointed out that nowadays, commerical growing and distribution is highly technical but some people have the view that if you can grow some vegetables in your garden you can grow commercially
Jo Cumming