1. Towards Operational groups in THE UNITED KINGDOM
DR DAVID COOPER
DEFRA, UK

2. Content
3 examples from recent history that could have been an operational group
3 examples (real or imagined) that would not qualify as an operational group
What are bottlenecks in your country for farmers to discuss and be active in innovation?
How can EIP / Operational Groups address these bottlenecks?
How can Operational Groups be set up and farmers be motivated ?
What are bottlenecks in linking farmers with other stakeholders (business, ngo’s, research) ?

3. Existing OG case 1: Defra’s Genetic Improvement Networks (GINs)
What challenge / opportunity does “OG” discuss?
Improvement of crop varieties, through genetics, to increase yield and quality, pest and disease resistance (supporting integrated pest management with reduced pesticide use), better resource use efficiency (such as water, nitrogen and other fertilisers), reduce pollution and waste and support adaptation to climate change and resilience to variable environmental conditions.
The GINs provide a forum and focus with industry and end-users to support public and private sector pre-breeding R&D partnerships, shared genetic resources and tools for key UK crops (Wheat, Oilseed Rape, Peas, Oats, Vegetable Crops and Soft Fruit).
How did the “OG” start, who initiated?
The GINs were started by Defra in 2003 to address market failure in commercial food production for the introduction of public good characteristics into plant breeding in the UK. The GINs are based on increasing interactions between researcher, businesses, farmers/producers, advisors and end-users.
What have been the key success factors for the “OG”?
The GINs offer an innovation-led, systems approach: plant breeders and farmers or growers determine the goals for a central strategic project involving key researchers. This underpins and links to an expanding network of collaborative projects, knowledge transfer activities and stakeholder workshops.
How have (national) policies contributed to the “OG”?
The GINs help the UK Government and industry jointly address strategic problems underpinning sustainable economic production, food security, environmental impact of agriculture and impacts of climate change.
Collaborative projects associated with the GINs are delivering sustainable farming and food production through interactive innovation to improve crop varieties with enhanced ‘sustainability traits’ alongside higher yield and quality.

4. Existing OG case 1: Defra’s Genetic Improvement Networks (GINs)

5. Existing OG case 2: HortLINK Project SCEPTRE – A LINK Consortium
What challenge / opportunity does “OG” discuss?
Defra’s HortLINK is a collaborative programme with industry and end-users to translate R&D into a commercial reality.
SCEPTRE: The need for new pest, disease and weed control technologies for use in minor crops as a result of EU legislation which is resulting in fewer effective products being available to growers for these purposes, combined with the failure of the market to develop new products specifically for minor crops.
How did the “OG” start, who initiated?
The first farming LINK Programme was launched in 1991 by Defra
SCEPTRE: The initiative came directly from horticultural growers. Once Defra had indicated that the topic area was suitable for development via the LINK route, supermarkets, marketing companies and crop protection suppliers were also recruited.
What have been the key success factors for the “OG”?
Projects under the programme generally had a broad consortium with a range of stakeholders who actively contributed to dissemination.
Growers/ farmers attending the Project Management committee meetings representing industry interests.
SCEPTRE: Identification of new crop protection agents for niche crops which can then, outside the scope of the project, be put forward to for registration. Evaluation of new technological approaches including biological control which can be evaluated as part of integrated crop protection strategies
How have (national) policies contributed to the “OG”?
LINK has been successful in bringing together industry and research to tackle applied real world problems and help the UK government deliver its commitment on sustainable farming with minimal use of pesticides.
How have (national) policies contributed to the “OG” for SCEPTRE?
Defra recognises the need for a thriving and competitive horticulture industry which can play its part in contributing to food security (you should be able to find the appropriate formal wording from Defra’s current objectives). Sustainable crop protection measures are seen as an essential in underpinning this.
LINK has operated as a long standing mechanism which enables industry to partner with the UK government on the basis of matched funding and risk sharing in areas of pre-competitive research deemed important for industrial competitiveness and quality of life.

