Identifying the plant health risks associated with plant waste disposal and peat-free growing media and developing best practice guidance for waste disposal and composting across sectors

This research report focusses on two areas of biosecurity that provide significant risk to the plant businesses and the wider environment in Scotland, i) plant waste management, and ii) the constituents of reduced-peat and peat-free growing media. We engaged with stakeholders in plant production (horticulture, agriculture, and forestry), park and garden management and managers of the natural environment via workshops, and conducted a review of policy and related literature, to increase our understanding of current practices and identify barriers to change for these aspects of biosecurity. Diagnostic work was also undertaken to provide evidence of the biosecurity risks posed by Phytophthora spp. in plant waste heaps and constituents of reduced-peat and peat-free growing media.