Media Release
22 November 2009

Farmers want bipartisan agreement to lift science investment

In its submission to the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology, Federated Farmers has called for the biological economy to be prioritised, with bipartisan backing for three percent of Gross Domestic Product to be put into science and research.

“The level and way we invest in science and research is not ideal” says Don Nicolson, President of Federated Farmers.

“Federated Farmers wants to see new ways of structuring science with a greater level of public and private investment. Given the way the Prime Minister answered questions at Federated Farmers recent National Council, he’s in full agreement too.

“The Prime Minister said our future prosperity depends on developing New Zealand’s agricultural industries – it’s at the heart of New Zealand’s core competitive advantage.

“In short, it means prioritising the biological economy. New Zealand can get ahead of the pack in what we know and do best. There must be a clear unambiguous strategic statement, making the biological economy our number one science focus.

“That means prioritising the development of emissions efficient agricultural technology. It also translates into improved animal and fish breeds, crops and forests as well as feedstock.

“Combined with new food and biological technologies, we would remain not just a global exporter of food, but a global leader.

“To get there, Federated Farmers wants a bipartisan staged increase in science and research funding to around three percent of GDP by 2029.

“Labour’s cancelled Fast Forward Fund was a big step forward but we hope the Primary Growth Partnership will set up the staged approach necessary.

“Whatever happens, we need National and Labour to make a bipartisan commitment to research spending that will transform the economy.

“To get the Global Alliance concept off the ground, we need to make some of the running and more money means the best brains here, not there. If we look at countries like Denmark, our current 1.2 percent spend looks puny to their 2.6 percent.

“Yet we must also address the fractious and fractured way current science research is funded and how scientists and researchers are themselves incentivised.

“Current practice has eight Crown Research Institutions, eight universities and a number of research organisations driving their own research priorities. This is not linked to a national priority and with the commercialisation of research, is often done in competition.

“Clearly we need to get our respective research houses in order and we must ask if there is a better way.

“Federated Farmers also backed Energy and Minerals as being an important science priority with Health and Society afforded a lesser status.

“The agriculture sector is the most important contributor to New Zealand’s economy accounting for around 64 percent of everything we sell to the rest of the world. Importantly that is a growing figure, so greater research will give immediate and longer term payback,” Mr Nicolson concluded.

FOR A COPY OF THE SUBMISSION PLEASE CLICK HERE

ENDS