Questions from members of the public
STRATEGIC AND
INVESTMENT PRIORITIES
1. From: Miss Gurpreet Padda, Policy Adviser,
Common Fisheries Policy, Defra
Given the forthcoming budgetary constraints
is it prudent to be issuing a new science strategy when we aren't
clear about where funding will be coming from? I'm unsure whether
we can make evidence based decision making when the people collecting
and compiling the evidence are dwindling as a result of the above.
2. From: Professor Bill Reilly, President, British
Veterinary Association
It has been noted by the British Veterinary
Association that whilst Defra's R&D budget has remained fairly
constant over the last few years the proportion allocated to animal
health and welfare has been substantially cut. With reduced investment
into government research laboratories, how well prepared is the
Defra for future disease outbreaks?
3. From: Professor George Marshall, Assistant
Principal, Scottish Agricultural College
(a) How does Defra propose to work with
the Research Councils and other major research funders in the
UK to produce a strategically coherent approach to address the
major challenges that face agriculture, food security and the
environment?
(b) How does Defra propose to structure
its research funding to introduce greater flexibility in contract
arrangements to gain maximum advantage from EU funding opportunities?
(c) How will Defra make sure that the success
of the LINK research programmes is at least maintained in the
new arrangements through TSB across all sectors including livestock?
FOOD SCIENCE
4. From: Magda Ibrahim, Deputy news editor,
Horticulture Week
Given Defra's call to UK horticulture producers
to up production of fruit and vegetables, does it recognise the
industry's special situation in requiring Government monies for
applied research because of the fragmented nature of its small-scale
producers? Hence, does it recognise a need for funding that goes
beyond the Technology Strategy Board programme, which is not dedicated
to horticulture, and neither provides for ornamental horticulture?
In addition, will Defra provide support for Warwick HRI, to prevent
further demolition of the research base post-2012 when Defra transitional
funding ends?
5. From: The John Innes Centre (BBSRC)
(a) Given the importance of elite plant
varieties to highly-productive, sustainable arable farming, will
Genetic Improvement Networks (GINs) continue to form part of DEFRA's
strategy for evidence collection in relation to food security
in the UK, and will there be an uplift in funding to reflect the
increasing UK[ sic]?
(b) Given the need to ameliorate GHG emissions
from the production and use of nitrogen fertilisers, does DEFRA
require further evidence to support the improvement and expansion
of the UK legume crop as part of its strategy for reducing the
impact of agriculture on climate change, and if so, by which programmes
will it support the collection of this evidence?
(c) Given the demand for fuel produced from
crops (biofuel) and the controversy surrounding certain forms
of biofuel production, what programmes of research will DEFRA
employ to gather evidence to support sustainable biofuel within
the context of UK agricultural practice and its environmental
impact?
6. From: Mr Wyndham Rogers-Coltman, OBE
In the same way that science has a major role
to play in alleviating the effects of climate change so it has
a major role to play in assuring the sustainability and affordability
of food supplies. Would Defra agree with me that the development
of new husbandry techniques and food producing plants and animals
which require less water, are more resistant to disease and are
more productive, whilst requiring less inputs of chemicals and
fertilisers, is essential to the survival of the human race and
the environment in which we live? If they do agree with me, will
they ensure that increased freedom is given to scientists in their
work in developing such scientific advances and that, where the
work is to the national benefit, financial support is made available
to ensure that the work can be carried out?
7. From: Jill Sanders
I would like to ask the Committee if it would
be prepared to conduct an assessment of the value of the contribution
gardeners make to the food supply? This could be conducted through
both individuals and allotment societies, where those participating
could engage plot holders and review crops and methods. It would
be valuable to have some idea of how much this kind of local production
might meet the need for supplying food to families.
8. From: Joyce D'Silva, Compassion in World
Farming
(a) In view of the high level of greenhouse
gas emissions from livestock production and the drain on the earth's
resources of intensive farming of livestock, should not the Government
invest in alternative agricultural production strategies and policies
which address consumption of livestock products?
(b) In view of the fact that Defra-funded
research at Bristol University showed that over 27% of broiler
(meat) chickens suffer from signficant lameness,[1]
should not Defra take urgent steps to address this widespread
problem affecting over 150 million broiler chickens each year
in the UK alone?
