Federated Farmers: Feds take research concerns to Beehive

The Beehive

Recent job cuts at AgResearch and the broader erosion of New Zealand's agricultural science capability will be top agenda at an upcoming meeting of the Prime Minister and Federated Farmers president Dr William Rolleston and chief executive Graham Smith.

It's a conversation Federated Farmers is also looking to have with other political parties.

"Agriculture science is a long-term investment which is difficult for governments on a short term three year election cycle, but we owe it to our future farmers, and all New Zealanders, to make the investments now, develop our capability and build the basic sciences which provide the necessary grunt to ensure commercialisation of innovation is optimised," Dr Rolleston said.

He said New Zealand was well known for its leadership in agriculture, which continued to be a significant player in the economy and our biggest export earner, and science must continue to be one of the key drivers that propel this vital sector forward.

"We need science to continue to provide the solutions for tomorrow through increased productivity, reduced environmental impact, new products and added value for our current products.

"We also rely on science to address the risks we face with a changing climate, biosecurity, the market and our social licence to operate. Agricultural science capability is at a low ebb in New Zealand. We lack a co-ordinated strategic plan and our science system is over-governed and micro-managed.

"We need a plan which will rebuild our science capability and give more responsibility to our CRIs as outlined in the CRI Taskforce Report (2010). The taskforce recommended core funding for CRIs and more decision-making at the institution level.

"While this has happened, the development of the National Science Challenges has tied up a significant proportion of core funding and makes governance responsibility unclear. "

The Government has the opportunity to turn the tide with outcome of the core funding review where we would expect to see an increase in core funding which has not been inflation adjusted since it was instituted.

"We would like to see a growing agricultural science sector which is moving forward with confidence, not a shrinking one where scientists are disillusioned and our youth discouraged from science careers. This is vital for the agricultural sector and an area where we'll be looking for support, not just from Government but across the political spectrum."

Federated Farmers hope that the National Statement of Scientific Intent which the government is soon to release will reflect the importance of science in agriculture.

"We're hoping to see more attention to basic research and capability, greater stability and certainty for scientists in the primary sector within an ecosystem where a science career can be rewarding and valued," Dr Rolleston said.