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BACKGROUND PAPER
RESEARCH & INNOVATION
Note: The views expressed in this background document do not purport to reflect the views of the Minister or the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Introduction 3
Foreword 3
Executive Summary 3
Introduction 5
2 Current Agri-Food R&D Infrastructure 7
3 Funding of Agri-Food R&I 10
4 Context in which a Strategy for 2025 must be developed 12
5 Future Strategy for Agri-Food Research 14
6 Annexes 26
Annex 1: Glossary of Terms 26
Annex 2: Public Funding for Agri-Food Research & Innovation 29
Annex 3: NRPE National Metrics and Targets 36
Annex 4: National Research & Innovation Funder’s Areas of Activity on the
Research Continuum 37
Annex 5: ERANETS of interest to DAFM 38
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1 Introduction
Foreword
Research and Codex Division has examined the agri-food1 research and innovation
landscape and developed a number of recommendations that may form the basis of
the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s efforts in the coming years.
The Department’s overall objective must be to ensure the development of research to
provide solutions to global challenges like Food Security, Climate Change, Energy
Supply, Resource Efficiency, Aging Population while paying due cognisance to
Sustainability in all its forms. From DAFM’s perspective, ensuring that we continue
to address the critical research components of these challenges, in an economic
climate that currently restricts research funding, requires us to examine all aspects of
our research strategy and to develop key actions that will ensure that our research
community continue to deliver excellent solutions. In addition, the Economic
Recovery Plan and the Report of the National Research Prioritisation Exercise puts
further pressure on funding agencies that operate at a Public Good level to
demonstrate the fruits of taxpayer’s investment. This is a challenge that DAFM is
equipped to engage in and this paper presents some of the tools needed.
The paper is intended as an initial internal discussion document which may then be
used as a basis for broader consultation with a view to developing the RTDI
component of the proposed 2025 Strategy.
Executive Summary
This paper gives an overview of the current agri-food research and development
infrastructure and existing funding mechanisms. It also summarises the challenges,
global and national, facing the sector and then goes on to outline some actions that
could be taken in order to respond to these challenges in the period up to 2025. These
actions, which are listed below, relate mainly to DAFM although it is accepted that, as 1 Including forestry
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the consultation process with the relevant DAFM funded agencies (e.g. Teagasc,
Marine Institute) unfolds, other actions specific to these agencies will also become
apparent.
Action Who
Complete the elaboration, publication and launch of the Strategic Research &
Innovation Agenda (SRIA) for food relevant NRPE priority areas or parts thereof in
particular ‘Sustainable Food Production & Processing’ and ‘Food for Health’.
DAFM Research
Div.
Promote and implement the recently published Strategic Research Agenda for the
Forest Sector “Forest Research Ireland” (FORI).
http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/media/migration/research/whatsnew/
ForestResearchIreland20143Layout1091014.pdf
DAFM Research
Div.
Cooperate with other funders to implement the content of the SRIA in a manner that
ensures complementary use of the various competitive funding programmes used by
relevant funders in particular SFI, EI, HRB, EPA & IRC.
DAFM Research
Div.
Continue to operate the newly formed NAFRIA Group to continuously review the
agri-food strategic research & innovation agenda used to guide the content of
research calls and to monitor the impact of funded research.
DAFM Research
Div.
Develop and roll out a Rapid Response Studies programme to enable DAFM to
commission dedicated work needed to urgently respond to unforeseen events
outside of normal calls.
DAFM Research
Div.
Continue to work constructively with other Departments and funding agencies via
the NRPE/PAG process with a view to enabling achievement of agreed targets.
DAFM Research
Div.
Engage actively in the recently re-activated IDC on SSTI. DAFM Research
Div.
Support KTI to help ensure that knowledge and technology from research DAFM
fund is managed properly for the maximum benefit of Irish industry and society.
DAFM Research
Div.
Continue to operate the DAFM Research Family Group and National Steering
Groups of the JPIs HDHL and FACCE/GRA.
