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12 January 2010
Plant
breeding recognised as key to future agricultural
production
The British Society of Plant
Breeders (BSPB) has welcomed the findings of new farmer
research which singles out plant breeding as the most
important scientific development for future agricultural
production.
The research, presented at the Oxford Farming
Conference, involved a survey of 600 farmers by the
National Farm Research Unit.
Increased yield and improved disease and pest
resistance were highlighted by farmers as key priorities
for future plant breeding programmes.
BSPB also strongly endorsed the report’s conclusions
that UK agriculture needs a functioning R&D chain, from
basic science through to practical on-farm application,
to meet the challenges of sustainable yield improvement
set out in the Government’s Food 2030 strategy.
“There is clear evidence that crop genetic
improvement – delivered to the market through commercial
plant breeding programmes - will be the single most
important factor in boosting future agricultural
productivity. This research provides an encouraging
indication that farmers recognise the critical need to
support future investment in plant breeding,” said BSPB
chairman Dr Thomas Jolliffe.
“For some time, plant breeders have highlighted the
urgent need to bridge the current hiatus in research
activity. Although commercial plant breeding is a
research-intensive activity, with around a third of
turnover invested in R&D, the limited revenue streams
available from seed royalties do not allow significant
investment in speculative or long-term targets. As a
result, much of the new genetic information being
generated at a basic level in public sector research
institutes is not being transferred into crops of value
to UK farmers and consumers.
“There are encouraging signs that our calls for
significant new public investment in translational crop
science have not gone unheeded among policy-makers and
R&D fund-holders,” said Dr Jolliffe.
“Continued support for the Crop Genetic Improvement
Networks, the launch by BBSRC of a new Crop Improvement
Club, and the recent establishment of a Sustainable
Agriculture and Food Innovation Platform within the
Technology Strategy Board all offer important
opportunities to strengthen the R&D pipeline through
collaboration between public and private sector
research.
“But the timescales involved in plant breeding are
such that we need to act now to deliver on the targets
for 2030. The immediate challenge is to ensure that
research with practical, on-farm impact is effectively
co-ordinated and focused on the right priorities. BSPB
members have a pivotal role to play in that process by
providing a route to market for improved varieties and
crop production systems,” said Dr Jolliffe.
ENDS
About BSPB:
BSPB is the representative body for the UK plant
breeding industry. Acting on members’ behalf, BSPB
licenses, collects and distributes certified seed
royalties and farm-saved seed payments on agricultural
and horticultural crops. BSPB represents more than 50
members, comprising virtually 100% of public and private
sector breeding activity in the UK.
For further information contact:
Dr Penny Maplestone, BSPB Chief Executive
T: 01353 653200
E:
penny@bspb.co.uk
Issued by:
Daniel Pearsall, Front Foot Communications
T: 01487 831425
E:
daniel.pearsall@frontfoot.uk.com
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