Glasshouses Action Plan
Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2021 12:11 pm
15 February 2021
12:17
1. Agreed objectives for next phase:
a. Develop the business plan for a 1ha glasshouse, a blueprint for potential operators*
b. Develop the business plan for 1ha of all year growing space, made up of smaller units located around the Highlands, using a common set of technologies, and shared practice
c. Develop the business plan for a co-operative of producers to provide processing, commercial, technical and planning services to members**
d. Establish a list of potential co-op members
2. How long will this take?
• This depends on resources available
• We should be able to at least match our time input with £ to fund secretariat/ research capability. This project is relevant to the following SG policies: local food, climate emergency, still-emerging ag policy, innovation, skills, place-based policy making, the wellbeing agenda. A small subgroup needs to work on resourcing this phase, immediately
• This phase should take no more than 1 year
*Topics headings for 1a)
• Discover best practices of the commercial glasshouse sectors of Finland, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway and any other relevant country
• The construction requirements of a contemporary 1ha glasshouse: the natural agricultural principles of operating, engineering, the role of lighting in Highland latitudes, the energy equation, the capital costings
• Developing a cropping plan from which to build a model of multi-year outputs, reflecting the seasonality of tourism-driven demand
• The energy equation: sizing supply of renewable energy with demand, use of renewables, security of supply and potential for long-term supply agreements
• A typical P&L account
• The climate emergency mitigation factors: how much better is this than the status quo? i.e. the carbon equation
• Analysis of operators' skills: supply & demand
• Potential funding sources: commercial lending, Scottish National Investment Bank, impact investor equity interest, crowd funding, etc
**Topics for headings for 1b)
• Analysis of current supply flows of Med produce to the Highlands: products, volumes, seasonality, pricing, current distribution routes
• Understanding processing requirements of a multi-species pack house, sized to meet Highland peak demand, could an existing operator play a part?
• The commercial requirements to engage with the Highland retail and food service base, plus potential for collaboration with southern European suppliers in the early years, plus a competitor analysis
• Description of technical know-how available to members
• A multi-year P&L including funding the early years
• Potential for AI and research to improve productivity, product range, harvesting, packing
• How to establish a co-op, ref SAOS
• Liaison with other relevant HGFC work streams
12:17
1. Agreed objectives for next phase:
a. Develop the business plan for a 1ha glasshouse, a blueprint for potential operators*
b. Develop the business plan for 1ha of all year growing space, made up of smaller units located around the Highlands, using a common set of technologies, and shared practice
c. Develop the business plan for a co-operative of producers to provide processing, commercial, technical and planning services to members**
d. Establish a list of potential co-op members
2. How long will this take?
• This depends on resources available
• We should be able to at least match our time input with £ to fund secretariat/ research capability. This project is relevant to the following SG policies: local food, climate emergency, still-emerging ag policy, innovation, skills, place-based policy making, the wellbeing agenda. A small subgroup needs to work on resourcing this phase, immediately
• This phase should take no more than 1 year
*Topics headings for 1a)
• Discover best practices of the commercial glasshouse sectors of Finland, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway and any other relevant country
• The construction requirements of a contemporary 1ha glasshouse: the natural agricultural principles of operating, engineering, the role of lighting in Highland latitudes, the energy equation, the capital costings
• Developing a cropping plan from which to build a model of multi-year outputs, reflecting the seasonality of tourism-driven demand
• The energy equation: sizing supply of renewable energy with demand, use of renewables, security of supply and potential for long-term supply agreements
• A typical P&L account
• The climate emergency mitigation factors: how much better is this than the status quo? i.e. the carbon equation
• Analysis of operators' skills: supply & demand
• Potential funding sources: commercial lending, Scottish National Investment Bank, impact investor equity interest, crowd funding, etc
**Topics for headings for 1b)
• Analysis of current supply flows of Med produce to the Highlands: products, volumes, seasonality, pricing, current distribution routes
• Understanding processing requirements of a multi-species pack house, sized to meet Highland peak demand, could an existing operator play a part?
• The commercial requirements to engage with the Highland retail and food service base, plus potential for collaboration with southern European suppliers in the early years, plus a competitor analysis
• Description of technical know-how available to members
• A multi-year P&L including funding the early years
• Potential for AI and research to improve productivity, product range, harvesting, packing
• How to establish a co-op, ref SAOS
• Liaison with other relevant HGFC work streams