Investing in Innovation

Transcription

1 INFORM ON-FARM DECISIONS Investing in Innovation Research & Knowledge Exchange Strategy IMPROVE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES Evidence-based solutions for a competitive and sustainable arable sector PREPARE THE INDUSTRY

2 Overview The Purpose of AHDB is to make the agriculture and horticulture industries more competitive and sustainable through factual, evidence-based advice, information and activity. The Mission of AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds is to deliver a world-class arable industry through independence, innovation and investment. Investing in innovation The cereals and oilseeds levy is received from cereals and oilseeds growers, cereal buyers and primary processors in the UK and is ring-fenced to be used for the benefit of cereals and oilseeds levy payers. Around 50% of the annual cereals and oilseeds levy income is invested in research and knowledge exchange activities. This strategy, produced following comprehensive industry review during 2014, sets out how this levy will be spent to meet the challenges of the industry over the next five years and provides clear priorities for investment in new research activities. Commissioning good quality research In essence, the value of funding research is determined by the following key questions: Does the research meet a need for the cereals and oilseeds industry? Is the proposal based on good science? Do the contractors have suitable scientific and technical expertise? Will it deliver value for money? Is there a clear route to knowledge exchange? Calls for new projects will be issued over the next five years, based on this strategy. These will be published on the website (cereals.ahdb.org.uk/calls) and will conform to AHDB procurement principles. All proposals will be scrutinised by the Cereals Research & KT Advisory Committee, in conjunction with staff, and subject to peer review, where appropriate. Funding will only be approved for projects that address the questions outlined above. Responsive mode proposals will also be accepted but they must be well aligned to the industry priorities, which will be reviewed annually to ensure they are still fit for purpose and take into account any new issues that may need addressing within the lifetime of this strategy. Achieving value for money AHDB research principles Scientifically robust Relevant to our levy payers and related stakeholders Clearly defined in terms of scope, cost, timelines and deliverables Demonstrably delivering value for money Demonstrably delivering best value through collaboration, external sponsorship and co-funding An investment in the current and future skills base Proactively exploiting global best practice and existing knowledge Access to international research networks and communities AHDB will continue to work with government departments, research councils, commercial companies and stakeholders in order to leverage additional co-funding, wherever possible. There are currently several significant opportunities to work alongside industry and add value to the levy: 1. The new European Framework programme (Horizon 2020) is the biggest ever EU Research and Innovation programme, with nearly 80 billion of funding available over seven years (2014 to 2020). 2. In 2013, the UK Government launched the 5-year Agri-Tech strategy, putting aside 160m to accelerate innovation by UK food and farming businesses and to drive growth through the emerging global markets. AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds has pledged c. 1m to co-fund Agri-Tech projects over the next five years. 3. The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Innovation Club (SARIC), launched in 2014, has 10m available to address two key challenges identified by industry: 1) resilient and robust crop and livestock production systems, and 2) predictive capability and modelling for new technologies, tools, products and services. Efficiency will also be achieved by working with other AHDB divisions to identify synergies and commission complementary programmes of work, as with recent work on slugs, soils and feed. Key achievements from the Investing in Innovation Strategy A total of 16.1m cereals and oilseeds levy was invested in research activities in the period This enabled 102 new projects to be commissioned These activities attracted 22.5m of co-funding during this period AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds-funded research has delivered a very large number of useful outputs over the past four years, including the production of 37 new information sheets. Highlights include: Robust and independent variety selection information published in the Recommended Lists and the RL Pocketbooks Fungicide performance information and regular updates on the resistance status of key cereal and oilseed pathogens Annual updates on the status of varietal resistance to rust races and early warning of the breakdown of resistance New information for plant breeders on genes for yield improvement, yield stability and resistance to insects, eyespot, take-all, rhynchosporium, ramularia and light leaf spot Updated guidance on the management of weeds, especially black-grass, in arable rotations Independent analysis of macro- and micronutrient requirements Impact assessment of the restrictions on the use of neonicotinoids and the potential withdrawal of endocrine disruptors New information on the use of DDGS and rape-meal in animal feed SOIL 1.61m PESTS 0.74m ENVIRONMENT 0.15m WEEDS 0.59m As part of the project management process, a cost-benefit analysis is conducted on each research project to ensure value for money has been achieved and to predict the likely impact of the work. A recent analysis of several AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds-funded research projects estimated an average 10-fold return for every pound invested. Below are examples of a few of these research projects: Levy Project Industry Return on Subject invested total benefit* investment Forecasting eyespot development (PR491) 189, , ,437 1:5 Improved manure analysis (PR489) 71,500 71, ,145 1:7 Understanding azole resistance (PR457) 122,550 1,105,950 16,129,803 1:15 Contaminants testing (PR510) 444, ,359 12,313,479 1:20 *based on benefits from uptake of project outputs over 5 years post completion DISEASES 3.36m GENETICS 0.54m INDUSTRIAL USES 0.44m RECOMMENDED LISTS (RL) 5.51m VARIETIES (NON RL) 0.65m QUALITY 1.75m NUTRITION 0.74m 2 Investing in Innovation Research & Knowledge Exchange Strategy

