Farming And Food Research Vital For Sustainable Future
22/03/05

Research should focus more on helping to balance environmental, social and economic issues in order to help consumers, farmers, food producers and countryside communities, government advisers said today.

The independent Sustainable Farming and Food Research Priorities Group (RPG) wants research funded by government and industry to concentrate more on issues such as climate change, environment-friendly land management, food safety, water and waste to support better-informed policy-making.

The RPG was set up to advise Defra on how best to use publicly-funded and industry research to promote sustainable farming and food. Its report highlights several priorities, including:

• Climate change impacts on crops, water and soil.
• Waste reduction and better use of existing resources.
• Environment-friendly land management.
• Food that encourages healthier diets.
• Better food safety and consumer information.

Food and Farming Minister Larry Whitty said:

"Coordination between government departments, Research Councils and industry on science and research is vital. Together we must ensure that we have sound scientific evidence to inform and influence policies aimed at delivering real, sustainable benefits to people.

"This report is a valuable contribution to our research plans. It highlights the need for more environmental and socio-economic research to underpin our efforts to secure a sustainable future for our farming and food industries and to create thriving rural communities. I expect to see many of the report's recommendations taken up. "

RPG chairman Professor Chris Pollock said:

"Our discussions and consultation with a wide range of people - and we could not have achieved what we have thus far without the invaluable input of stakeholders and the public - have emphasised the need to develop research priorities that are coherent, relevant to sustainable development and that address strategic issues for farming and food.

"We hope that this report will be the catalyst for an integrated programme of work that will involve a range of different funders and will benefit directly both consumers and those involved in the sustainable production, processing and marketing of food."

Sir Don Curry, the Government's independent adviser on sustainable farming and food, said:

"The formation of a new 'priorities board' was one of the recommendations we made in the Policy Commission report. I am delighted that the RPG has been set up and the progress that has been made through the consultation process. The research priorities that have been identified to underpin the sustainable farming and food strategy are crucial to success and I hope the other research funders will engage in this process."

To see the report and for more about the RPG go to http://www.defra.gov.uk/science/rpg/research_priorities.htm