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Food research report
06/01/2010
A new food research strategy that will help deliver Scotland's ambitious National Food and Drink policy has been unveiled.
The UK Strategy for Food Research and Innovation aims to provide evidence to support effective, joined-up policies, and ensure the development of new knowledge, technologies and skills.
It is the first research strategy that draws together the wide range of interests in food related matters and research funders. The results of this research will help meet the vision for maximising the food and drink sector's contribution to Scotland's economy, health and environment.
It is also an agenda where through the work of the Scottish Government and our research institutes we have much to offer the rest of the UK and internationally.
Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said:
"The world is changing. With climate change and an increasing world population a plentiful food supply cannot be taken for granted. The number of people without food is at an all-time high - something we ignore at our peril.
"Scotland is ahead of the game on food security and our national food and drink policy recognises the crucial role that research and scientists can play in meeting these global challenges.
"We also recently announced an extra £1.5 million of investment to strengthen our science institutes which are already recognised as world-leading in the field of food security research. Through utilising our natural land and sea resources in a sustainable way we can build on the considerable progress that has already been made in Scotland, and our ambitious climate change legislation is also key in meeting this goal.
"The UK Food Research Strategy will help us to co-ordinate our interests on these issues - something which will not only help us deliver our national food policy but also provide a forum for Scottish researchers to share their expertise with the rest of the world."
Professor Maggie Gill, Scotland's Chief Scientific Adviser, said:
"The Scottish Government is the third largest public funder of food research in the UK, with Scottish institutes winning funding nationally and internationally.
"The Scottish Government agreeing a strategy for future research alongside other UK funders adds real value to co-ordinated research and the sharing of best practice. We aim to provide the evidence to underpin the delivery of the Scottish Government's vision for the very significant contribution of our food industry to the nation's economy, health and well being and environment.
"But our research doesn't only contribute to our national goals. I also work for the UK Government's Department for International Development contributing to the evidence base on global food security, as do many of the scientists in our Scottish institutes and universities.
"Our involvement in this Strategy - which has local, national and international elements, together with the agreement in principle of the Boards of the Macaulay Land Use and Scottish Crop Research Institutes to come together to create a new institute with even greater international reach - augurs well for Scotland to continue to be a world leader as we enter one of the critical decades for research of the 21st century."
The UK Food Research Strategy was launched today (January 6) at the Oxford Farming Conference by Professor John Beddington, Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Government. Co-ordination of food research at UK level was endorsed by Ministers at the Food Security Summit hosted by the Scottish Government in May 2009.
The Food and Innovation Research Strategy provides, for the first time, an overarching framework across the UK Government and Devolved Administrations. It sets out current and future programmes and highlights some past successes, good practice and where joint working is already strong, both on research projects and cross-cutting issues. However, it also recognises the need to further strengthen co-ordination and networking, and sets out the mechanisms by which this will be achieved. The strategy was developed by the Food Research Group featuring representatives from the Devolved Administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
This co-ordinated approach helps avoid duplication of research and provides opportunities to influence and draw upon other research programmes. The Scottish Government has been involved in the meetings of the Food Research Group from the start and recently announced joint funding with the Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) to enable all of our main research providers to bid for projects commissioned by BBSRC.
Scottish Government strategic research funding at Scottish Crop Research Institute is currently £10 million per year. Work carried out at SCRI covers genetics and important diseases of potatoes, barley and soft fruits. The Scottish Government funds short term projects on food related areas such as:
- Developing new varieties of blackcurrant with elevated levels of vitamin C
- Mapping of food supply chain in Scotland
- New varieties of blueberry for cultivation in Scotland