Sphagnum Seed Stock

Harvesting and subsequent degradation of peat bogs is a growing and controversial problem,
with this limited resource having a finite lifespan, meaning natural peat sources are running
out. DEFRA are currently working to completely phase out the use of peat based products in
UK Horticulture by 2030. Existing natural peat bogs are harvested for use in horticulture as a
growing medium, bio-fuels and other niche markets. Peat is widely recognised as providing
key ecosystem services that are important for human well-being. It underpins habitats and
landscapes important for biodiversity, moderation of groundwater flow and quality, climate
regulation, provision of food, cultural heritage and recreation (Bonn et al., 2010). Not only
does this cause problems of supply in horticulture, but degradation of peat bogs is having a
severe environmental impact with release of carbon contributing significantly to global
warning.
It has been shown that fresh sphagnum moss, which creates peat bogs, is a viable alternative
to peat as it has similar properties and could be developed to offer a sustainable growing
medium reproducible on a significant scale. Micropropagation Services Ltd (MPS) have
researched a unique technique for the micro-propagation of sphagnum which has the potential
to grow sphagnum on a commercial scale, giving a renewable resource to enable the
repatriation of peat bogs, and the growth of a profitable cash crop on land which is currently
of limited commercial use.