Brussels, 02/02/2016 (Agence Europe) - How can agricultural research be better coordinated and, above all, how can the discoveries that are most useful to farmers, especially with regard to sustainable farming and adapting to climate change, be quickly passed on? The European Commission wants to offer answers to these questions with its long-term research and innovation strategy for sustainable agriculture and the bioeconomy.
The Commission launched the process to build this strategy in June of last year. On 27 and 28 January, a conference, organised by the Commission, took place in Brussels, bringing together all the stakeholders in the sector to discuss proposals which are expected to be adopted later this year. “Concerns over commodity prices, food security and climate change have emphasised how vital it is to invest in agricultural research and innovation. The sector must become smarter, leaner and cleaner”, said Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan, opening the conference. “We need to pool our resources and find new fora for true collaboration. We need to boost synergies and complementarities between different research funders and providers”, he stressed. The priorities set for the strategy are reducing resource (water, soil, etc.) use, plant and animal health, the sustainability of agriculture (in particular, its impact on biodiversity) and providing growth and jobs in rural areas.
Consortium on animal health. Commissioner Hogan officially launched the International Research Consortium (IRC) on Animal Health in Brussels on 27 January. Fourteen bodies from eleven countries have so far signed up to this initiative which will have a budget of $1 billion for the next five years. The consortium will encourage better coordination of research across the globe to improve animal health. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)