(c) In view of the fact that farm animals
are recognised in the Lisbon Treaty as sentient beings, should
the Government not adopt a policy that any climate change mitigation
research and strategies which affect farm animals be subjected
to an animal health and welfare screen?
9. From: Molly Conisbee, Campaigns and Communications
Director, Soil Association
In the light of the findings of the IAASTD report,
published in 2008, and chaired by Professor Watson, what plans
do DEFRA have for funding research into agro-ecological farming
systems, which have historically fared rather badly in comparison
to biotech funding?
FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
10. From: Professor R W Battarbee FRS, University
College London (UCL), and Professor Alan Hildrew, Queen Mary University
of London (QMUL) on behalf of colleagues in Universities, NERC
Research Institutes, the Environment Agency, Natural England and
Countryside Council for Wales
UK freshwaters are severely threatened by many
pressures, including climate change. Does Defra:
(a) recognise the extent to which the UK's capacity
to provide research-based evidence to support the management of
freshwater ecosystems has diminished?
(b) support efforts by freshwater ecologists
to bring together freshwater scientists, managers and policy makers
under a new Cooperative Research Partnership?
(c) appreciate the importance of long-term, unbroken
freshwater ecosystem monitoring programmes, as conducted by Universities
and Research Institutes, in underpinning science and providing
the evidence base for policy, and
(d) recognise that such monitoring programmes
differ fundamentally from compliance-based monitoring led by environmental
agencies?
NON-NATIVE
SPECIES
11. From: Dr Neil McRoberts, Reader in Systems
Ecology, Systems Analysis Team Leader, Land Economy & Environment
Research Group, SAC
Why is an error-ridden UK non-native species
risk assessment scheme still being used as the basis of UK non-native
risk assessment, and still publicly available for downloading
from the non-native species risk assessment panel web pages, when
both Defra and the scientists responsible for developing the methodology
have been informed of its serious technical faults and that it
cannot provide transparent, meaningful evidence of invasive risk
or potential economic impact?
FUNGHI
12. From: Dr David W Minter, President, European
Mycological Association
Fungi are not animals or plants, but belong
in their own totally separate biological kingdom. Their importance
in providing ecosystem services is enormous, and therefore they
are major factors impacting on climate change, food security and
other environmental issues. A recent House of Lords select committee
identified mycology, the scientific discipline for fungi, as being
the most endangered area of taxonomy (50% of the very few remaining
British systematic mycologists reach retirement age within the
next two years). Defra's Evidence Investment Strategy 2010-2013
contains no reference to fungi.
Has Defra's Evidence Investment Strategy
2010-2013 overlooked the fungi?
FLOODING
13. From: Professor Chris G Collier, Professor
of Atmospheric Science and NERC National Centre for Atmospheric
Science (NCAS) Head of Strategic Partnerships, School of Earth
& Environment, University of Leeds
(a) Following the severe floods of 2007,
and in response to the subsequent Pitt Review, the Met Office
and the Environment Agency established the National Flood Forecasting
Centre building upon the Environment Agency National Flood Forecasting
System (NFFS) and the Met Office high resolution Numerical Weather
Prediction (NWP) system. Currently the Centre is introducing the
CEH G2G (Grid 2 Grid) hydrological forecast model. These initiatives
will underpin part of Defra's new Strategy. However, what new
initiatives does Defra envisage for using the considerable meteorological
and hydrological academic research output to improve flood forecasting
lead times and accuracy particularly for extreme events?
(b) Defra has supported considerable research
over many years into the statistical analysis of the occurrence
of heavy rainfall and severe flood events. This work has led recently
to new engineering design guidance for extreme rainfalls. However,
do Defra intend to continue to support this work through investigations
of the impact of climate change on the analysis of extreme rainfall,
fluvial and coastal flood events, in order to provide improved
guidance for the future development of hard defences against fluvial
and coastal flooding, and for reservoir safety applications?
(c) The introduction of high resolution
NWP ensemble forecasts of rainfall by the Met Office has provided
a foundation for the further development of improved fluvial,
pluvial and coastal storm surge flood forecasts. However, much
further work remains to be undertaken to interpret and use operationally
ensemble forecasts from coupled meteorological, hydrological and
coastal storm surge models. How does Defra intend to facilitate
and harness academic research in this area to establish a balance
between the need for soft and hard flood defences?