DAFM Research
Div.
Increase efforts to encourage North-South cooperation in agri-food research with
particular emphasis on Horizon 2020.
DAFM Research
Div.
Continue to work with other bodies to facilitate greater Irish institutional and
agribusiness involvement in the EU Horizon 2020 Programme.
DAFM Research
Div.
Continue active involvement in forums such as SCAR, Bio-economy Panel, BBI
States Representative Group in order to help influence the content of H2020 Calls in
a manner that suits Ireland.
DAFM Research
Div.
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Continue to support Irish active involvement in the work of the Global Research
Alliance on agricultural greenhouse gases and promote its work among all relevant
Irish stakeholders.
DAFM Research
Div.
Develop a model to enable Irish RPO involvement in relevant ERANETS in a more
targeted, effective, resource efficient, manner.
DAFM Research
Div. & Teagasc
Continue to work with other relevant Irish and EUMS national funders to enable
effective Irish participation in relevant JPIs such as FACCE & HDHL.
DAFM Research
Div.
Continue to actively participate in the work of the UK-Ireland Food Innovation
Steering Group in order to facilitate increased innovation among food businesses in
the two jurisdictions in pursuance of the objectives outlined by An Taoiseach and
the Prime Minister and as a means of assisting successful Irish involvement in the
Food KIC Call in 2016.
DAFM Research
Div. & Teagasc
Work with relevant governmental bodies in Ireland, Northern Ireland and the USA
to extend the US-Ireland R&D Partnership Programme to include selected elements
of agri-food research and then facilitate Irish RPO applicants.
DAFM Research
Div.
Engage with all relevant stakeholders in the development of a National Bioeconomy
Strategy.
DAFM Research
Div.
Continue to support Irish active participation in the work of the Codex Alimentarius
Commission including further refinement of the DAFM-hosted Irish Codex
Advisory Committee (ICAC) such as setting up ad-hoc sub-group on particular
issues as and when required.
DAFM
Introduction
The purpose of this document is to examine how the Department of Agriculture, Food
and the Marine does business and to stimulate discussion on ideas that may form the
basis of the Department’s approach to research and innovation over the next period of
time.
The mission statement of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
(DAFM) is:
“To lead the sustainable development of the agri-food and marine sector and to optimise its contribution to national
and economic development of natural environment”.
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The mission covers a multitude and presents a significant challenge to the research
agenda of DAFM. The changing face of the agri-food and marine sector means a constantly moving agenda needing to be informed / underpinned by sound
scientific research. Research across these domains is a multidisciplinary activity with
an ever-expanding range of sciences that have redefined the term “agriculture”.
DAFM provides research funding to Agriculture, Food, and Forestry indirectly via
grant-in-aid support to Teagasc and the Marine Institute and directly through a
number of competitive funding programmes that are mainly ‘public good’ in nature.
Food research is carried out under the Food Institutional Research Measure (FIRM),
agriculture research via the Research Stimulus Fund (RSF) and forest research via the
Programme of Competitive Forest Research for Development (CoFoRD). This ‘public
good’ support provides funding to a range of Research Performing Organisations
(RPOs) across an increasingly multidisciplinary, inter-institutional constituency. The
‘public good’ programmes, in particular, have been at the forefront in the
development of a core expertise that is accessible and usable at end user level be it in
the agriculture, food, fisheries or forestry domains and, importantly, informs policy
makers on the scientific justifications for policy development. Other State agencies
that support research and innovation in the sector include EI, EPA, HRB, IRC and
SFI.
During most of the first decade of this century, there was unprecedented support for
Irish research, whereby national calls were annual events. The economic downturn of
the last 6 years has required a much more prudent approach albeit one that still fosters
knowledge creation for the benefit of the agri-food industry. The Economic Recovery
Plan and the NRPE strongly support continued investment in research and education
with an added emphasis on innovation. The continuing pressure on public finances
combined with signs of an upturn in the economy generally means that an
examination of how we support research infrastructure and how we improve value for
money and advance research priorities is timely.
