AFCP - Future Activities and role

Notes on presentation by Philip Richardson at AGM on 26th May 2009

    Industry background:
  • underfunding of Applied R& D sector
  • lack of jobs ladder
  • Government attitudes to food security issues may be changing
  • AHDB potential for coordinating better major sectors activities
  • Well targeted funding and views from small organisations (eg charities) can have disproportionate effects.

    Charity sector:

  • large number/ generally small/ some moribund/ often regional
  • poor knowledge of each others activities
  • different requirements/ timing of meetings/ decisions
  • Trustees often not well informed on National priorities
  • AFCP can help with guidance/ coordination/ influence/ information
  • This must be done at low cost and with sensitivity

    Industry needs:
    A.      Education (from farm technicians to research scientists)

    • easier access to funding
    • one-stop-shop
    • timely response/ clear guidelines
    • AFCP website generally welcomed as helpful
    • Potential for AFCP to lobby at high level for better job ladder
    B.      Applied research
    • seed-corn finance to fill perceived gaps in programmes
    • better links between funders of all types
    • better communication of industry strategy (up and down chain)
    • high level influence on research strategy and in communication to grass roots.

    Vision:
  • many more charities supporting AFCP activity (and funding)
  • short timescale to deliver before funding begins to dry up
  • part-time CEO cannot do all that is required
  • member charities regionally need to act as salesmen to other charities

    Outcomes:
  • active and excellent website accessed regularly by all Trustees
  • greater efficiency in targeting scarce resources
  • better strategic information up and down the chain
  • greater coordination/ timeliness/ workshops/ consistency
  • greater overall industry impact

Small sector - Big influence

[ End of Presentation ]