AgResearch has big plans to help productivity

Stephen Goldson

A new 14-year strategy unveiled by AgResearch is a signal to the pastoral industry that the organisation is back on track, says chief science strategist Stephen Goldson.

He and his team have spent about 18 months consulting scientists, the industry, other research organisations and Government bodies before drawing up a strategy to guide research.

Goldson says one of the reasons for the strategy "is to say to the pastoral industry, 'Look, AgResearch is back', because we weren't always as closely aligned to some of this as we have been".

The institute had previously moved to a more life sciences research model with less direct focus on agriculture.

Goldson said the work undertaken by AgResearch needed clarity and coherence "so that industry and other research organisations and funding agencies know which areas we are operating in".

The strategy would also help funding organisations tailor their own plans. "And that way funders and researchers don't give each other nasty surprises because there is a degree of alignment of thinking."

The new strategy is called "2020 Science" and is made up of "five big ideas", including the doubling of the value of dairy production while halving the costs.

Goldson said setting such a goal would co-ordinate research into areas such as energy levels in forages, reducing methane production and increasing conversion into milk or meat, and the use of genetics to optimise animal performance and the rate of conversion of feed.

The goals were brave, aspirational but not absurd.

"If we want to stay competitive, if we want to stay in the First World, we've got to really increase our productivity."

Goldson said the pastoral sector was a leading contributor to the economy and achieving these large increases in productivity had to be done in a sustainable manner.

Scientists were already concerned about whether the pastoral landscape could sustain the present rates of livestock intensification without permanent damage.

AgResearch was in the game of serious and intensive research into pasture production for reasons of increased productivity and sustainability.

The big five

* Double the value of dairy production while halving the costs and environmental impact.

* Double the value of meat and fibre production while halving the costs and environmental impact.

* Reduce the risks from pests and disease.

* Ensure sustainable agribusiness and rural communities.

* Use plant and animal knowledge to develop new medical drugs and biotechnology.