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2 Current Agri-Food R&D Infrastructure
The focus on agricultural, food, marine and forest research has been the linchpin of
the Irish research and development strategy for a generation. A robust inter-
dependence has been built up between researchers and practitioners (farmers and food
business operators) in these four areas which have helped secure a sustainable
economy. In terms of Agriculture and Food, the three ‘public good’ research funding
programmes operated by DAFM (FIRM and RSF and CoFoRD) have contributed
significantly to enhancing our international recognition in these areas, and have most
certainly delivered added value. However, meeting future international research
challenges requires a willingness to evolve to international demands, while
maintaining a firm grip on the research areas that best suit the nation. A key to this
evolving process is a flexible approach to research infrastructure.
The Irish infrastructural research and development network in the agriculture and
food areas is extensive and has embraced much change over the past 15 years. The
catalyst for this reformation is that research plays a key role in enhancing
international academic recognition and that novel research initiatives provide a
fundamental basis for a knowledge economy. Increased levels of public investment
has been the driving force behind the reformation, through successive National
Development Plans, which place emphasis on research as an instrument of economic
growth through sectoral initiatives and generic underpinning programmes such as
Centres for Science, Engineering and Technology (CSETs) and the Programme for
Research in Third-Level Institutions (PRTLI).
The principal research institution types within the Irish research and development
infrastructure, namely Teagasc, the University network, the Institutes of Technology
and Department of Agriculture, adopt a multi-disciplinary approach, with specialist
units in all of the four key research areas: agriculture, food, marine and forestry.
These principal research infrastructural bodies have been in existence, in one form or
another, for several decades. However, their role in research, and their infrastructure
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have radically changed over time. In order to facilitate this change and embrace an
internationally accepted model on infrastructure for research, many of the principal
research bodies have embarked on a number of measures to enhance their research
and development capacity.
There has been the development of highly specialised research units within the
principal institutions by concentrating existing capacity and resources, for example in
UCD, the Centre for Food Safety and the Institute of Food and Health, in UCC, the
Biosciences Institute. These highly equipped units have rapidly earned international
recognition for excellence in research and have attracted international expertise and
are providing training for undergraduate and postgraduate students to a level
unattainable in the past. Other key measures in the infrastructural reformation has
been the willingness to adopt both an intra- and inter-institutional collaborative
approach, recognising past strengths of specific institutions, and allowing them to
champion ad hoc research programmes on a collaborative basis. For example, in the
food & health area, UCD, UCC, TCD and UU have formed the Irish Universities
Nutrition Alliance (IUNA); Teagasc has formed strategic alliances with UCC for food
research and UCD for agricultural research. The DAFM public good programmes
have been particularly effective at forging these strong inter-institutional
multidisciplinary alliances, which in the past were an obvious weakness in the Irish
infrastructure.
The level of funding provided by the state and the outcomes from the research
conducted are reflected in the recent UCD2 study which found that Ireland had the 5th
most innovative agri-food sector in the EU, behind Denmark, Finland, the
Netherlands and Germany. State funding has contributed to the development of this
capability, critical mass and infrastructure.
However, private investment in R&I by food businesses is quite low, with FH2020
recommending a doubling of industry investment by 2020. The challenge now is to
facilitate further integration of the research base with enterprise. Although RPOs are
working closely and in a highly integrated manner with companies, for example
2 http://www.ucd.ie/t4cms/BOI_Innovation_report.pdf
8
through Moorepark Technology Limited, EI and SFI centres, such as Food Health
Ireland (FHI) and Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre (APC).
The research and development infrastructure in Ireland has evolved to meet current
and future demands of high-end research. The concept of specialised units of research
has been embraced across all institutions, and has lead to significant rewards in terms
of international recognition. Additionally, the close interactions of these units with
industrial partners, especially in the food area, has had added benefits in terms of a
streamlined approach and easier downstream commercialisation. Indeed, the overall
collaborative approach being adopted by the main institutions, both nationally and
internationally, with academic and industrial partners alike, is aiding the development
of high calibre expertise within Ireland.
