The British Growers Association (BGA) and specialist agricultural communications agency JCM&Co have joined forces in a new partnership aimed at supporting the future of UK horticulture through industry insight, research and collaboration.
The agreement forms part of the British Growers’ new partnership programme, which brings together organisations committed to supporting growers, strengthening connections across the sector and contributing to a more resilient and competitive fresh produce industry.
As its first major initiative, JCM&Co is working with independent research specialists Grounded Research on Yields & Fields: Trends and Opportunities in British Produce, a report examining grower confidence, business resilience, innovation and the future direction of UK fresh produce production.
The findings will be presented to BGA members at the Association’s AGM and conference on 17–18 November 2026.
Research focused on the future of British production
The study combines a survey of British growers with interviews with influential figures from horticulture, food supply chains and the wider agricultural sector. Its aim is to build a clearer picture of the pressures facing growers while identifying opportunities to strengthen the resilience, competitiveness and sustainability of British horticulture.
Among the issues being examined are business confidence and outlook, access to labour and skills, technology adoption, supply chain relationships and policy priorities capable of supporting future growth.
John Walgate, CEO of the British Growers Association, said the partnership programme was designed to bring together organisations with a shared commitment to the long-term success of British horticulture.
“We are delighted to welcome JCM&Co, whose deep understanding of agriculture, food production and industry communications will bring valuable expertise to the programme,” he said.
Walgate added that Yields & Fields reflects the type of initiative the BGA wants to encourage through its partnerships, bringing growers’ experiences together with perspectives from across the supply chain.
“The findings will provide valuable insight for our members and help inform wider discussions about the investment, innovation and policy support needed to ensure British horticulture can flourish,” he said.
Bringing together voices from across the supply chain
Alongside the grower survey, the report will include contributions from a broad range of industry figures.
Christine Tacon will examine supply chain relationships and the future of British produce, while Emma Brown of The Felix Project will address food waste and redistribution. Veryan Bliss will also contribute insights into changing supply chain relationships.
Grower Marion Regan will share her experience of berry and salad production, technology, commercial pressures and policy priorities. Meanwhile, Sapphira Waterson of MDS will focus on skills, recruitment and career opportunities, including the challenge of attracting the next generation into horticulture.
For Jane Craigie, Managing Director of JCM&Co, the partnership provides an opportunity to make a practical contribution to the sector from its outset.
“British horticulture has so much to be proud of, producing exceptional food, supporting rural economies and demonstrating extraordinary innovation and resilience,” she said. At the same time, growers are facing significant pressures, including rising production costs, workforce challenges, climate volatility and increasingly complex supply chain demands.
Craigie said the objective of Yields & Fields was to understand where British produce stands today, where the opportunities are and what needs to change.
“Our ambition is to produce something genuinely useful: research that sparks conversations, challenges assumptions and provides evidence to help businesses, industry organisations and policymakers make informed decisions about the future of British horticulture,” she said.
Combining grower relationships and sector expertise
The partnership brings together the BGA’s close relationships with growers and producer organisations with JCM&Co’s experience in agricultural communications, research-led content, stakeholder engagement and thought leadership.
Established in 2003, JCM&Co works with agricultural and food businesses, research organisations and industry bodies in the UK and internationally. Its work focuses on communicating complex issues, engaging stakeholders and contributing to key conversations across the agricultural and food sectors.
The findings of Yields & Fields: Trends and Opportunities in British Produce will be presented at the British Growers Association AGM and conference on 17–18 November, providing a platform for further discussion around the challenges, opportunities and priorities shaping the future of UK horticulture.
