Defra, UK - Science

Defra's Evidence and Innovation report 2004-2013

Evidence and Innovation - Analysis of Consultation published 9 December 2004. Content is available here. (PDF version available here )

Please note that work for the Evidence and Innovation Strategy (E&IS) for 2005-08 is currently underway.

This report follows the consultation with stakeholders on the Evidence and Innovation report (please see below).

List of organisations consulted
Hard copies of received responses are available through the Defra Information Resource Centre, Lower Ground Floor, Ergon House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR

A booklet for young people, on the Evidence and Innovation report, has been produced setting out what Defra thinks the most important issues are and what Defra will need to find out from the sciences. It asks young people what they think and if Defra are paying attention to the right issues.

Their replies have been compiled into two separate summaries, of which the more detailed analysis is available here.

Young People's Consultation Report (This content has been moved to the National Archives website.)

Young People's summary of their responses is available on the Children, Young People and Education webpage.

Evidence and Innovation report published Friday 30 July 2004 - Content is available here . If you require a hard copy please contact Defra Publications on 08459 556000 and quote the product code PB 9227.

The Evidence and Innovation report: Defra's needs from the sciences over the next 10 years'. It has been produced by the Science Strategy Team with help from Defra staff, Defra's Agencies and the Science Advisory Council. The report sets out the findings of the Defra's Evidence and Innovation Project that looked at Defra's future science (including social science and economics) priorities for the next decade.

'Evidence and Innovation: Defra's needs from the sciences over the next 10 years' covers a wide spectrum of areas such as science, technology, engineering, economics and social science. This report follows the first Science and Innovation Strategy 'Delivering the Evidence' that was published by Defra in 2003.

'Evidence and Innovation: Defra's needs from the sciences over the next 10 years' formed the basis of the current strategy Defra's Evidence and Innovation Strategy for 2005 to 2006 (This content has been moved to the National Archives website.)

The Department needs the knowledge and capacity to respond to unexpected developments and threats to the environment and the food chain. It must meet its ongoing commitments as well as be involved with the wider community both in the UK and abroad. The issues are wide and diverse, ranging from fisheries and energy production to climate change and sustainable production, which also involve other Government departments and organisations.

As well as Defra's own scientists and policy makers, agencies, non-departmental public bodies and a wide range of experts also contributed to the project. The Department relies heavily on this wider knowledge base for leading edge science not funded by Defra itself.

The main aim of the Evidence and Innovation project was to scope the likely nature of our scientific requirements up to 2013 so that we could plan for appropriate investment in science (including social and economic) over that time span

Futures - Emerging Findings

An important component of this project is that of identifying possible future scientific priorities, uncertainties and scenarios. Thus a 'futures assessment' exercise was commissioned to help deliver this information. This was undertaken by a partnership of PREST http://www.mbs.ac.uk/research/engineering-policy/index.htm and TNO http://www.tno.nl/ looking at global, economic and social trends and drivers, and those that are more specific to Defra's current scientific and policy interests. The final synthesis report can be found here . We have also built in the results from Defra's Horizon Scanning Programme http://horizonscanning.defra.gov.uk/ where these are within the scope of this project.

Final Synthesis Report

Early drafts of the PREST/TNO reports are listed below.

Food & Farming

Public & Animal Health

Public & Animal Health - Annex

Rural Economy & Land Use

Natural Resources & the Environment (This content has been moved to the National Archives website.)

Marine & Coastal