Through the collaborative approach, there is access for researchers in Ireland to
research farms, cultivation areas and field trials, pilot dairy and meat processing
plants, class 3 laboratories, a broad range of highly specialised well equipped
laboratories embracing the modern techniques required to earn international research
recognition.
There is a need for a further shift in emphasis from academic outputs only to
recognition of commercial activity as a means of measuring performance, something
the HEA is conscious of and working towards at present. While this will not lead to
self-sufficiency, the added revenue generated from this shift to a commercialisation
approach will aid in the funding of future infrastructural modifications and
maintaining highly equipped laboratories, thereby maintaining a solid infrastructural
platform for future research and development in the agriculture, food, marine and
forestry sectors in Ireland.
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3. Funding of Agri-Food R&I
The main sources of public funding for agri-food research & innovation in Ireland are
DAFM, Enterprise Ireland (EI), Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), the Higher
Education Authority (HEA), the Irish Research Council (IRC), the Marine Institute
(MI), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Health Research Board
(HRB), and the European Commission (EC).
The Department is the primary funder of Agri-Food research in Ireland. It does this in
three ways:
Undertakes limited research, mainly related to animal and crop health, and
provides testing services at its state of the art laboratory campus at Backweston,
Celbridge, Co. Kildare. The research activity focuses on disease diagnosis and
surveillance, with little discovery research carried out.
Provides core grant-in-aid funding to many of the agencies under its aegis
including Teagasc, Marine Institute, Bord Iascaigh Mara, and Bord Bia which are
involved in supporting agri-food research and innovation in one way or another
while other bodies, co-funded by DAFM, such as the Irish Cattle Breeding
Federation (ICBF), are also involved in these activities.
Operates three competitive research funding programmes directed at the agri-food
sector namely, FIRM, RSF and CoFoRD.
DAFM has funded many research projects under its funding programmes in recent
times, with research awards made to over 140 projects under its three programmes in
the period 2010 to 2013 amounting to approximately €75 million. DAFM also makes
use of FIRM and Stimulus funding allocations to facilitate HEI & RI researcher
participation in transnational Calls operated by relevant ERANETS (e.g. EMIDA,
ICT-Agri,) and the HDHL & FACCE Joint Programming Initiatives. In addition it has
partnered the IRC on its Employment Based Postgraduate Programme, which
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provides funding for early stage career researchers working in partnership with
academia and industry.
The different funders of agri-food research operate along various parts of the research
continuum. DAFM’s funding programmes operate in the basic, applied and pre
commercial spaces which separates it from Enterprise Ireland, the next most
significant funder of research in agri-food, who operate more in the commercial and
pre-commercial space. An outline of funders activity on the research continuum is
given in annex 3.
At a European level, Horizon 2020 - the EU’s programme for research and innovation
- is part of a drive to create new growth and jobs in Europe, addressing people’s
concerns about their livelihoods, food security, climate change, environment, healthy
aging, safety and strengthening the EU’s global position in research, innovation and
technology. With an overall budget of c€80 billion for the period 2014 to 2020, this
represents a significant opportunity for researchers to leverage additional funding and
in doing so, builds on the excellent performance by agri-food researchers of its
predecessor, the Seventh EU Framework Programme (FP7).
DAFM provide the national delegate and national contact point to the Societal
Challenge 2 part of the programme. This programme covers agriculture, marine and
forest research and has an overall budget of €3.8bn over the seven year programme.
The National Delegate and National Contact will continue to work towards achieving
a 2% drawdown target of the Horizon 2020 Societal Challenge 2 budget which
equates to a figure of approximately €77m.
Details of the main funding sources for agri-food research & innovation are given in
Annex 2.
