Supporting and developing skills paramount

The Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE) welcome the depth and width of vision provided in the Government’s Foresight project Global Food and Farming report.

For years many of the issues have repeatedly been analysed and articulated but this report is the first to integrate these and demonstrate the totality of the challenge.

IAgrE urges that, in the delivery of solutions, there is effective integration of all the relevant disciplines – biological, socio-economic and engineering in particular. The role and significance of engineering in providing effective solutions is easily overlooked which is surprising as engineering is invariably the key to implementing any technical or scientific innovation. The fact that eight of the twelve key priorities for action for policy makers have strong engineering elements emphasises the point.

It is equally important that the engineers applying themselves to these challenges have a deep understanding of both the biological basis for the problem that is being addressed and the practical consequences of their solutions. It is all too easy to offer solutions based on their existing inclinations, experience and expertise rather on a thorough analysis of all the issues. Such solutions will not be sustainable. Agricultural engineers have a long history of working hand in hand with biologists and other relevant disciplines to deliver workable solutions appropriate to local conditions be it soil type, climate, social or environmental conditions. Indeed many have equivalent biological qualifications, less common with the other engineering disciplines. This collection of expertise has never been in greater demand yet governments persistently under invest in the education research and infra structure needed to sustain this expertise base. This report signals the urgent need to reverse this trend.

Engineering correctly applied, is fundamental to optimising productivity from the soil and avoiding soil loss, the effective collection and utilisation of water, achieving efficiency in the use of all the inputs for food production and in controlling emissions and minimising waste across the food chain.