The Applied Research Forum for Farming and Food (ARF) was established in 2003 following a recommendation in the Report of the Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food. The Forum provides a mechanism for industry levy bodies to collaborate in the development and integration of appropriate strategic and applied R&D programmes and associated knowledge transfer activities, and to influence Government prioritisation and investment in agri-food research. The core membership comprises senior technical staff of seven levy bodies, namely BBRO, BPC, HDC, HGCA, MDC, MLC and PGRO, and there are also representatives from other funders and stakeholders, namely BBSRC, DARD, Defra, FSA, NFU, NFUS, SEERAD, WAG. Activities include coordination of research activities and development of specific areas of work of common interest, such as soil and waste management. Further details are available on our website www.appliedresearchforum.org.uk. This response is from the core members only, and follows a meeting held on January 9th to look in some detail at mapping our research programmes on the RPG priorities.
The ARF appreciates being involved in the RPG exercise and has played a full part to date; through Assessor status on the Group, participation in the stakeholder workshops and launch of the Report and discussions at ARF meetings, including meetings with yourself and with RPG members. Cooperation and synergy is at the heart of the ARF and we welcome the opportunity to develop more effective ways to work with other funders for the benefit of the Farming and Food Industries and the nation as a whole.
The levy bodies play a significant role in funding applied, and to some extent strategic, research in the UK and related knowledge transfer activities aimed at optimizing farming systems, ensuring sustainable farming through profitability linked to environmental stewardship. In Defra's recent 'Evidence and Innovation Strategy 2005-08' consultation document, it is stated that the UK Government's vision is for a farming industry that is 'thriving and competitive.environmentally sensitive.socially responsible.producing to high levels of animal health and welfare'. We would endorse this and aim to apply R&D as appropriate to help achieve it. We believe that the future of UK farming lies in the production of differentiated, traceable, quality products.
The recent Radcliffe Review of the five statutory levy bodies classified scientific R&D projects aimed at transferring to levy payers the information/action required to improve yields and reduce costs and/or risks as an "always appropriate" activity for Levy Bodies. Funding for research is under considerable pressure, as levy bodies have to balance different demands for levy funding. In addition, the overall levy income has declined due to only small increases, or for some bodies no increase, in the levies over the past few years and a reduction in the products (particularly livestock) on which levy is raised. We therefore need to work in partnership to deliver our programmes of R&D.
The approval for funding research on specific projects ultimately lies with the industry's stakeholders and so, whereas the ARF can specify how current projects map onto RPG themes, we can only give an indication of future work. However, every levy body carries out a thorough review of its R&D strategy every few years and the RPG Report will be an important component of the evidence base. This is already true in the case of the recent strategy reviews by the British Potato Council and the British Pig Executive, and the intention of the ruminant federal MLC members to undertake a Forsight exercise on 30/31 January this year. In addition, much of our joint KT activity relates to RPG themes, for example, soil water and waste management. Our livestock members are disappointed that animal health and safety was excluded from consideration by the RPG. This is a major area of research for many funders and significantly impacts on the RPG themes. We consider that its exclusion weakens the impact of the report.
As requested, our assessment of the list of research priorities, as it relates to the levy bodies, is attached. I would like to expand on this to emphasise some key areas of activity.
Overall our greatest spend is in the 'Quality and composition of Food' theme. Examples include a considerable amount of work on genomics and marker-assisted breeding; work on replacing antimicrobials in weaner pigs, novel flavour detection in potatoes, folates in cereals and oilseeds, and food safety issues relating to salmonella in pigs, acrylamide in potatoes and cereals, and mycotoxins in cereals. A number of these projects involve other partners through LINK or other funding mechanisms. Levy bodies also have an education role in delivering accurate (human) nutritional information (see www.foodafactoflife.org.uk). We see genetic improvement and health as key ways of producing differentiated products in the future.
In the 'Environment and Landscape' theme, we are managing a range of projects relating to diffuse pollution, including ones addressing management of nitrogen and phosphate, and the appropriate use of chemicals - both in the growing crop (eg appropriate fungicide use in combinable crops) and in storage (eg sprout suppressants in potatoes). Reduction in inputs is also being addressed through genetic improvements (eg disease and pest resistance and resource use efficiency). Biodiversity issues are being addressed through projects aimed at margin and crop management (eg SAFFIE - HGCA and BPC; Landscape: Re-wilding of crop margins - BBRO and managing uncropped land for biodiversity benefits - HGCA).
In the 'Energy, Water and Waste' theme, nitrogen, phosphorus and pesticide management are key projects for improving water quality. We are also working on manures and composts and held a workshop in 2004 to identify issues that need addressing through research and KT. Work on economically reducing replacement rates for livestock farms has a considerable impact on all three components of this section and others (MDC). The use of water is also an important driver for some species, eg potatoes and horticultural crops. Research on biodegradable products from starch can provide solutions to some waste issues. Increasingly, energy use is seen as a significant cost to businesses.
Our input to the other RPG themes is probably less significant, although research on biofuels from plant starches and sugars is of increasing interest and there has been a focus on drought resistance in sugar beet which could become increasingly important.
Overall, we welcome the publication of the RPG report and the opportunity it provides to develop research partnerships. However, it needs to be recognized that many of the environmental benefits sought by government can only be delivered through a vibrant farming industry. Profitable and environmentally beneficial production need to go hand-in-hand and so should the research that delivers these benefits. We are concerned that levy bodies will not be able to deliver the appropriate applied research in the future because of the lack of strategic research and research personnel which underpin it.
We would welcome any feedback on this letter and further discussions with the RPG team. We have ARF meetings planned for March 22 and June 22 and would like to invite members to join us at one of these to discuss how to take the process forward.
Yours sincerely
Professor Graham Jellis
Lead Technical Director, Applied Research Forum
January 2006
Link to the Research Priorities Group's page on the Defra website:http://www.defra.gov.uk/science/rpg/research_priorities.htm
Table of activities and interests of the ARF levy boards  (26kb) |
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