Asda to grow curry ingredients in UK greenhouses

Asda, the supermarket giant, plans to use greenhouses in the UK to grow all the ingredients needed for a curry as part of its ongoing campaign to become a more sustainable retailer.

The initiative is Asda’s latest environmental campaign and comes as the large supermarket groups continue to outdo each other in the battle to be ’green’.

The company is testing new growing techniques, which if successful, could provide produce within three years and cut food imports. Along with cutting transportation carbon emissions, it could also cut costs.

Chris Wibberley, Asda’s fresh produce technologist, says: “Developing home grown ingredients makes perfect economic sense. It would finally give us true ownership of our favourite food.”

Initial trials will concentrate on growing Doodhi, Mooli, baby aubergines and Karela at sites in Lancashire and Lincolnshire. The retailer also plans to trial okra and mustard leaf.

Coriander and chillies can already be grown in the UK but scientists have yet to find a cost effective way to grow ginger in Britain.