Artificial Intelligence (AI), methane, carbon sequestration, regenerative systems, financing, and antimicrobial resistance are among some of the issues raised in a new report published today by the Centre for Effective Innovation in Agriculture (CEIA), which farmers wish to be investigated.
The report, which was launched by the research centre in collaboration with the NFU and Innovate UK, is based on opinions from almost 100 farmers and growers correlated during a series of workshops conducted by the CEIA.
It shows that while traditional topics of concern, such as soil health and disease control, remain high on farmers’ agendas, new themes have risen to the fore since the last major review of issues was held in 2013.
Chair at the Royal Agricultural University, Elizabeth Creak and director of the CEIA, prof. Tom MacMillan, who led the work, said: “These research and innovation needs were gathered from a great diversity of farming businesses across the UK.
“They paint a picture of an industry with its finger on the pulse, very engaged with latest ideas and technologies, from AI to agroforestry, yet also profoundly practical”.
CEIA
CEIA formed as a partnership of England’s leading agricultural universities – the University of Reading, University of Warwick, Newcastle University, Harper Adams University and the Royal Agricultural University (RAU), and was launched in April 2021.
It was founded with five years’ funding from the Elizabeth Creak Charitable Trust, as a strategic initiative aiming to strengthen the impact and benefit of agricultural research at scale.
797 challenges and needs affecting the industry were raised by attendees at the workshop, which served as the first platform of this scale, for farmers to set a collective research agenda, since the NFU and other partners published the Feeding the Future report in 2013.
While the focus of the project was on what research is required within the sector, farmers were also concerned with how the research is conducted, and particularly, how useful it ends up being in practice.
The findings also indicate that farmers and growers are keen to be more involved in the development, design and delivery of agri-research and innovation.
“Some of the research priorities that have stayed consistent since 2013 reflect perennial issues that will likely remain ongoing, even as the details and terms used evolve.
“However, other persistent challenges, such as increasing homegrown feed and ensuring digital tools are interoperable, might be seen as solvable problems where more progress is still needed.
“Many of those who contributed were up for research to support bold, transformative innovation, and underlined how involving farmers could help make sure ideas worked on the ground.
“Ambitious and practical are sometimes seen as opposites, but I think the message for the research community is that we can, and should, aim for science that is both,” added prof. MacMillan.
The report also found that the research agenda established by food producers, aligned well with the strategic priorities of funders, particularly around sustainable agricultural systems.
Four of the workshops were organised by the NFU and NFU Cymru, who have recognised the importance of academic research in the industry, particularly when it comes to overcoming challenges in the sector.
NFU vice president, Rachel Hallos said: “Leveraging more investment from private sector and achieving maximum impact from research spending are both key to achieving this, and while it’s no easy task, both funders and providers of research and innovation are rising to the challenge.
“This report has the potential to help inform future science policy and funding strategies.
“Importantly, it also leads by example with a real focus on collaboration with end users.
“Next there needs to be a plan to provide all farmers and growers with easy access to the best evidence, which is crucial to helping them improve decision-making on farms.”
