Sustaining Innovation In Farming: Opportunities and Challenges. Professor Chris Pollock CBE Aberystwyth University

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1 Sustaining Innovation In Farming: Opportunities and Challenges Professor Chris Pollock CBE Aberystwyth University

2 SUSTAINING INNOVATION IN FARMING AND HORTICULTURE: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES Chris Pollock Aberystwyth University

3 SUMMARY The Golden Age; The Fractured Pipeline; Consequences of the Foresight Report; Feeding The Future Agri-Tech Strategy Opportunities and Challenges Key Questions

4 , The Garden Of Eden? Basic Research (AFRC) Strategic Research (AFRC,MAFF, Industry) Applied R &D, Development and Extension (ADAS, Levy Boards, Industry) Outputs (more food, lower costs, more CAP support payments)

5 THE APPLICATION OF AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY IN THE UK Reduced the real-terms cost of food Ensured security of supply Supported the transition to an urban lifestyle Helped to generate a diverse diet Maintained viable farms

6 HOWEVER, THERE WAS A DOWNSIDE: Globalisation of food chains affected UK Producers Secure food supplies influenced the political climate relating to agriculture Public attention was directed towards the impacts and risks of agriculture rather than towards its benefits R&D investment fell in real terms and had to address a much wider range of issues

7 THE R&D LANDSCAPE AT THE MILLENIUM Other Outputs Basic research (NERC, BBSRC, ESRC) Policy Development Strategic research (Defra, SEERAD, DARDNI; Plus EU & Industry In Some Areas) Rural Sustainability (RDA, EU?) Economic Sustainability (Levy Bodies, Link, Industry, TSB Etc.) Environmental Sustainability (EA, Industry, NGOs?)

8 SINCE 2010, THE FORESIGHT DEBATE HAS CHANGED THINGS Food and energy security back up the political agenda Sustainable Intensification beginning to drive R&D Both Funders and Providers of basic research much more involved in promoting Impact Grand Challenges are encouraging systems approaches to R&D

9 EXISTING FUNDING Distribution of the annual spend on UK agricultural and related research by UK agencies. The total is ca M RESEARCH COUNCILS DEFRA SCOTLAND AND OTHER DGs PRODUCER BODIES QR (UFCs) TSB

10 CHALLENGES Imbalance between basic, strategic and applied funding Basic funding and Funding Council support also about maintaining research excellence across a wide range of disciplines Lack of cohesion between different funders relating to objectives, timescales, deliverables and knowledge transfer.

11 ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES Need for change widely recognised Post-Foresight A number of reviews, studies and reports emphasised the need to reinforce the delivery pipeline The Joint Commissioning Group was established in 2011 to develop a Producer View of priorities

12 BRIEF To add value to and support existing activity by building on existing sector R&D strategies to develop an overarching strategy for primary food production by :- Identifying key cross-sector priorities Identifying the current impediments to achieving these Highlighting the industry s current Knowledge Gaps, Capacity Gaps and Technology, Product & Service gaps The aim was to help the Industry meet the midcentury challenges identified by Foresight

13 WORKING METHODS Driven by the users via workshops and consultations Outputs used to develop Key Priorities and Researchable Issues that were producer-focused, generic and long-term These were extended to include Recommendations and Next Steps to promote effective delivery Draft report put out to consultation Nov 12. Final report published May 13.

14 RESEARCH PRIORITIES 1 Utilise modern technologies to improve the precision and efficiency of key agricultural management practices. 2. Apply modern genetic and breeding approaches to improve the quality, sustainability, resilience and yield-led profitability of crops and farm animals. 3. Use systems-based approaches to better understand and manage interactions between soil, water and crop/animal processes 4. Develop integrated approaches to the effective management of crop weeds, pests and diseases within farming systems. 5. Develop integrated approaches to the management of animal disease within farming systems 6. Develop evidence-based approaches to value ecosystem service delivery by land users and incorporate these approaches into effective decision support systems at the enterprise or grouped enterprise level. 7. Extend the training, professional development and communication channels for researchers, practitioners and advisors to promote delivery of the targets above. 8. Improve the use of social and economic science to promote development, uptake and use of sustainable, resilient and profitable agricultural practice that can deliver affordable, safe and high-quality products.

