A new science
strategy to help improve the security and sustainability of our
food system has been launched today by the Government’s Chief
Scientific Adviser Professor John Beddington.
The UK Cross-Government Strategy for Food Research and Innovation
aims to provide the evidence to support effective, joined-up
policies, and ensure the development and dissemination of new
knowledge, technologies and skills.
The UK has a world leading science base which can contribute
significantly to the new Government food strategy, Food
2030, which sets out a clear vision for achieving a
sustainable and secure food system.
The topic of food is inherently complex and multi-faceted, and
the research and innovation landscape reflects this complexity.
Delivering safe, affordable and nutritious food for a growing
global population, whilst ensuring sustainability and coping with
climate change, will require a multi-disciplinary research approach.
Professor Beddington said:
“There are real challenges ahead for policy makers and
researchers alike, and for the food industry from producers to
retailers, with pressures on our food system set to increase
sharply in the decades ahead.”
“The UK must draw on the strengths in its science base and in
industry to meet these challenges, and to exploit the
opportunities for innovation and new markets that exist.”
“A critical element will be strengthening partnerships across
organisational boundaries and sectors to address social,
environmental, health or economic factors. This more joined up
approach will be central to contributing to a thriving UK
agri-food business sector and delivering a sustainable and secure
food system.”
The Food and Innovation Research Strategy provides, for the first
time, an overarching framework across the UK Government and
Devolved Administrations. It sets out current and future
programmes and highlights some past successes, good practice and
where joint working is already strong, both on research projects
and cross-cutting issues.
However, it also recognises the need to further strengthen
co-ordination and networking, and sets out the mechanisms by which
this will be achieved.
Notes for Editors
· This Strategy was developed by a cross-government group under
the chairmanship of the Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser,
Professor John Beddington. The Food Research Group (FRG),
including representatives from the Devolved Administrations in
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, aims to provide leadership
in addressing the issues set out in the Strategy, and will oversee
its implementation. The Group’s wider links have been strengthened
through the new Food Research Partnership established to bring FRG
members together with senior representatives and experts from
industry, the research community and others outside government.
The Partnership has provided further valuable input to the
development of the Strategy to promote a more coherent and
coordinated approach on food research and innovation across the UK.
· Key initiatives highlighted in the Strategy include:
· a new multi-partner food security research
programme, co-ordinated by BBSRC and delivered jointly with
relevant Research Councils and government departments, and
including close engagement with industry and the third sector. Key
aims include strengthening research coordination and partnerships,
building a more integrated community of researchers, funders and
usersthat extends across disciplines, organisations and
sectors, to provide multi-disciplinary research to ensure a
sustainable and secure food system;
· a new Technology Strategy Board led Sustainable Agriculture and
Food Innovation Platform, co-funded by Defra and BBSRC with up to
£90M over five years, to fund innovative technological research
and development in areas such as crop productivity, sustainable
livestock production, waste reduction and management, and
greenhouse gas reduction;
· a doubling of research investment in agriculture by DFID to
£80m/yr by 2013 to provide farmers in developing countries with
access to technologies and to help national governments develop
more effective agricultural policies, based on a robust evidence
base. Important progress is also being made towards strengthening
the institutional arrangements at international level that will
help maximise the value of these investments;
· impetus to exploit opportunities in the European Research Area
through co-ordination mechanisms such as ERA-NETs and Joint
Programmes, and collaboration through the RTD Framework Programme
more generally;
· a major Foresight study looking over the long term at the
ability of global food systems to feed a future world population
of 9 billion healthily and sustainably, set to launch its findings
in October 2010;
· a new BBSRC Advanced Training Partnership scheme
to provide a range of specialist high level training (masters,
professional doctorate and continuous professional development) to
meet industry needs in partnership with the higher and further
education sectors; and
· the development of new indicators to monitor research
collaboration, innovation and skills within the suite of
indicators being introduced by Defra for a sustainable and secure
food system.
· A copy of the full report is available at: www.bis.gov.uk/GO-Science
For media enquiries, contact Adrian Bradley in the BIS press
office on 0207 215 5080
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