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Defra’s Research in Sustainable Agriculture

Defra’s Research in Sustainable Agriculture. Dr Sue Popple. Vision for farming 2020. A profitable and competitive farming industry, that takes on the challenge of climate change and is a positive net contributor to the environment. As an industry it should:

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Defra’s Research in Sustainable Agriculture

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  1. Defra’s Research in Sustainable Agriculture Dr Sue Popple

  2. Vision for farming 2020 A profitable and competitive farming industry, that takes on the challenge of climate change and is a positive net contributor to the environment. As an industry it should: • be profitable in the marketplace, continuing to produce the majority of the food we consume • make a positive net environmental contribution, notably in respect of climate change, but also more widely • manage the landscape and the natural assets that underlie it

  3. Defra’s sustainable agricultureresearch programmes • Agriculture and Climate Change • Water Quality and Use • Food Chain Meeting Consumer Needs • Sustainable Farming Systems and Biodiversity • Plant Health

  4. Agriculture and Climate Change • Inventories of emissions of pollution gases from agriculture to air • Mitigation of nitrogen and carbon emissions • Climate change and adaptation in agriculture • Energy in agriculture and food • Bioenergy • Renewable Materials

  5. Current research includes, • Biogas production in the UK • Vulnerability to extreme events • Life Cycle Analysis of options for bioenergy production • Calculating GHG emissions from agriculture

  6. Water Quality and Water Use • Minimising the adverse impacts of UK agriculture on water quality • Optimising water use by UK agriculture and food production industries

  7. Current research includes, • Farm based filters for air and water • Cost curves for multiple diffuse pollutants • Tools for influencing behaviour of farmers and land mangers

  8. Food Chain Meeting Consumer Needs • Efficient food manufacturing and distribution • Waste reduction and recycling in the food chain • Quality foods meeting the consumer needs

  9. Current research includes, • Pathogenic fungi in cereal crops • Exploiting brewing co-products • Resilience of businesses in the food chain

  10. Sustainable Farming Systems and Biodiversity • Organic Farming • Integrated farming systems – a more holistic approach

  11. Current research includes, • Field-scale impacts on biodiversity from New Crops • Managing uncropped land to enhance biodiversity • Developing a fertiliser recommendation system

  12. Plant Health • Exclusion of quarantine pests and diseases • Eradication and containment of plant pests and diseases • Trade facilitation • Development of optimum policy

  13. Current research includes, • Novel diagnostic techniques for the detection of pests and diseases • Detection and monitoring of quarantine whitefly transmitted viruses in protected vegetable crops • Management of plant health risks associated with processing of plant-based wastes

  14. The future - Generic changes in our needs Increasing need for: • Social and opinion research • Multi-disciplinary (natural + social) analysis and assessment • Evaluation of issues and solutions • Interpretation and advice from research providers • Collaboration

  15. The Strategy ArrowEstablished in letter to the PM For example… Energy Emergency preparedness – animal diseases, floods Water availability and quality Avoiding dangerous climate change Waste (re-use, recycling, composting, energy from waste) ONE PLANET LIVING Maintaining & enhancing the natural asset base Food and farming Animal health and welfare Land use Mission Marine environment High Level Goals CAP administration High Impact Policies Licence to Operate

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