GEO-ENGINEERING
RESEARCH
14. From: Alan Gadian, Leeds University
Sir David King stated that global warming is
a bigger threat than international terrorism. I believe that it
is the biggest threat to civilisation that mankind has ever had
to face.
We need to procure funding to further research
into our cloud whitening geoengineering scheme; one of only two
Solar Radiation Management schemes recommended for research in
the Royal Society's recent geoengineering assessment. The influential
Copenhagen Consensus Centre rated it the most promising of all
geoengineering schemes. This UK-initiated scheme has been supported
by many leading international scientists, and offers the possibility
of holding the Earth's average temperature and polar sea-ice cover
constant for perhaps 50 years ie this technology could provide
a substantial grace-period within which to reduce CO2 emissions
drastically and/or replace fossil fuel burning by a clean form
of energy.
Currently, EPSRC through its rules, has not
allowed us to apply for blue sky research funds, and has refused
to let us bid for funding from a recently convened sandpit.
Why has Defra, with its science investment strategy,
effectively not allowed even an application for funding for the
most advanced of the UK geoengineering research efforts, in a
crucially important area of science?
GENERAL
14. From: Mark Yoxon, Liaison Officer, Environment,
Communications & Systems Department, MCT Faculty, Open University
(a) How can we make research outcomes relevant
and accessible to groups whose modus operandi puts them in direct
contact with citizens so they can be effective agents of change?
Context: Building from our own partnership working,
we feel wider communication issues are paramount. For example,
making research accessible to groups who might not have the capacity
to assimilate direct research outcomes into their day to day working
but do have requirements to absorb research outcomes into their
modus operandi. Often such groups are at the sharp end
of implementation, in direct contact with citizens and so are
important agents of change.
(b) What wider UK mechanisms can Defra encourage
to foster linkages across research agencies to extend the reach
of applied research carried out by higher education research institutions?
Context: Although encouraged, by for example
Defra, communication across research agencies is not always adequate.
For example we know of waste managers in local authorities who
had telephone calls across a week or so from different research
agencies, all of whom wanted their time and input into several
separate but linked projects. Other than those projects with direct
relevance to the funded research it is often challenging and beyond
the scope for a single research group to coordinate a wider and
often diverse set of research activities.
15. From: Richard Bruce
As stated recently by a wise scientist specialising
in physics and the universe there are no absolutely proven laws
of physics because science is always evolving. I would add that
in chemistry science is still discovering new properties even
for water, the most abundant material on the planet. I would therefore
suggest that there is no such thing as "Sound Science"
because science is continuously evolving and it is positively
dangerous to suggest that current scientists know all that there
is to know, or that their opinions are wholly reliable in the
decision making process. "Scientists prove that scientists
disprove what scientists prove". Worse than this, too many
scientists depend on theory and wrongly dismiss evidence that
fails to fit that theory. They are often well rewarded for such
attitudes by industry. This I would suggest is extremely dangerous.
Some of our greatest inventions, and much of the scientific knowledge
base, has been provided by people outside of the scientific community
with no formal scientific training. Sadly, despite the value of
their knowledge to mankind, they were often destroyed by the scientific
establishment.
STATEMENT
From: Joanna Wheatley of Long Lane Farm,
Long Lane, Maidenhead
Defra should not be involved in the production
of pharmaceuticals. This is commercial enterprise driven by demand
and satisfaction for the end product, and can be financially rewarding.
DEFRA should only be involved in monitoring efficacy and purity
of said products, furthermore in the case of Genetic Engineering
eg BBSRC and other research commercial or otherwise they should
be monitoring bio-security, eg Experimental animals going to abattoirs
when they should be incinerated on site. Incidents where I believe
this has happened are briefly listed below.
BSE; the indestructible agent that is in feed
but not in bovine based injectables, for which farmers are still
footing the bill.
Foot and Mouth Disease the last episode escaped
from one of their institutions but farmers had to deal with the
consequences and trauma both physical and financial.
TB which is still raging through the country
with Animal Health officials with the law behind them going on
to farms using the same needle throughout the whole herd. Then
blaming the farmer for poor husbandry.
The involvement of Defra in both pharmaceutical
and chemical industries leaves open to question its impartiality
and integrity to advise and inform both Ministers and the public.
1 Knowles et al (2008), Leg Disorders in Broiler
Chickens: Prevalence, Risk Factors and Prevention. PlosONE 3(2):
e1545. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0001545. Back
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