Created by ICL and Bayer, the first Hort Science Live event proved to be a sell-out with over 80 hardy nursery stock growers attending from across the country.

Hosted by the Bransford Webbs Plant Company (Ornamental Grower of the Year 2016) in Worcestershire, the event was run in association with the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA).  Workshop led, it featured the latest science, technologies and thinking across growing media, plant protection and plant nutrition.

“We set out not only to explain the science behind the latest technologies but to provide useful and practical knowledge on how to apply it,” says Adam Ferjani, ICL marketing communications manager.  “Due to its success, we hope Hort Science Live will become an annual and regional event in the future.”

Steve Chapman, production manager at Palmstead Nurseries, in Kent, was impressed by the diversity of subject matter.  “The event covered everything from Exemptor through to growing media and precision nutrition to wetting agents and the biofungicide Prestop,” he said.  “With all the current pressure on neonicotinoids it was particularly interesting to hear that Exemptor is safe to bees - this is reassuring and gives us more confidence to move forward with it in the future.”