About Us

As the UK's centre of excellence for peas and beans, the PGRO has a long and highly valued track record of providing authoritative, up to date information and project work based on solid, reliable research.

The PGRO is a non statutory levy body supported by our grower members, the UK trade and also by a substantial amount of outside funding for our research work. This is carried out both on our own and in partnership with UK, European and worldwide research and commercial organisations.

We are proud of our stability and consistency over the years. As a forward-looking organization, the PGRO team will continue to develop our services to the benefit of our levy payers as well as our research-based and commercial partners.

In the strategic review undertaken in 2014, PGRO’s vision and mission were confirmed:

Vision

“Our vision is to be the independent partner for applied crop research. To be acknowledged as the primary reference point for all aspects of temperate pulse and vegetable-legume crop production, marketing and economics.”

Mission

To pursue the provision of current advice for growers, the realisation of improved crop yield, quality and economics.
To facilitate open, accessible, reliable and relevant knowledge exchange.
To develop progressive and innovative approaches towards crop research and development.
To create and maintain extensive and close links with growers, processors, trade and fundamental researcher communities.

Funding

The PGRO is predominantly funded in three ways:

Firstly, by receipt of levy paid by grower members. This is currently charged at just £1.10 per tonne of produce sold.
Secondly, the PGRO in consortia with other organisations competes for public funding for defined project support.
Thirdly, PGRO Research Limited is owned by the PGRO, and private and confidential commercial contract research is conducted through this limited company. Surpluses generated are returned to the charity for further research activities.

For several years, the organisation has been successful in developing these other funding streams and has been able to leverage the value of the growers levy by over 100% as a result. This means that grower members have long benefitted from research to more than twice the value of their levy contribution.

Annual Report

More detailed information and background can be found in the PGRO annual report.

Membership and joining PGRO

UK levy paying growers are automatically considered members of the PGRO and can access the information and services of the PGRO free of charge.

Other organisations and individuals can also access the PGRO research and advisory services by paying to join as associate members. Associate membership enquiries are always welcome. Contact PGRO for details.