Reduce Growing Media Costs with Fibagro Advance Woodfibre

With imported coir increasingly exposed to price, availability and quality pressures, growers have good reason to reconsider their reliance on this raw material. ICL’s four engineered Fibagro Advance woodfibre grades offer new opportunities to reduce, and potentially eliminate, coir from growing media mixes, helping stabilise costs without compromising the physical characteristics, consistency or crop performance demanded by professional growers.

Peat Supply Pressures Impact Growing Media Availability

Irish peat has long underpinned UK ornamental production, particularly since harvesting ceased on most UK peat bogs.

“Irish peat is the best quality out there and has been the backbone of the UK industry,” says ICL UK Sales Manager Adrian Thirtle-Watts. “As we move towards peat-reduced and ultimately peat-free mixes, it remains an important component.

“Last year, poor peat harvests in the Baltics and Eastern Europe resulted in a huge draw on the Irish peat market. Next year, more change is coming,” he warns.

Restrictions on peat harvesting in Ireland vary according to bog size and, until recently, have not been actively enforced by the Irish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). However, with the EPA now looking to prosecute operators, Adrian warns this could have significant implications for future UK supplies.

In a bid to help future proof UK growing media, ICL has invested extensively in its Fibagro Advance woodfibre range, supported by ongoing research and commercial trials programmes.

Why Growers Are Looking for Alternatives to Coir

While many growers working with ICL have already adopted Levington Advance peat-free mixes, the overwhelming majority are currently using peat-reduced mixes.

“Maintaining access to quality peat remains important during this transition, but replacing peat with high proportions of imported coir introduces another set of commercial and environmental challenges,” warns Steve Chapman, ICL Technical Area Sales Manager for the Southeast.

“Growing media manufacturers and growers have already had to adapt to reduced peat availability, but replacing peat with high levels of imported coir creates another exposure. Coir supplies were disrupted in 2025, leading to higher costs, while quality in the marketplace was variable, due in part to elevated salt levels.

“Imported from the Indian subcontinent, coir presents a sustainability paradox. While offering environmental benefits as a renewable peat alternative, its long supply chains and the water required for processing raise important questions. Raw coconut husks contain naturally occurring salts which must be washed out before horticultural use, requiring significant volumes of fresh water in regions that can experience water stress.”

With growers facing continued pressure on production costs, reducing dependence on imported raw materials offers an opportunity to improve both growing media cost stability and security of supply.

Fibagro Advance Woodfibre for Peat-Reduced Growing Media

Manufactured from FSC®-certified by-products of the UK timber industry, Fibagro Advance provides a locally sourced, renewable growing media component that supports the circular economy.

Over the past decade, ICL has invested heavily in developing its engineered woodfibre range, which now comprises four distinct grades: Superfine (0–3mm), Fine (0–10mm), Standard (0–15mm) and Coarse (0–18mm).

“Rather than treating it as one generic ingredient, these different grades can be blended to optimise water-holding capacity, air-filled porosity, flowability and structure,” says Steve, “much as different peat fractions have traditionally been selected and blended to achieve specific growing media characteristics.

“The finer grades, in particular, give us greater flexibility to replicate some of the physical properties traditionally provided by peat, while reducing the proportion of coir required in a mix.

“In short, Fibagro Advance is helping us reduce exposure to volatile imported raw materials, particularly coir, while retaining control over growing media performance.”

Can Woodfibre replace Coir in Growing Media?

Over many years, ICL Technical Manager Andrew Wilson and the team have conducted extensive inhouse and commercial grower trials blending two or more Fibagro Advance grades to optimise air-filled porosity and water-holding capacity. Results demonstrate opportunities to reduce coir inclusion rates while simultaneously improving water management and plant quality.

Building on this work, leading commercial nurseries, including Robin Tacchi Plants in Norfolk, are now evaluating different Fibagro Advance combinations with the longer-term objective of eliminating coir from their growing media.

Further evidence of the potential of engineered woodfibre was presented at ICL’s recent Hort Science Live event, held at Coles Nurseries in July. Technical Area Sales Managers Chloe Whiteside and Stephen Briggs examined the contribution growing media makes to crop performance and profitability, reviewing the latest raw materials and presenting results from ICL’s UK trials programme.

Significantly, these included the successful production of quality plants in a 100% woodfibre mix, demonstrating just how far growing media development has progressed.

“With four complementary Fibagro Advance grades now available, growers have greater scope to tailor growing media to individual crop requirements, reduce reliance on imported coir and build greater resilience into their production costs, without sacrificing crop quality or performance,” says Steve. “Why pay more when you can achieve the same or better with fewer ingredients?”

To discuss your 2027 growing media needs, speak to your ICL Technical Area Sales Manager now.

Watch the video: Building profit into your growing media, Hort Science Live 2026, Coles Nurseries.