Sphagnum Farming UK - First Steps to Commercial Peat-Free Growing Media

Commercial extraction of peat as a growing media is unsustainable and mandated by DEFRA to cease by 2030\. Exploited peatlands are a net source of carbon dioxide emissions through oxidation of the unsaturated peat layer, equating to between 18.5 to 23 MtCO2e/year in the UK, equivalent to 4% of annual UK CO2 emissions. Peat remains in high demand as alternatives, meeting commercial horticultural performance, are unavailable at scale.

MPS have developed and patented a world-first in-vitro production system to produce BeadaGel (trademark) for propagating and seeding Sphagnum at scale for commercial scale farming to harvest and process as a peat alternative growing media product - BeadaGro (trademark).

The only alternative method to seed Sphagnum is to translocate Sphagnum plants which is damaging for fragile ecosystems, many of which are legally protected and unsustainable at large scale.

The aim of this collaborative project, with farmers and commercial growing nurseries, is to develop and demonstrate all aspects of commercial viability for Sphagnum Farming. The project includes developing plant clones to maximise growth and size for yield optimisation, as well as biological control methods to prevent disease and weed infestation. Machinery and protocols will be developed and trialled for large scale field seeding, harvesting and crop processing. Horticultural growing trials will demonstrate the effectiveness of the harvested sphagnum as a peat alternative growing media. Sphagnum farming also offer an opportunity to restore carbon balance, absorbing carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, during the trials Manchester Metropolitan University will monitor carbon dioxide capture.