Too many people are pessimistic about Britain’s economic prospects. The pace of development in the developing world is creating huge new markets which we are perfectly positioned to service. I believe our world-class life sciences sector (biomedicine, clean-tech and agri-science) can help us ‘seed’ the markets and allies the UK will need for a sustainable economic recovery, however agriculture has for too long been neglected in this respect.
The challenge of food insecurity and sustainability demands a new strategic response from government. There is a growing consensus that a modern industrial policy should be based on business-led, sector-specific policies in which government uses the resources at its disposal to help get the most out of key sectors by attracting inward investment and working more closely with both industry and global partners.
The June 2012 Agricultural Biotechnology Council report Going for Growth praised the strength of the UK science base, but highlighted that we are being left behind by the economic powerhouses of India, China, Brazil and the US, who are all developing their research and reaping the rewards. The UK is at the forefront of agricultural research in Europe and a focus on developing it further would provide a platform for attracting substantial inward investment and export-led technology transfer.
In February this year the BBSRC announced a £7 million initiative to bring researchers and industry together over sustainable farming practises that take into account the disruptive effects of climate change and deliver higher yields of better-quality fruit and vegetables. This is an excellent initiative and the BBSRC is essential for the production of high-quality research, but in order to relieve the over-dependence of agricultural research on public funding we must do more to encourage private investment. There is not nearly enough collaboration between researchers and the industry. The UK has traditionally been a leader in translating best practice identified through research to the field, and if we are going to unlock the full potential of our agricultural science base this needs much more attention. Knowledge exchange is essential for translating research findings into practical advice for growers and for giving growers the deserved input into what is researched.
I strongly welcome the government considering DEFRA’s proposal for a ‘Leadership Council’ to target funding for agri-food research. A clear agricultural science strategy would encourage private investment and provide a solid foundation for a new partnership between government, research institutes and growers. -
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