A new partnership between British Growers Association (BGA) and specialist agri-food communications agency, JCM&Co, will bring fresh insight, industry perspectives and research to the challenges and opportunities shaping British horticulture.

The collaboration forms part of British Growers’ new partnership programme, which brings together organisations committed to supporting UK growers, strengthening industry connections and helping the fresh produce sector thrive.

As its first major contribution, JCM&Co is working alongside independent research specialists Grounded Research to produce Yields & Fields: Trends and Opportunities in British Produce, a report exploring grower confidence, business resilience, innovation and the future direction of British fresh produce production.

The report will be available to BGA members at the Association’s AGM and conference on 17-18 November 2026.

Combining a survey of British growers with interviews involving influential voices from across horticulture, food supply chains and the wider industry, Yields & Fields will examine the pressures facing growers and identify opportunities for a more resilient, competitive and sustainable sector.

The research will explore growers’ business outlook, limitations, access to labour and skills, technology adoption, supply chain relationships and policy priorities that could help unlock future growth.

John Walgate, CEO of the British Growers Association, said: “Our partnership programme is about bringing together organisations that share our commitment to a successful and sustainable future for British horticulture. We are delighted to welcome JCM&Co, whose deep understanding of agriculture, food production and industry communications will bring valuable expertise to the programme.

“Yields & Fields is exactly the kind of initiative we want to encourage through these partnerships. By listening directly to growers and bringing together perspectives from across the supply chain, we can build a clearer picture of the challenges and opportunities facing our industry.

“The findings will provide valuable insight for our members and help inform wider discussions about the investment, innovation and policy support needed to ensure British horticulture can flourish.”

Alongside the grower survey, the report will feature contributions from industry leaders including Christine Tacon, Coop board member and former Grocery Code Adjudicator, examining supply chain relationships and the future of British produce; Emma Brown from Felix, exploring food waste and redistribution; and Veryan Bliss, Red Tractor Board member and director of Food Intelligence, discussing evolving supply chain relationships.

Grower Marion Regan will share perspectives on berry and salad production, technology, commercial pressures and policy priorities, while Sapphira Waterson from MDS will consider the skills, recruitment and career opportunities needed to attract the next generation into horticulture.

Jane Craigie, managing director of JCM&Co, said: “The BGA deserves enormous credit for developing a partnership programme that encourages businesses and organisations to contribute their expertise for the benefit of the wider sector.

“British horticulture has so much to be proud of, producing exceptional food, supporting rural economies and demonstrating extraordinary innovation and resilience. But growers are also navigating some profound challenges, from rising production costs and workforce pressures to climate volatility and increasingly complex supply chain demands.

“We wanted our partnership to make a meaningful contribution from the outset. Through Yields & Fields, we’re bringing together the voices of growers and influential people from across the industry to understand where British produce stands today, where the opportunities lie and what needs to change.

“Our ambition is to produce something genuinely useful: research that sparks conversations, challenges assumptions and provides evidence to help businesses, industry organisations and policymakers make informed decisions about the future of British horticulture.”

The partnership brings together British Growers’ close relationships with producers and producer organisations and JCM&Co’s experience in agricultural communications, research-led content, industry engagement and thought leadership.

Established in 2003, JCM&Co works with agricultural and food businesses, research organisations and industry bodies across the UK and internationally, helping them communicate complex issues, engage stakeholders and contribute to important industry conversations.

The findings from Yields & Fields: Trends and Opportunities in British Produce will be available at the British Growers AGM and conference on 17-18 November, providing a platform for discussion and further engagement across the sector. Following the AGM, digital copies will be available, sign up for the newsletter for an early copy.