November 28, 2003
Earlier this year, NIAB
completed the purchase of Westcrop, the Wiltshire-based
specialist field trials and crop services company.
Simon Draper, NIAB's Deputy Director and Westcrop's new Chairman
said, "Over the years, NIAB has worked with Westcrop on a number
of joint projects. We knew the set-up and liked what we saw in
terms of Westcrop’s adaptability and entrepreneurial approach.
It seemed natural to come together and complement this with
NIAB’s strong science base."
"We've made a firm commitment that Westcrop will retain its
operational independence, with small company flexibility to
match delivery to customers' expectations," continued Dr Draper.
Under the new arrangement, Westcrop will offer a full range of
agrochemical, seed and variety services, including pan-European
testing, covering all regions in the UK and 12 centres in the
EU.
"With just one seed submission, we can do all the necessary work
and report back with results relevant to the whole of Europe,"
said Dr Draper. "For specialist crops, we can even arrange
testing in the USA.
European trial centres cover France (Macon/Burgundy in the east,
Amiens in the north, Tours in the west and Toulouse in the south
west), Italy (Bologna/Emilia Romagna in the north east, Piemont
in the
north west,
Apulia in the south east and Sicily in the south), Spain and
Germany. Three Californian centres and one in Arkansas are
available in the USA.
"I am pleased that David Miles will continue as Managing
Director and I look forward to working closely with him to
develop and improve the service we provide to existing and new
customers," added Dr Draper.
Details of field trial sites:
FRANCE
Macon/Burgundy
(East Central) Headquarters of SynTech Research France, located
in one of most productive vine growing regions of France. This
location can provide European north and south GLP/GEP data
requirements because of its geographical location, according to
the EU regulations. This station can grow the majority of crops
grown in France.
Amiens
(North) This satellite site is located in an area where the
major crops are cereals, sugar beet, potato and maize.
Tours
(West Central) This satellite site is located in an area where
the major crops are cereals, oilseed rape, trees/vines, maize
and vegetables.
Toulouse
(South West) This satellite site is located in an area where the
major crops are cereals, vegetables, maize and trees/vines.
ITALY
Bologna/Emilia
Romagna
(North East) Headquarters of Agri2000/SynTech Research Italia,
located in one of most productive growing regions of Italy. This
location can provide the majority of crops grown in Italy such
as trees/vines, vegetables, strawberry, potato, cereals, soya
beans, maize, beans and sugar beet.
Piemonte
(North West) This satellite site is located in an area where the
major crops are rice, cereals, vines (wine), sugar beet, soya
beans and maize.
Apulia
(South East) This satellite site is located in an area where the
major crops are vines (table), olives, citrus, stone fruits,
artichoke and cereals.
Sicily
(South) This satellite site is located in an area where the
major crops are cereals, vegetables and citrus.
OTHER COUNTRIES
NIAB can also arrange field trials in
Spain, Germany and USA. |