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Planting to Plastic -- Farmers & Plastic Makers Join Single Network

On 21st June, The University of Warwick’s horticultural research arm, Warwick HRI, will host the inaugural meeting of  a new network VOPNet (the Vegetable Oil Polymer Network) designed to bring together farmers and polymer producers.

VOPNet is a network of UK based researchers and industrialists who are interested in the development of resins and polymer composites with low environmental impact. They are exploring the use of plant derived oils as the raw materials for these resins, which is potentially a new and exciting market for the horticulture industry.

The network will bring together the entire supply chain - plant breeders, farmers, researchers and end users of the plant derived resins - to share knowledge and promote collaborative activities. There is an increasing awareness of the environmental impact of resin production and the network will promote more sustainable methods and their application.

Speakers at the event will include Jeremy Tomkinson, CEO National Non Food Crops Centre, Guy Barker of Warwick HRI and Andrew Ormerod of the Eden Project.


Notes for editors:

Warwick HRI, a Department within the University of Warwick's Faculty of Science, is the UK's leading provider of horticultural research and is dedicated to transferring results to industry. Warwick HRI has sites at Wellesbourne in Warwickshire and Kirton in Lincolnshire.

VOPNet is funded by the EPSRC, and is managed by Warwick HRI and the Warwick Manufacturing Group, both departments of the University of Warwick.

For further information please contact:


Dr David Pink, VOPNet Project Coordinator, Warwick HRI
Telephone: 024 7657 4982 or email: david.pink@warwick.ac.uk

Peter Dunn, Press and Media Relations Manger, University of Warwick
Telephone: 024 76 523708 or mobile 07767 655860
p.j.dunn@warwick.ac.uk

Sarah Cook, Communications Manager, Warwick HRI
Telephone: 024 7657 5254 or email: sarah.cook@warwick.ac.uk