CORE PURPOSE AGRICULTURAL WORK

The Society’s year-round agricultural work is the responsibility of the Agri-Science Director, supported by the "Practice with Science" Group chaired by Professor David Leaver.  The purpose of the Group is to advise on year-round activity relating to the Society’s objective "to be the leading independent voice for agriculture and the rural economy", based upon its commitment to "Practice with Science".

In essence, the Society wishes to enable an informed debate about the future of farming, the environment and the rural economy by:-

• producing reports which highlight information on topics of strategic importance;
• acting as a bridge between knowledge and practice;
• staging policy seminars on subjects of importance for farming’s continued success. 

"Practice with Science" Activity Autumn 2009/Winter 2010

• Following the RASE Soils Report, Soils Gap Analysis work in conjunction with Defra, Natural England and the Environment Agency is being undertaken by Cranfield University. This will be launched in April 2010;
• The Society supported two recent Farmer’s Club Seminars at the Lincolnshire Showground and the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester on the subject of soil, at which the RASE Soils Report co-author, Prof Gordon Spoor, was a speaker;
• On livestock emissions, a short report outlining positive steps taken by the agricultural industry was published and widely circulated in Autumn 2009;
• A high-level Industry Seminar on this topic also took place at the Agri-Live Event in December 2009;
• A Statement on the importance of applied research for increased food security will be issued during April 2010;
• The "Practice with Science" Group's next major report will be on the availability of water for agriculture and horticulture, and the implications of this for farming decisions medium-erm;

For information on the "Practice with Science" Group’s publications, please click here.