Lords hear from agriculture researchers
9 March 2011
The House of Lords EU Sub-Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment heard from European agricultural researchers in the UK, Netherlands and France as part of its inquiry into Innovation in EU Agriculture at 10.30am on Wednesday 9 March.
The researchers, who gave evidence by video link, were:
- Professor John Oldham, Scottish Agricultural College (SAC)
- Dr Paul Vriesekoop, Wageningen University and Research Centre (WUR), Netherlands
- Dr John Williams, National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), France
SAC, WUR and INRA are among the lead institutions in a cross-European task force looking at livestock science research.
The witnesses were asked questions in relation to:
- the extent of innovation in agriculture today
- obstacles to innovation
- challenges likely to drive innovation in the future
- key players and structures needed to support innovation in EU agriculture
- assistance from the Common Agricultural Policy and EU Research Programme
The aim of the inquiry is to identify how innovation in EU agriculture can be best supported, particularly at a time when factors such as population increase and climate change have greatly affected the scale of the challenges facing agriculture in the UK, Europe and globally.
The evidence session took place in Committee Room 1 on Wednesday 9 March at 10.30am.
Further information
Public committee sessions are open to everyone, including the press, and follow proceedings from the public gallery.