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1 July 22 - Detailed Explanation of the Burning in June

La Serra – an article on the recent burning. 

Firstly, let me take the opportunity to apologise for any disturbances caused by the recent burning activity carried out over three days in early June. This is most certainly not our preferred method of crop disposal, but as some of you know we have been under a DEFRA plant health notice to contain a specific tomato virus from spreading further. The virus, ToBRFV (Tomato Brown Rougose Fruit Virus) has been circulating around Europe now since 2018, having originated in Jordan & Israel. For those that are interested, more information can be found here: https://potatoes.ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library/tomato-brown-rugose-fruit-virus-tobrfv

This virus is distinct in that it has a very strong protein coat that enables it to survive outside of a host material for a very long time – in some cases over 6 months it has been found still active in concrete. There is also no evidence of this being harmful to other species of plants, excluding Capsicum.

Here at La Serra, we first found symptoms of the virus on our plants in early March 2020 and worked with our local Plant Health inspectors to come up with an action plan for eradication. This involved burning the crop onsite, and an extended period of clean up. The route of infection of the virus was also looked into, with the most likely cause being pinned down to contractors who had been onsite finishing the build of the glasshouse. Additionally, there was not too much known at this point about the recommended clean up procedures as it was still a very new issue especially in the UK. The site was cleaned up, and swabbed for testing of the virus. These swabs came back as negative for active virus, given these results we replanted. Unfortunately, before the end of the year we found symptoms again in the crop but this time they seemed very minor and were not causing issues to the production of the tomatoes, the decision therefore was made to continue the growing of the tomato plants and monitor the spread of the virus.

As per the previous year we were still under the DEFRA plant health notice so had to dispose of the crop by burning, we also intensified the cleaning process and by using new research activity on the disinfection process we felt better able to deal with cleaning up than we had in the previous year. This proved to be initially correct as the plant samples that were taking by our plant inspector came back to be negative for the virus and our plant health notice was subsequently lifted from the site. We started working on plans for the removal of the crop in a more sustainable way in conjunction with the AD plant and Springhill Farms.

With the crop growing well and the virus seemingly under control, we were taken aback just prior to Christmas when we started to see a very small area within the glasshouse showing distinct leaf symptoms of the virus. Plant samples were again taken and unfortunately confirmed that the plants were a clear positive for the virus once again, with an immediate reintroduction of the plant health notice. This time, we asked the labs to check if the virus genotype was the same as previous, or different as this would help to show us whether it was a reinfection from a failed clean up or a new infection from a route we had not expected. The results proved that it was indeed a reinfection, so we decided that we need to employ professional help to clean & disinfect the site. I link back to the comment around the long lasting nature of the virus, especially in concrete. After speaking with a professional glasshouse disinfection company the intense nature of their clean up operation using proven disinfectants and continual soaking of the structure over multiple days appeared to be the only way of breaking down the outer layer of the protein coat and therefore being able to actively kill the virus particles themselves.

The crop was once again removed, but this season we looked to reduce the impact of the amount of days that the crop was burnt to just 3-4 (at the end it was 3 days). We attempted to work differently to the previous two years, by only burning in the day and severely reducing the number of days that the operation occurred for. Notice was also sent to the local Parish Council prior to the burning. The professional crew has been and gone now from the site and we are currently awaiting the most recent swab results from the site fairly confident that by engaging external professional help we will finally be clear of the virus for good.

The understanding of this virus is still in its infancy, but we are working very closely with labs, seed producers, and others in the industry to get ahead of this issue as quickly as possible. Further developments in the tomato world have shown several new varieties with resistance to this virus which we will be growing and trialling here over the next season. We are also looking to try new growing techniques to assist in strengthening the plants. Vaccines / inoculants are currently being explored in other parts of Europe as a way to combat the virus, however the UK approach is still to eradicate it fully.

Once again we pass on our thanks to the local community for their patience in this matter and we apologise for any inconvenience that may have been caused. It is sincerely our hope that we will not have a repeat of this issue and not repeat any of these issues in the future.

Thanks,

The Team at La Serra

16th June 22

Last update – the burning is now complete. We are currently dousing down the last of the ashes this morning to ensure that anything remaining is completely cold and not smouldering.

Please pass on our thanks to the local residents for bearing with us over the last three days and we are doing everything we can to not be in this position again in the future.n

Thanks,

Nick Arnst

14th June 22

An update on the burning. We should have it completed tomorrow hopefully, then that’s it. 

As you know we’ve invested heavily in improving our disinfection process so the plan is that we will not need to burn future crops.

Thanks,

Nick Arnst

10th June 22

"Just a quick note to say that we are looking to start burning our old crop from Monday. Our plan at this stage is to only burn during daylight hours, and aim to avoid any wind blowing in the direction of the village (we will however need to get the crop burned asap).

Our hope is that by having given the crop plenty of time to dry out, we can get a hot fire going that will avoid the issues with smoke that we have had in the past anyway. Also, we will be attempting to get the disturbance out of the way as quickly as possible with as little inconvenience to our neighbours as we can.

I’ll update you further early next week once we’ve got things underway and have a better idea of the length of time we expect it to take.

Kind regards,

Nick Arnst

General Manager

La Serra Ltd

T: 01386 577520

www.laserra.org.uk

Rotherdale Farm, Long Lane, Throckmorton, Worcs. WR10 2JH"