Applications are now open for the Oxford Farming Conference (OFC) and Royal Agricultural Society of England (RASE) ‘Practice with Science’ Award sponsored by AB Agri. The £10,000 Award will recognise applied scientific work that has resulted in valuable benefits to the agricultural industry, particularly in relation to on-farm practices.
"The award is aimed at recognising the researchers and the developers who do not normally get the credit for their work and innovations," explains OFC Chairman Mike Gooding. "We think it is a vital award for bridging the big gap between the science-driven innovation farmers need on the ground and the 'leading edge science' work being done in research institutions. So often the applied scientists getting their hands dirty on farms or close to farms, don't get the recognition they deserve."
The winner of the award in 2011 was the Pig Grading Information System (PiGIS), developed by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) and College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE).
The Award is funded by the OFC and the RASE with additional sponsored support from AB Agri. It aims to encourage and recognise new thinking and innovation and is open to academics, researchers and commercial company employees. Three areas of research merit will be sought by the Award judges:
• Novel and original application
• Clear economic benefit to the industry, food chain and consumers
• Improved sustainability through the more efficient use of resources
The prize will be £10,000, of which £3,000, funded by AB Agri, will be awarded to the individual and £7,000, funded by the RASE and the OFC, to the institution or business at which the R&D team or individual is based. The latter monies will be used to support further research work on the subject, through the support of a studentship, traineeship or the purchase of a piece of research equipment.
RASE Chief Executive David Gardner adds: “The Society is delighted to support the Oxford Farming Conference/Royal Agricultural Society of England “Practice with Science” Award. “Practice with Science” has been the motto of RASE since 1838, and it is still the driving force behind RASE activity today. Global agriculture faces a huge challenge to feed a growing world population over the coming decades and science has a fundamental role to play in meeting that challenge. We hope that this Award will make a significant contribution to agricultural science and innovation in the UK”.
Commenting on their support for the Award, David Yiend of AB Agri said: At AB Agri we are passionate about sustainability and producing ‘more from less’. If UK agriculture is to meet the challenge of sustainable intensification we must prioritise investment in R&D and structure our industry to actively encourage innovation. This highly respected award is one of the key steps towards doing just that."
"Science will play a central role in improving efficiency, increasing yields, reducing our greenhouse gas footprint and enriching our environment. It will also crucially help to project agriculture as a progressive and exciting industry. A positive public image is essential if agriculture is to attract the brightest young talent of the future and, of course, secure the public trust and acceptance of new technologies which will be so instrumental in meeting our future supply challenges."
Application forms are available for download from the OFC website www.ofc.org.uk, the closing date is 7 September 2012. The winner will be presented with the award at the 2013 Oxford Farming Conference where they will be expected to present a short précis of their winning project. The 2013 Oxford Farming Conference will take place on the 2-4 January 2013.
