Raghavendra leads our Transition to Peat-Free project. This interdisciplinary research project investigates sustainable peat alternatives to accelerate the horticultural industry’s transition to peat-free growing media
During the DEFRA and industry collaborative Transition to Peat-Free project, I am investigating various responsibly sourced, locally available, economically viable and ecologically sustainable peat alternatives. I am currently working alongside eight leading UK growers (Allensmore, The Farplants Group, Hillier, Hills Plants, Johnsons Nurseries, Lovania, Vitacress and Volmary), who collectively produce around 143 million plants every year, as well as several growing media manufacturers. In this five-year collaborative project, my work with the RHS convenes government, growers and growing media manufacturers, through the Growing Media Association and key horticultural stakeholders, to research sustainable alternatives to peat in large-scale commercial settings. Progress and research findings are shared with growers and industry through industry events. The 2023 RHS Industrial Transition to Peat-Free Survey provided a benchmark for the project through documenting the peat-free status of the UK horticultural industry in 2023. Key areas of focus include:
“I’m highly motivated and excited to work alongside key stakeholders in the UK horticultural industry to address some of the challenges associated with peat-free growing, in order to accelerate the industry’s transition to peat-free.”
Peatlands play a tremendous role in supporting unique biodiversity, mitigating floods, maintaining clean water bodies and crucially, capturing nearly 30% of the world’s terrestrial carbon. UK peat bogs alone are capable of capturing nearly 3 billion tonnes of carbon. Peat extraction for horticultural use removes this stable, sequestered carbon and releases it into the active carbon cycle, exacerbating climate change. This means the ability to keep peat bogs intact, and to use other organic materials (especially 'waste' materials) as peat alternatives, will have great significance in combating climate change.
Our project will contribute towards delivering the RHS peat-free pledge. This forms part of the RHS Sustainability Strategy, which aims for net climate positivity by 2030.
Throughout the project, our evidence-based results will be shared with the wider horticultural industry, including specialist nurseries. They will also be shared with the UK’s 30 million home and community gardeners who, armed with a better understanding of sustainable alternatives and best practice advice, can aid the transition to peat-free. We believe that bringing the industry together to address key scientific and technical challenges will strengthen relationships between growers, gardens and researchers; build confidence; and allow new horizons to be reached.
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.
