Niab at East Malling

East Malling

Niab at East Malling

East Malling

Based at Niab’s East Malling site, our world-class facilities support the future of sustainable horticulture. We provide advanced glasshouse technology and precision growth rooms to help develop resilient, low-carbon production systems for a changing climate.

£2.7m

of SIPF funding invested with more than £8.8m co-investment from partners.

1,960

Square metres of modern polytunnels designed for high-standard biosecurity.

1,928

Square metres of climate-controlled glasshouses for commercial-scale research.

Independently-controlled environmental growth rooms, ranging from 10-20m².

Facilities and Capabilities

Access world-class glasshouses and precision growth rooms designed to help horticulture businesses de-risk innovation through hands-on technical support.

Smart Glasshouses

Nine climate-controlled compartments for commercial-scale research and trials.

Growth Rooms

Seven precision chambers for plant physiology, vernalisation, and pathogen studies.

Rhizolab

Unique underground facility for in-situ field studies of root growth and physiology.

Protected Cropping

Modern polytunnels and cold rooms designed to maintain high levels of biosecurity.

Key Expertise

Niab's research team provides technical support and R&D across the entire crop lifecycle, with specific specialisms in:

Resource Efficiency

Optimising water, nutrient, and light use to reduce waste and carbon emissions.

Genetics & Breeding

Advancing pest and disease resistance through molecular genetics and genomics.

Climate Resilience

Identifying optimum growth conditions and yield potential for a changing climate.

Pest & Pathogen Ecology

Crop management and high-risk pathogen research in controlled environments.

Orchard Management

Long-term field studies into tree architecture and rootstock vigour for UK growers.

Case Studies

Discover how our specialist research and horticultural expertise have helped Kent-based growers and scientists develop more resilient and sustainable production systems.

Close-up of an apple with spots, casued by apple scab, on a tree. Green leaves surround it. The apple is red and yellow against a blurred garden background.

Finding Sustainable Solutions for Apple Scab with British Apples and Pears

British Apples and Pears, in collaboration with Niab, utilised one of our small grant programmes to trial novel treatments for apple scab. The project identified a promising alternative to lost chemical fungicides and proved that a risk-based spray programme could reduce application costs by £65 per hectare.

Growing Kent & Medway

4 min read

Yellow and red raspberries in clear containers on a blue tablecloth. White mesh cover partially visible in the background.

Searching for Natural Resistance to the UK’s Biggest Soft Fruit Pest with Asplins

Asplins Producer Organisation and Niab utilised our R&D support to investigate whether specific strawberry and raspberry varieties could naturally resist spotted wing drosophila (SWD). While the project ultimately proved that varietal selection alone does not resist the pest, the research provided the industry with vital data, redirecting focus toward other essential control strategies.

Growing Kent & Medway

4 min read

Woman with long hair stands in a vineyard with bare vines, wearing a dark jacket. Sunny day, grass and vine rows in the background.

Detecting Vineyard Disease from Space Using Satellites and AI with Deep Planet

Deep Planet, in collaboration with Niab and leading UK vineyards, utilised our support to develop an AI-driven disease monitoring system. By analysing satellite imagery, the project successfully demonstrated a cost-effective solution to predict fungal infections, protecting the UK's growing wine sector from yield losses.

Growing Kent & Medway

4 min read

East Malling

Explore Niab's world-class facilities and specialist research services for the horticulture sector. Access more information about their expertise and equipment on the official Niab website.

Visit Niab at East Malling

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