3 Challenges for the cereals and oilseeds industry over the next five years A wide industry consultation was held in 2014 to understand the challenges facing the industry over the next five years, as represented in the Wordle opposite, and to determine what priority work was required to address these challenges. There were 908 responses to a questionnaire, with 90% being from growers and agronomists. Individual consultations were also held with a further 57 organisations. A full report on the consultation is available on the website. Top 5 business challenges identified from the questionnaire: 'Market-related' issues were the biggest challenge e.g. input costs/volatility/profitability, etc. (38%) Availability of pesticides, including new actives and loss of active ingredients would continue to be critical (15%) Weather/climate change would become more of a challenge especially around extreme events (13%) Impacts of legislation, e.g. CAP reform, pesticide registration, water framework directive (11%) Weed management would remain a big challenge with increasing focus on resistance (9%) Other business challenges raised in the consultation meetings included: the recruitment of young people into farming and provision of suitable skills resilient varieties with better yield stability reducing the amount of imported feed protein preventing the deterioration of UK soils efficient uptake and utilisation of crop nutrients precision technology understanding big data sets Strategic aims, objectives, priority targets and research activities Strategic aims Objectives Priority targets Research activities Inform On-farm Decisions Improve productivity Build resilience Facilitate access to innovation and its uptake Identify, analyse and manage constraints on production Develop and promote tools for monitoring and managing risk Provide independent performance testing and new product analysis Better understanding of resistance to pesticides Development of new varietal resistance to pests and diseases Impact of soil compaction, biology and soil-borne pathogens Improved monitoring of new and emerging weed, pest and disease threats Improved risk forecasting tools Optimise efficacy of available chemistry and test new chemistry Investigate novel products and cultural control options Better understand the impact of rotations on crop productivity Improve Business Opportunities Increase market differentiation Improve product quality Develop new markets Provide tools to measure and interpret quality characteristics Coordinate and integrate supply chain demands for reliable and consistent quality and safety Identify quality characteristics to address industry and consumer demands Understand differences in regional variety performance Low input varieties that meet quality needs Assess environmental impacts on quality New testing methodologies Managing contaminants in the supply chain food and feed Better crop resilience for improved consistency Quality characteristics for animal feed Genetics to improve nitrogen use efficiency to lower carbon footprints and reduce pollution Assess impacts of legislation Provide robust and independent evidence of new legislation impact scenarios Loss of available chemistry Protection of water courses and water availability Data analysis and interpretation to inform discussion on legislation Prepare the Industry Prepare for threats to crop production Develop early warning systems for pest and disease risks Greater understanding of weed, pest and disease spread Lessons learnt from other countries Linking weather forecasts to decision support models Demonstrate opportunities for technical innovation Assess costs and benefits of novel technologies New and precision technologies for improved targeting of crop inputs New technologies for plant breeding to develop more resilient varieties 4 Investing in Innovation Research & Knowledge Exchange Strategy

