Investigate the commercial viability of growing Alliums in a protected cropping environment.

Standard growing practices for field crops such as alliums must be updated to overcome challenges presented by climate change and the increasing prevalence of soil-borne diseases.

Onions (the main focus of this project) are a staple for UK households - in constant demand throughout the year as a foundation ingredient in dishes prepared by families across the nation.

Onions are susceptible to diseases such as Fusarium, white rot, neck rot, and downy mildew, and land used for growing onions can only support their growth for one in every six/seven years, as any traces of plant matter left in the ground post-harvest can lead to re-infection. It is becoming increasingly difficult to secure suitable 'clean' land for farming onions to meet demand. Alongside land pressures, farmers are being urged to contribute to improving UK food security and reducing food miles by growing more produce locally.

One approach to addressing land scarcity, reducing CO2-heavy inputs, and better controlling disease in the growing of onions is to move this traditional 'field crop' into a CE.

**Aeroallium**

Through this project, Stourgarden will be the first UK growers to test the viability of protected growing for onions on a commercial scale. We anticipate the following benefits flowing from the development of a CE system for onions:

-Reduction in water use through capture and recycling

-Avoid infection of soil borne diseases such as Fusarium

-Significant reduction of nutrient inputs, and elimination of any risk of nutrient run-off impacting waterways and ecosystems

-Removal of the need for heavy farm machinery for growing and harvesting processes

-Increased automation leading to decreased reliance on low-skilled labour, with new, skilled technical and engineering roles created as Stourgarden develops its CE capability

-Significant reduction in land pressure - freeing up land for growing other crops, enabling land to be rested more often, improving soil quality and rewilding margins

-Remove reliance on importing onions to cover gaps in the UK growing season (vastly reducing transport-related emissions and improving the UK's trading position)

-Remove impact from climate change-related adverse weather during the growing season, which can typically affect crop yield by up to 30%

-More reliable crop will deliver supply chain security for retailers and households

-Reducing need for cultivation of soil which releases significant amounts of stored carbon

-Increased company profitability and growth in sector with traditionally low margins, and thus gains for the regional economy and UK Plc