15 RESEARCHABLE ISSUES (EXAMPLES FROM PRIORITY 1) 1 Utilisation of modern technologies to improve the precision and efficiency of key agricultural management practices. Develop remote monitoring, control and application technologies to optimise input use efficiency, improve animal health and welfare, sustain product quality and safety, reduce the impact of machinery traffic on land and promote effective delivery of environmental goods and services Integrate and utilise the increasing volume of yield mapping and recording, soil, crop and animal data in order to develop better decision support tools for integrated farming systems. Improve platform flexibility, inter operability and applicability to the UK environment in order to promote delivery of the above.

16 BIG TICKET ISSUES Importance of engineering solutions for precision agriculture Importance of systems-based approaches to minimising footprint Throughout the pipeline a need to upskill as well as deliver new knowledge and products Need to involve social and economic science to maximise impact

17 FURTHER EVIDENCE OF GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT TO AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PRODUCTION

18 KEY POINTS Seen as a business opportunity with global potential Recognition of the need for Government support Additional funding provided for: Catalyst fund ( 70M) Innovation Centres ( 90M) R&D PRIORITIES WERE TAKEN UNCHANGED FROM FEEDING THE FUTURE

19 HEALTH WARNING: THE REMAINDER OF THIS TALK IS A PERSONAL VIEW AND SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN AS REPRESENTING THE POLICY OF ANY OF THE ORGANISATIONS WITH WHICH I HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED

20 OPPORTUNITIES AND Opportunity to: CHALLENGES Rebuild the R&D Pipeline Create new business opportunities among both suppliers and producers Foster continuing Government commitment to Agribusiness Re-skill across sectors Deliver sustainable production systems

21 OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES Need for the industry to demonstrate commitment and common purpose Need to exploit cross-sectoral opportunities with long-term potential Need to demonstrate financial commitment to these opportunities Need to recognise the constraints of other funders

22 INNOVATION CENTRES Government funding is capital not recurrent so basing them on existing capacity with stable funding is highly desirable Using the Feeding the Future priorities rather than sectoral strategies is essential to give value for money and promote radical solutions

23 INNOVATION CENTRES; CURRENT UK CAPACITY PRIORITY PRECISION FARMING EXISTING CAPACITY Limited, few sites GENETICS Excellent for both plants and animals, many sites COMMENTS Lack of basic R&D, poor innovation pipeline Good coverage throughout pipeline, integration opportunities

24 INNOVATION CENTRES; CURRENT UK CAPACITY PRIORITY SYSTEMS APPROACHES EXISTING CAPACITY Limited, few sites, little existing funding COMMENTS Some basic research, little translational or applied work or implementation

25 INNOVATION CENTRES; CURRENT UK CAPACITY PRIORITY ANIMAL AND PLANT DISEASE DELIVERY OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES EXISTING CAPACITY Good, multiple sites Patchy; little co-operation between R&D funders COMMENTS Good pipelines via genetics and management, opportunities for integration Few examples of effective integration with production (LEAF?)

26 INNOVATION CENTRES; CURRENT UK CAPACITY PRIORITY EXISTING CAPACITY BETTER TRAINING BETTER UPTAKE Limited but many potential suppliers Very little that uses economics or social science COMMENTS Little agreement on targets or modalities Very few examples of good practice, different R&D communities don t talk

27 KEY QUESTIONS How do we implement a radical agenda? How do we champion industry interests? How do we recognise the interests of other stakeholders (RCs, TSB etc)? Should we prioritise funding for centres? Should we look overseas for providers?

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