ofc research in association with: 64 th oxford farming conference 8/29/20151 facilitator professor...

OFC Research in association with:

64th Oxford Farming Conference

04/19/23 1

FacilitatorProfessor David Leaver

The Oxford Farming Conference Research in association withVolac and BBSRC:

Agricultural research needs and priorities: survey findings from the food and farming

industry


Introduction

The Oxford Farming Conference, in association with dairy nutrition company Volac and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, has commissioned leading market research specialists National Farm Research Unit and IGD to gather the views of UK farmers the UK food industry on the future needs of agricultural science.

The following are the results of the IGD food industry survey


Annual UK spending on agricultural science R&D

Organisation R&D spend (£)Government £264 million*

Defra £65 million

Scottish Government £30 million

Northern Ireland £7 million

BBSRC Ca £150 million

Funding Council support for universities £12 million

Technology strategy board (new for 2010) Expected to be >£80million over 5 years (£16 million/year)

Trade £56 million+

UK Agricultural Supply Industry £45 million+

UK plant breeders £10-£12 million

Farmers £29 million

AHDB levy payer funding £22.6 million (HGCA £5.5m HDC £4.7M EBLEX £4.6M DairyCo £3.1M Potato Council £2.66M BPEX £2.1M)

Farmer membership organisations (e.g. TAG) Ca £3 million

Agricultural charities Ca £3.5 million*Potential total for 2010 - £280 million (Based on previous spending plus £16M from Technology Strategy Board)


Overall estimated total on agricultural science R&D for 2010

£365 million

(based on previous spending plus Technology Strategy Board funding)

Annual UK spending on agricultural science R&D


IGD Survey Contents

IGD Survey

• Slide 6: Background• Slide 7: Objectives• Slide 8: Methodology• Slide 10: Results. 1. Current engagement in agricultural science research• Slide 14: Results. 2. Scope of current agricultural science research• Slide 18: Results. 3. Usefulness of current agricultural science research• Slide 22: Results. 4. Future agricultural science research requirements• Slide 29: Summary• Slide 30: Note• Slide 31: Website contacts

Research by IGD

OFC Research in association with: Research by IGD

Background

• Modern agriculture faces a series of challenges in meeting future demand for food– A global population of 9 billion by 2050– Rising oil prices– Changes in land use and area under cultivation due to climate change

• Farmers and growers will need to – Produce more food efficiently and safely– Optimise the use of inputs– Minimise environmental impact

• To tackle these challenges successfully, the needs of the whole food supply chain must be considered – from producer to processor to retailer to consumer


• Research was carried out to seek views from the food industry on agricultural science research

• Businesses at different points along the food supply chain were asked about:– Their current engagement in agricultural science research– The scope of current research– The usefulness of current agricultural science research– The research needs of their businesses in 10 years time

Objectives


• Qualitative survey of food businesses • Telephone interviews of approximately 30 minutes duration • Views from 10 food businesses from the following sectors:

– Retail– Composite food manufacture– Dairy processing– Cereal processing– Meat processing– Fresh produce grower– Wholesale– Foodservice operationMany thanks to those who took part in the survey

Methodology


• For the purposes of the survey, agricultural science research was limited to that focused on primary food production*

• Questions included in the qualitative survey focused on four areas:1. Current engagement in agricultural science research2. The scope of current research3. The usefulness of current agricultural science research4. The research needs of their businesses in 10 years time

• Emerging themes were identified

* Defined as cultivation of plants for human consumption, or for conversion into products for human consumption; cultivation of plants as feed for animals for human consumption; rearing and maintenance of animals for human consumption, or to produce outputs for human consumption.

Methodology continued


Results1. Current engagement in agricultural

science research


Collaborative research with industry partners

UK and overseas

Government-funded, applied research projects

Through industry association or levy board

Projects directly funded at universities

Have our own facilities in house

In what ways is your business involved in research?

1. Current engagement in agricultural science research


Sustainability Low carbon farming

Efficient water use

Reducing chemical inputs

Biodiversity

Animal welfare

Measures of sustainability

Varietal innovation and

methods of cultivation

Yield improvements

Crop efficiency

Adaptation to drought

Food quality and safety Tools to assess quality

Non-destructive testing

Nutritional and functional improvements

•Ensuring business is sustainable•Impact on environment•Growing population•Meeting consumer demand•Government demands

•Food security•Ensuring there is food to sell in the future

•Grower and customer benefit•Consumer expectation of quality•Government policy on nutrition & health

Within primary food production, which area(s) of agricultural science research are currently most important to your business?



If it stopped, the national diet would just have to change

It is linked to sustainability and food security

Costs of production are not sustainable

It is part of our general horizon-scanning mix Need to meet demands of population growth

We need to produce more for less

Keeping ahead of the competition

To increase functionality of crops and single ingredients in foods

How do you view the overall importance of scientific research in primary food production to your business?


5

Median 8

1081 10

(no importance) (crucially important)

8999

6 7

7


Results2. Scope of current agricultural science

research


2. Scope of current agricultural science research

It meets our needs

The right areas are not funded……..