6. Existing OG case 3: Benchmarking agricultural water use in key commodity sectors
What challenge / opportunity does “OG” discuss?
Project developing a benchmarking system to improve business and water use efficiency in irrigated agriculture in England and Wales.
Developed and tested on two key commodity sectors, potatoes and strawberries with approaches transferable and applicable to a broader range of agricultural and horticultural crops.
Outputs from the benchmarking system will provide benefits individual growers , raise the profile and importance of water efficiency within the agri-industry and provide new information and data in support of UK policies for improving water allocation and resource efficiency.
How did the “OG” start, who initiated?
The work was started by Defra in With rising energy costs (for irrigation pumping), coupled with increasing limitations in water availability and reliability, benchmarking could help UK growers increase their water productivity and profitability, whilst minimising their environmental (especially water and carbon) footprint.
What have been the key success factors for the “OG”?
Collaborative working between key researchers, local and regional stakeholders (e.g. NFU, CLA, UK Irrigation Association), the UK water regulatory authority (Environment Agency) and industry levy boards.
Bringing together farmer groups to identify the practices that successful farmers use and share data between farmers.
How have (national) policies contributed to the “OG”?
This project helped the UK government deliver its aim to improve business and water use efficiency in irrigated agriculture in England and Wales
the project has developed a benchmarking technique that involves (1) identifying key performance indicators (indicators of production, profitability and environmental factors) (2) gathering data from similar farm types within a certain geographic area, (3) anonymising and sharing data between farmers, (4) bringing together farmer groups to identify the practices that successful farmers use.

7. Case 1 that would not qualify as OG: The Sustainable Agriculture and Food Innovation Platform (SAF IP) Steering Committee
Governance of the initiative is by a high level steering group with industry (including farming) interests which select themes but do not initiate or participate in individual projects. Projects are assessed and selected on scientific quality and commercial business case.
This platform run by The Technology Strategy Board (TSB), co-funded by Defra and BBSRC, is the UK government’s key initiative to stimulate the development and adoption of new technologies to help improve the productivity of the UK food and farming industries, while decreasing their impact on the environment (e.g. in Crop Productivity; Sustainable Livestock Production; Waste Reduction and Management; Greenhouse Gas Reduction)
The Platform is promoting R&D and innovation driven by industry and not by end-users e.g. Farmers or growers.

8. Case 2 that would not (quite) qualify as OG: BBSRC Crops Clubs
Although farmers have a role in developing the challenges they are not involved in planning and delivering the actual research.
An initiative between BBSRC, The Scottish Government and a consortium of leading companies, aimed at supporting innovative and excellent research to underpin the development of improved crop varieties that deliver increased productivity and consistent, high quality end products.
Farmers and farming interests are represented by HGCA (the levy body for cereals and oilseed rape) and the initiative addresses research challenges highlighted by industry.

9. Case 3 that would not (initially) qualify as OG: Demonstration Test Catchment (DTC) Programme
This programme will benefit the farming and water industry (in terms of compliance with environmental regulations rather than profitability). It was devised primarily by the policy interests to provide an improved evidence-base for Defra and the Welsh Government to deliver policies to meet the UK Water Framework Directive objectives. [But is evolving more towards an OG as engagement and “ownership” of the project results by the farmers recruited increases]
This programme will find out if new farming practices, which aim to reduce diffuse pollution from agriculture, can also deliver sustainable food production and environmental benefits across whole river catchments.
DTC aims to support policy initiatives, such as the new Defra/Environment Agency ‘Catchment Based Approach’ to environmental management and the delivery of the Water Framework Directive, and policy delivery mechanisms, such as the Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) Programme. DTC is helping to provide the sound scientific evidence to underpin the success of these approaches.
Farming industry
Farmers will be made aware of methods to mitigate diffuse water pollution whilst maintaining productivity.
The testing of measures will include a socio-economic analysis of the cost effectiveness of measures and likely impact on farm business.
The data generated by the project will be accessible to farmers and will help the sector improve their net environmental performance

10. Bottlenecks for farmers to discuss and be active in innovation
What prevents farmers from discussing and being active in innovation?
Difficult for farmers to engage/opportunities/technical knowledge
Difficulties of translation into practical application
Time and cost / farm business structure
Risks of failure in new and untried innovation
Market or other incentives

11. How can EIP / Operational Groups address these bottlenecks?
Demonstration farms
Incentivising farmers e.g. show relevance /ownership of ...
Promote participation of leading farmers in R&D and KT

12. How can Operational Groups be set up and farmers be motivated ?
Directly involve leading farmers and their advisers
Engage levy bodies/trade organisations/retailers groups
Use facilitator/knowledge brokers
Knowledge dissemination workshops, including use of demonstration farms

13. Bottlenecks in linking farmers with other stakeholders?
Communication with other stakeholders which might include NGOs, retailers, end-users and consumers
Mutual knowledge and understanding between the various actors