Stakeholder Workshops - Further Information
The aim of the workshops is to identify and develop a shared understanding of the broad generic issues (rather than specific problems) that are likely to influence the farming and food industries in 10 years time and thus the research and development required to address these. The RPG will then consolidate the range of views and assign targets and priorities.
Each workshop will be based on one of the following subject areas:
- The impact of global and technological drivers on farming and food
- Satisfying consumer aspirations through sustainable delivery of food products
- Optimising profitability by means of new opportunities for agricultural land use
- Adding value across the food supply chain within a national framework
- Manipulating the environmental footprint of agriculture to achieve better management of the true costs and benefits
- Delivering landscape scale benefits from farms whilst improving economic sustainability of UK agriculture
More information on the subjects for each workshop are available by clicking on each title.
1. The impact of global and technological drivers on farming and food
30 April Birmingham
This workshop will consider how external drivers, such as climate change, population demographics, new technologies and new policies will influence the production and economics of food supply and will determine the strategic research requirements for sustainable farming and food industries.
Some external drivers are more predictable than others. For example, it is generally accepted that on average the UK will be experiencing hotter and drier summers and warmer and wetter winters in the future. However, these conditions will be experienced more frequently, rather than consistently and there is likely to be greater variability in climate. Other trends are more predictable, but their impact on the food supply chain is less clear. The 'greying' population (i.e. older average age) will impact on what foods are required and how food will be purchased. However, much of this trend will be dominated by the economic position of the older population.
The workshop will need to evaluate how political pressures such as further CAP reform and WTO negotiations will impact on the farming and food industries and their ability to adapt to such changes. The strategic research requirements to improve the sustainability of the farming and food industries under pressures from these and other policies will need to be identified.
The workshop will also identify new opportunities that may arise from advances in science and technology and the research requirements needed to underpin them. Examples in the advancement of scientific technologies, such as the use of genomics and proteonomics will have a significant impact on animal and plant breeding, both to improve existing systems and stimulating new markets. Consumers will also be more aware of these technologies and diets may be individually tailored based on genetic risk.
Satellite technology and GPS will improve tracking and monitoring of pollutants and products. Remote sensing and chemical sensors may enable individual diets or formulations to be fed to both plants and animals and provide early warning systems to pest and disease attack.
2. Satisfying consumer aspirations through sustainable delivery of food products
18 May Birmingham
This workshop will ascertain the strategic research required to improve the management of processes and products in the food chain, to boost consumer confidence and deliver their aspirational demands, within the context of sustainable farming and food.
This may include the strategic research to address issues such as improved quality assurance and conformity of produce in terms of shelf life, season and taste. The workshop will highlight priorities for research that may be required to ensure that consumers' bad food experiences are limited and the quality and safety of the food is assured throughout all sectors of the food chain. This workshop will also need to consider other related horticultural products.
This workshop will highlight research priorities aimed at production, processing and retail. However, priorities will need to be integrated across the food chain to ensure that the benefits (quality, safety and financial) afforded at one part of the food chain are not negated at other parts of the chain to ensure that the benefits are passed on to the consumer.
3. Optimising profitability by means of new opportunities for agricultural land use
9 June Birmingham
This workshop will identify the strategic research required to underpin new opportunities for land use in rural areas.
This may include a range of potential new opportunities, such as growth of novel crops for non-food uses (e.g. biofuels, pharmaceuticals, dyes etc). It may also include non-crop-related opportunities, such as energy generation (e.g. wind farms), exploitation of new animal markets (e.g. in the rearing of exotic species for meat/wool/hides etc), eco-tourism (e.g. showcasing alternative technologies), or using land for water/flood management. The workshop will also consider alternative uses of existing crops and systems and will need to consider novel crops/technologies that may be developed, that could be used for these and other non-food uses. The workshop will need to consider how strategic research can identify and develop new crops/technologies and underpin improvement in the implementation of new technologies into existing systems.
The workshop will seek to evaluate the risks, management costs and environmental footprint of these potential new systems.
4. Adding value across the food supply chain within a national framework
6 July Birmingham
This workshop will aim to identify research requirements to increase value and sustainability across the food supply chain through the manufacturing and processing sectors.
Adding value across the food chain will help UK food producers to compete with overseas producers. This workshop will consider how sustainability can be promoted by adding value through mechanisms, including increasing efficiencies in technical approaches and prioritising risks to be managed.
Efficiency enhancements and novel production and packaging techniques can be used to add value to the manufacture and processing of food products. Closer integration between manufacturers and the supply chain could ensure that raw commodities are produced to meet the needs of manufacturers and the market place. Novel products assured (e.g. for speciality, locale or health benefits) can also add value - but integrity and predictability of the product will be essential to ensure the sustainability of the food supply chain.
The workshop will need to consider the strategic research requirements of the supply, food manufacturing and retail sectors to ensure that adding value in these areas is optimal and that adding value is sustainable.
5. Manipulating the environmental footprint of agriculture to achieve better management of the true costs and benefits
14 July Birmingham
The environmental footprint of agriculture includes a range of positive and negative effects. Positive effects include maintenance of landscape structures, protection of natural habitats and carbon sequestration. Negative effects include reduction in biodiversity, emissions of greenhouse gases and ammonia, leaching of nitrates, phosphorus, sediment, toxic compounds and microbes (Cryptosporidium) into water bodies and the production of waste materials. These benefits and costs need to be managed to maximise the benefits and to reduce the negative effects.
This workshop will need to identify the strategic research needs to determine new, cost effective means and practices to reduce the negative and maximise the positive environmental impacts of farming systems. It will address all stages of the food chain and aspects of production and consider the potential damage of transferring the costs of the negative effects from one part of the food chain to another. The workshop will need to consider the full lifecycle of products to address these issues.
The workshop will also need to consider proportionality and cost effectiveness of any such measures to prioritise research needs.
6. Delivering landscape scale benefits from farms whilst improving economic sustainability of UK agriculture
7 September Cwmbran, near Newport
This workshop will identify the strategic research needed to provide the evidence base for management systems that deliver positive landscape scale benefits which improve the sustainability of farming and food industries.
Future subsidies will depend on farmers delivering benefits accountably to the landscape. This may be through improved biodiversity, increasing the number of structures such as hedgerows or stone walls, or through conserving particular habitats or archaeological features. However, farmers will also need to earn an income from the goods produced on the land and manage the increased biodiversity with attendant agricultural production. The aim of this workshop is to identify research requirements that achieve these two aspirations (landscape scale benefits and profitable farming).
The workshop will need to consider how to meet these aspirations through addressing research requirements in farming and land management practices, technology, biotechnology and conservation strategies.
Page last modified: 19 January 2005
Page published: 19 January 2005