4 A strong focus on Knowledge Exchange Responding to the wider policy landscape In 2011, the Foresight Report on the 'Future of Food and Farming' (GO Science) identified that the application of existing knowledge and technology has very substantial potential to increase crop yields. This has since been echoed in a number of other high level documents and activities, such as Feeding the Future, the Global Food Security programme and the Landbridge knowledge exchange network. AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds is very active in promoting Knowledge Exchange, which sits at the heart of everything it does. The three strategic aims outlined in this strategy will be the focal point of a number of activities across the organisation over the next five years. These are interlinked by successful knowledge exchange and underpinned by the use and generation of both new and existing knowledge. AHDB is well placed to become the world-leading centre of agricultural excellence, building on its foundations as an evidence-based organisation of experts, generating independent information. AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds also recognises the fundamental role that agronomists play in the knowledge exchange process. Knowledge exchange is a two-way process, which enables the research community to be aware of the needs of the industry and ensures that project outputs are effectively disseminated. AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds uses and continues to develop a range of tools and technologies to help facilitate this process and target the wide array of end users across the cereals and oilseeds supply chain. These include activities, such as: Monitor Farms Arable Business Groups A wide variety of publications Open days and focused meetings Workshops and conferences Improve Business Opportunities Inform On-farm Decisions KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE Prepare the Industry The Regional Team of AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds plays a vital role in understanding the needs of the industry and facilitating knowledge exchange. Based at AHDB offices, the Regional Managers cover the UK. Working closely with grower groups, they raise awareness of cereals and oilseeds levy-funded activity and engage with partner organisations to provide important feedback on industry issues and inform research programmes. By facilitating discussion and knowledge exchange between growers, they ensure a grower-led and grower-driven agenda for AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds knowledge exchange activities. Agriculture is experiencing more changes and influences from policy than at almost any period in recent history. European Union (EU) and UK policies impact directly at the farm level and throughout the supply chains. Policies designed to protect food security, human health and the environment all affect the way the UK farms. The European Union s Common Agriculture Policy (CAP reform) will bring prescribed changes to crop rotations; many plant protection products are at risk of having their approvals for use removed (Plant Protection Products Regulation 1107/2009/EC) and there is a real threat of losing the chemistry that agriculture requires to produce safe, sustainable food. Bringing new active ingredients to market is estimated to take around nine years and to cost around 200 million. Entire markets have been created and shaped by the implementation of polices to support biofuel and bioenergy production and use under the Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC. An intelligence-led and evidence-based process of horizon scanning will inform the internal planning, development and resourcing of activity in response to policy change. By the systematic examination of potential threats and opportunities, AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds can be even better prepared, future-proof delivery, and ready the industry for future policy change. Developing the next generation of agricultural scientists It has been recognised for a number of years that there has been a lack of investment in the next generation of scientists with skills to carry out the relevant research required by the agricultural industry. Skills shortages that have been previously addressed through the AHDB PhD scheme include entomologists, soil scientists and weed biologists. AHDB will continue to support both PhD studentships and undergraduate student placements to address this need and to help encourage young scientists and technicians to become involved with the industry. AHDB operates an annual PhD scheme and three new PhD grants will be funded each year from the cereals and oilseeds research budget. A review of past AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds-funded PhD students was conducted in October 2012 and it was found that, of the 34 PhDs completed since 2002, 74% of graduates were now working in science, with a further 12% seeking employment at that time; only 15% had left the industry. Of the 74% remaining in science: 72% were employed within the agricultural sector 52% are now employed as research scientists 28% have worked/are working on AHDB Cereals & Oilseedsfunded projects In total, 50 peer-reviewed papers were produced directly from these projects. This review has shown that the AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds PhD programme is achieving its aim of raising the profile of agricultural R&D within the young science community in the UK and training the next generation of agricultural researchers. Post-PhD science careers 4% 52% 8% 16% 20% Lecturers Research Management & KT Research scientists Plant breeding Science other Occupations listed as Science other are a role within the PepsiCo Corporation and a process modelling engineer working for Cargill. 6 Investing in Innovation Research & Knowledge Exchange Strategy

5 About us The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) is a statutory levy board, funded by producers, processors and others in the supply chain and managed as an independent organisation (independent of commercial industry and of government). Contact details For further information on specific or general queries relating to Investing in innovation', please do not hesitate to contact a member of the team. Dr Susannah Bolton Head of Research & Knowledge Transfer: susannah.bolton@ahdb.org.uk Dr Vicky Foster Research Team Leader: vicky.foster@ahdb.org.uk Dr Simon Oxley Senior Research and Knowledge Transfer Manager: simon.oxley@ahdb.org.uk Further staff details can be found on the website: cereals.ahdb.org.uk/what-we-do Further information 2014 Consultation Summary report: cereals.ahdb.org.uk/funding Research & Knowledge Exchange Priority Matrix : cereals.ahdb.org.uk/funding Active Calls, Application Forms and Research Terms & Conditions: cereals.ahdb.org.uk/calls Details of current research projects: cereals.ahdb.org.uk/research Final project reports and reviews: cereals.ahdb.org.uk/publications Electronic version can be downloaded at cereals.ahdb.org.uk All divisions of AHDB were included in the industry consultation. Disclaimer While the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, operating through its AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds division, seeks to ensure that the information contained within this document is accurate at the time of printing, no warranty is given in respect thereof and, to the maximum extent permitted by law, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board accepts no liability for loss, damage or injury howsoever caused (including that caused by negligence) or suffered directly or indirectly in relation to information and opinions contained in or omitted from this document. Reference herein to trade names and proprietary products without stating that they are protected does not imply that they may be regarded as unprotected and thus free for general use. No endorsement of named products is intended, nor is any criticism implied of other alternative, but unnamed products. AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds Stoneleigh Park Warwickshire CV8 2TL AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds is a division of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB). Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board All rights reserved.