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Only greater agricultural science co-operation will deliver production and sustainability gains PDF Print E-mail

6 January 2010

Farmers, scientists, the food industry and the Government must work more closely if UK agriculture is to increase production while protecting the environment.

That was a key finding of two pieces of unique research into future agricultural science needs revealed at the Oxford Farming Conference today (6th January 2010).

The OFC research was carried out in association with dairy nutrition company Volac and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. It consisted of a survey of 600 farmers by the National Farm Research Unit and the views of 10 technical specialists in the food industry gathered by the IGD. The results were presented to conference delegates by Professor David Leaver, former Principal of the Royal Agricultural College and a member of the Government’s Council of Food Policy Advisors.

Crop protection may have been seen as the most important past agricultural science advancement by farmers, but plant breeding was identified as the most important future production development, with GM technology seen as playing a significant role. Soil and water management techniques were also regarded as very important if farming is to be sustainable in the future.  Prevention and control of animal diseases were also seen as key areas for research, as were animal genetics, nutrition and welfare. 

The farmers were also asked who they believe currently delivers agricultural science research to them and who should do so in the future. Nearly 60% said the agricultural supply industry is the most important deliverer of science, with just 21% saying the Government is. However, 56% believed the Government should be responsible for agricultural science in the future. Only 10% thought the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board is the most important deliverer of agricultural science now and just 7% thought it should be in the future.

An estimate of current funding on agricultural research prepared for the conference suggests that there is a significant mismatch between who is perceived to do the research and who is actually doing it. In contrast to the farmers’ perceptions, annual funding of agricultural research by the Government is currently worth £264 million – 75% of the overall total of £350 million. Funding by the agricultural supply industry is worth £56 million – 16% and by farmers (largely through the AHDB) is £29 million – 8%. Public funding for research is also expected to increase by around £16 million a year as the Government has committed £80 million over the next five years through the Technology Strategy Board.

Farmers also suggested that science research needs to be more applied and simpler to understand if they are to derive the greatest value from it. Communication of research is seen as key with around 80% saying that the press is the most important means of communicating scientific developments.

“These are very important pieces of work and should help politicians and the food and farming industry identify what the future direction of agricultural science should be and who should deliver it,” says Prof Leaver.

The 10 food industry members included retailers, processors, wholesalers and foodservice operators. They rated the importance of primary agricultural research to their business as eight out of ten, but judged the usefulness of current agricultural research at just five out of ten. They wanted more research on improved cultivation techniques and methods of withstanding climate change, while improvements in the food processing and supply chain from farm gate to consumer were also important. The group also saw new technology as playing a key role in the future. However, they warned that – without the right research – food prices and imports are likely to rise, further eroding the UK’s competitive advantage. Meanwhile, a fragmented approach to research would lead to duplication and confusion.

“The key messages from this research are that for UK agriculture to be competitive, we need a functioning R&D chain which can deliver the new technologies needed to satisfy the food production and environmental demands of the future. This will require greater co-operation and engagement by all as well as more clarity as to how research is funded, prioritised and applied,” says Professor Leaver.

 
Very few places left for 2010 PDF Print E-mail

14th December 2009

There are very few places left for the 2010 Oxford Farming Conference (OFC) which is being held at the Oxford University Examinations Halls on 4-6th January 2010. The Conference theme, Rising to the Challenge will tackle how British farmers can respond to the immense agricultural challenge of feeding a world population of 9 billion by 2050 with minimal environmental impact.

“We are already sold out for the first day of the conference [5th], but for those who have left booking late, there are around 30 places left for the 6th of January,” explains Heather Peck, the 2010 Chairman.

The line-up on the 6th January is agricultural science and succession planning.

“Following the success of the ‘Farmer Perceptions’ research commissioned by the OFC for the 2009 conference, further work has been commissioned for 2010. BBSRC and Volac have kindly sponsored two pieces of research to determine where agricultural scientific research should be focussed for the future,” continues Mrs Peck.

“IGD explored what research the food chain would like to see in the future and the National Farm Research Unit surveyed 650 farmers to understand where they would like to see research funding to support their businesses,” she adds.

The science-focused session includes a paper from Professor John Beddington, the Government’s Chief Scientific Advisor and Dr Andrew West, CEO of the innovative New Zealand research business, AgResearch.

Farmers speaking in the session are Adrian Ivory a young beef farmer from Perthshire and Fiona Lamotte, Managing Director of Scotherbs who will describe how science is at the core of their businesses.

The final session on the 6th January will probe the thorny subject of succession planning and passing the business baton to farming’s next generation. Speakers include Grant Gordon, Director General of the Institute of Family Business, Dr Matt Lobley from Exeter University and the Mercer family, farmers who have successfully managed integrating and inspiring the next generation into their business. 

 
Oxford to debate if all farmers should retire at 60 PDF Print E-mail

30th November 2009

“This House believes that all farmers should retire at 60” will be the motion for debate in the Oxford Union at the Oxford Farming Conference on Tuesday 5th January 2010.

“The motion is sensitive and emotive and I’m fully expecting some heated exchanges of views to get the temperature rising in the magnificent surroundings of this famous Union,” says Jack Ward, organiser of the debate and one of the Conference directors.

Proposing the motion will be Joanne Moss, a Barrister at Falcon Chambers and opposing the motion will be Andrew Densham CBE, former senior partner at law firm Burges Salmon and current Chairman of RABI. Seconding the legal heavyweights will be Douglas Jackson and Katherine Sealy respectively, both office holders with the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs.

“We are delighted to have pulled together such a well qualified team of debaters to share their ideas and thinking with the audience; I have no doubts at all that this will be a thought-provoking and entertaining evening,” Mr Ward adds.
The Oxford Union Debate welcomes contributions from the floor and anyone attending is encouraged to prepare their views on the motion.

“There have been many erudite, exceptional and highly amusing contributions from the floor over the years of Oxford, so we’re encouraging conference delegates to spend some time over Christmas preparing some verbal ammunition to throw into the ring!” he notes. “What’s more, we’ll make it worth your while; not only will the winning contribution from the floor win a prestigious accolade of a debating award at Oxford University, but we will also present them with a bottle of champagne.

 
Christine Tacon to chair OFC 2011 PDF Print E-mail

23rd October 2009

Christine Tacon, Managing Director of The Co-operative Farms, will take over as Chairman of the 2011 Oxford Farming Conference. Christine will take up the voluntary role when the current Chairman, Heather Peck, steps down at the end of the 2010 Conference.
The Co-operative Farms is the UK’s largest farmer, growing arable crops and fresh produce across more than 50,000 acres in England and Scotland, on ground owned by the Group itself as well as by private landowners. The Farms business is wholly owned by The Co-operative Group, the UK’s largest mutual retailer, and much of the produce it grows is sold in Co-operative food stores.

Ms Tacon joined The Co-operative Group in September 2000 from a background in marketing fast-moving-consumer-goods, having started her career in engineering. She was awarded a CBE for services to agriculture in 2004 and was recently televised in the BBC’s ‘Future of Food’ programme presented by George Alagiah.

Commenting on the announcement, Heather Peck said: “Christine has a deep understanding of the drivers in the European farm to food supply chain and her network of contacts has been invaluable for delivering the high calibre of speakers we have at Oxford. She has a clear vision on the issues facing the UK farming sector which will be reflected in the stretching programme being planned for the 2011 conference.”

Christine has been on the OFC Council since January 2008 and is one of nine council members who serve three years in the voluntary positions. She will take up her post in January 2010.

 
OFC 2010 to tackle feeding 9 billion while minimising environmental impact PDF Print E-mail
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