Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 1.2
Costs in the supply chain from grower to consumer for a carton of apples. (Example
based on apples exported from the Southern Hemisphere and retailed at euro 17.00 per 12.5 kg
carton in an European supermarket in 2008 (duty costs excluded). Source Anon (
2012
))
Item
Cost (euro)
Logistics and other margins
Carton of apples retail
17.00
Retail margin
4.42
26 % retail margin
Destination costs
2.72
3 % destination in-country
transport
5 % importer's commission
8 % destination in-country
logistics
Shipping freight and export
costs
3.74
15 % shipping freight
3 % exporter's commission
4 % insurance/port costs/
finance/industry levies
Packing and materials
2.72
10 % grading and packing
costs
6 % packing materials
On-farm costs and grower profit 3.40
2 % on-farm costs, excluding
capital and finance
8 % fertilisers, chemicals and
other production costs
10 % farm overheads and
income per 12.5kg carton
population to take advantage of the opportunities which are offered. This is despite
attempts by those well versed in molecular biology in explaining in non-technical
terms what is involved (Coen
1999
). So far, however, the general public remains
unconvinced of the opportunities on offer. Possibly, this is because the advantages
currently exploited pertain to broad-acre agricultural crops where benefits appear to
stop at the farm-gate. This may change when the enhancement of plant traits which
provide direct benefits for human health and welfare come on the scene.
The Facets of Horticulture
Horticulture has been described as the science, technology, and business associated
with intensive plant production for human use (Doyle et al.
2012
). In such restric-
tive definitions horticulture and horticultural science is focused narrowly on the pro-
ducers or growers of horticultural products such as fruit, vegetables, ornamentals,
flowers and turfgrass, as well as many other commodities, used as a fibre, pharma-
ceuticals, or essential oils, that have shown economic potential.
Horticultural production takes place (Singh et al.
2010
; Aldous
2011
) where the
environmental conditions are conducive for growth and development and these are
discussed in detail in this Trilogy. Suitable places for production are often determined
by the climate, soil type and growing conditions most favoured in generating good
