Press release

Applied Research Forum launches website and Annual Report

The Applied Research Forum (ARF) for Farming and Food, which provides a way for industry levy bodies to collaborate in the development and integration of research programmes and associated knowledge transfer activities, has launched a website and published its first Annual Report.

Lord Whitty, Minister for Food, Farming and Sustainable Energy said: "I am pleased that the Forum has made considerable progress, as demonstrated in the first ARF Annual Report and through this website. I urge the members to continue the good work, through the development, wherever possible, of integrated programmes of research and knowledge transfer."

The Forum was formally launched in September 2003 in response to a recommendation by the Curry Report, that levy bodies and government improve the co-ordination of their applied farming and food research, to avoid duplication and maximise synergies.

Peter Barr CBE, Chairman of the Forum said: "This joined up approach has already helped to improve the return on levy-funded R&D investment. Through a series of one-day workshops we have started to share ideas on best practice in the areas of waste management and knowledge transfer."

Professor Graham Jellis, Lead Technical Director of the Forum said: "Looking to the future, we are currently planning a workshop and a programme of knowledge transfer activities based on the theme of soil biodiversity, an area of considerable interest to all the levy bodies."

As well as supplying information on the Applied Research Forum and its activities, the website provides a portal for access to the websites of the seven levy bodies and also the other organisations that comprise the Forum, enabling users to quickly access research information.

The Applied Research Forum's core membership is: the British Beet Research Organisation, British Potato Council, Horticultural Development Council, Home-Grown Cereals Authority, Milk Development Council, Meat and Livestock Commission and Processors and Growers Research Organisation. Defra and the devolved administrations, BBSRC, FSA and the farming unions are also represented.

The Annual Report can be seen here, or downloaded as a pdf file.

ARF Annual Report    (229kb)   (Printer friendly version)

For further information contact:

Graham Jellis, HGCA Director of Research, 020 7520 3932 graham.jellis@hgca.com

Madeleine Archer, HGCA Communications Officer, 020 7520 3926 madeleine.archer@hgca.com