It’s not applied enough………..

Don’t know what is out there……..

How well does agricultural science research meet the current needs of your business?

•Requirements met through trade bodies and literature

•Funding depends on what’s “in vogue”•Projects are tailored to meet expertise within an institution, and not industry needs •Commercial needs not met•No application to industry setting

•Lack of awareness of research•Poor dissemination of information•IP restricts access


Global focus Sustainability & food security

Meat quality Strategy Applied research

Share best practice

Meeting needs of growing

population

Effects of forage systems

Clear roadmap of research

programme

Meeting market needs

Look outside of EU

Reduce carbon and water use

Improving animal health

Clarity of current activities and future needs

Connection to commercial

world

Understand benefits of

different farming systems

What are the gaps in agricultural science research?



Funding structure Loss of skills Commercial awareness and organisation

Short term political outlook Skills lost from areas now recognised as important

Scientists need to understand the environment in which research outputs will be employed

Poor availability of funds Loss of good university departments through lack of funding

Speed of implementation of research needs to increase

No overall responsibility for research

Fragmented nature of parts of the industry makes implementation of technology more challenging

Why do gaps in research exist?



Results3. Usefulness of current agricultural

science research


3. Usefulness of current agricultural science research

Is it relevant? Is it timely? Is there sufficient industrial participation?

YESBut it takes time to find the areas of interest

YESWhen there is clear government-driven need

YESIt is in industry’s interests to take part

NONot applied enough

NOToo short term

NOConsultation with industry is needed

Pure research is interesting but not relevant

Too slow to market

Contentious areas are not addressed e.g GM


Illustrations and ideas to show how research can be applied in the “real world”

Demonstrate benefits to business

Funding for implementation following the research

Working in collaboration will make it more impactful

Cluster farming and industry to deliver a research programme giving value across the supply chain

Make it global

What other factors affect the usefulness of agricultural science research?



How do you rate the overall usefulness of agricultural science research?


3 751 10

(no importance) (crucially important)

77

63

44

Median


Results4. Future agricultural science research

requirements


4. Future (10 years) agricultural science research requirements

Sustainability and food security

Crop varieties and yield Methods of cultivationWithstanding climate changeUse of GM technology

Resource depletion Water scarcityMineral depletion in soil

Food quality and safety

Sourcing New marketsPost harvest physiologyPest control

Nutrition Non-destructive, rapid testingImproving nutritional value

Animal welfare Improving standards

Food safety Pathogen control

What issues do you think will be most important to your business?


Rank the following research areas in terms of importance to your business

Ranking

Climate change & other environmental considerations

Top

Food safety Second (equal)

Energy prices, efficiency savings & waste reduction

Second (equal)

Human diet & health, including obesity Second (equal)

Spread of new or emerging pests & diseases

Bottom

Respondents ranked each research area in importance from 1 (highest) to 5 (lowest). Final ranking was based on the average of all scores.



• Climate change affects all 5 areas• Maintaining a sustainable global

supply base• Feeding a growing world population• Reducing impact on supply chain

Why are these areas important?

Climate change and other environmental considerations

Food safety• Maintaining consumer confidence• Threat from changes in supply chain

due to climate change



Why are these areas important?

• Impact on climate and environment• Cost perspective• “Water is the new oil of tomorrow”• Energy and carbon reduction

Energy prices, efficiency savings and waste reduction

Spread of new and emerging pests and diseases

Human diet and health, including obesity

• Role of food industry in producing food for health

• Addressing obesity• Climate change and diet

• New pests arising as a result of climate change

• Spread of current diseases e.g Blue tongue in cattle



• Increased food prices• Increased food imports• Shifting global politics: countries whose climates support food

production increase in power• Individual businesses implement their own solutions: fragmented

response• UK will lose competitive advantage

Consequences for the food industry if research is not carried out



GM Introduction to UK and EUOffers significant advantagesConcerns over loss of skills

Nanotechnology Potential not yet clearDanger of developments being blocked

Genomics Whole genome selection in cattleVarietal selection

Sustainable agriculture HydroponicsWater managementSoil science

Technologies which will help us



• Agricultural science research is important to the food businesses

surveyed

– Sustainability and food security

– Food quality and safety

• Engagement varies

– Out of the loop/unaware

– Engaged and active in research

• There is scope to increase application of research

• Without research

– Increased food prices

– Increased reliance on food imports

Summary


• Sample size used in this research is small (10 businesses)• Research is qualitative in nature• Caution should be used in drawing wider inference for the food and

grocery sector

Note


Website contacts

Oxford Farming Conference: www.ofc.org.uk

Volac: www.volac.com

BBSRC: www.bbsrc.ac.uk

IGD: www.igd.com

ofc research in association with: 64 th oxford farming conference 8/29/20151 facilitator professor...

Documents

igd research

ofc research

agricultural research

igd slide

agricultural science

scope of current research

background slide

website contacts research