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4 Context in which a Strategy for 2025 must be developed
One of the objectives of the Lisbon Agenda was the target of making Europe the most
competitive and dynamic knowledge based economy in the world. Significant efforts
have been made in the period 2006-13 under the SSTI3 and currently under the NRPE
which involve the Government’s strong and continuing commitment to R&D funding
albeit nowadays in a more targeted prioritised approach in line with limited resources.
The NRPE has identified 14 priority areas for public research funding at least 5 of
which are directly relevant to the agri-food sector and 2 are of particular relevance,
Areas H: ‘Sustainable Food Production & Processing’ and I: ‘Food for Health’.
Early in 2012, European Commissioner, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, launched the “EU
Bioeconomy Strategy – Innovating for Sustainable Growth”4. The Goal of the EU
Strategy is to move to a more innovative and low emissions economy, reconciling
demands for sustainable agriculture and fisheries, food security, and the sustainable
use of renewable biological resources for industrial purposes, while ensuring
biodiversity and environmental protection. This strategy defines the Bioeconomy as
an economy which encompasses the sustainable production of renewable biological
resources and their conversion into feed, food, biobased products such as bioplastics,
biofuels and bioenergy. One of three key pillars of the strategy is investing in
research, innovation and skills. A national Bioeconomy strategy needs to be adopted
under the process set out in the Government’s policy document “Delivering our Green
Potential” 5.
The Agri-Food Sector faces global challenges that require significant research
investment at EU and National level. It is vital that the DAFM research agenda is
drawn up mindful of the expected direction of the agriculture, food, fisheries and
forestry sector, addressing the European Research Area (ERA) and the global research
agenda, whilst maintaining the support for research specifically geared to Irish needs.
3 Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation 2006-2013, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment4 http://ec.europa.eu/research/bioeconomy/pdf/201202_innovating_sustainable_growth_en.pdf5 http://www.djei.ie/publications/enterprise/2012/Delivering_Our_Green_Potential.pdf
12
It is important that DAFM increase efforts to ensure that limited resources are
invested in specific research areas of national interest that complement the
development of the ERA.
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3 Future Strategy for Agri-Food Research
Having described the existing research infrastructure, current funding mechanisms,
and the national and EU policy drivers, we now present, in the following sections,
some ideas that might form the basis of the future strategy for DAFM-supported
research:
5.1 Strategic Research & Innovation Agenda (SRIA) for the two Food NRPE
Priority areas.
Arising from actions in the Action Plan for the two food priority areas of the NRPE,
work on the development of a SRIA for the 2 NRPE Food priority areas by a multi-
funder PAG WG led by DAFM is nearing completion. This will comprise two parts:
(1) the ‘what’ piece identifying the types of research that should be funded over the
next 3 – 5 years and (2) the ‘how’ piece which attempts to outline implementation
modalities particularly regarding how the funding of it will be organised among the
various national funding bodies.
This SRIA has drawn on the existing “intelligence” residing in each WG member
organisation, and the process involved DAFM conducting an online Stakeholder
consultation with Industry via its web page. All material received was subsequently
taken into account, and considered by the DAFM hosted, industry led, National
Expert Advisory Group on Agri-food Research and Innovation (NAFRI) with a view
to refining and prioritising the content. Following this, agenda document was brought
to RPAG Food WG for finalisation.
The SRIA contains 8 specific thematic areas;
Animal Production,
Grass, Clover, Crops & Food Horticulture,
Sustainable Management of Natural Resources & Climate Change &
Transboundary Gases,
Food Processing & Engineering,
Food Product Development Formulation & Sensory Science,
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Food Chain Integrity & Safety,
Functional Foods & Health,
Nutrition, Health & Diet related Diseases
There is also a cross thematic area, dealing with opportunities under Data, ICT,
Sensors and Socio Economic challenges. Within all of these thematic areas, high level
objectives have been set, priority research and innovation areas identified along with
the expected impact to be derived from these. This content is to guide and inform the
content of competitive funding Calls and therefore the funding decisions operated not
only by DAFM but also by the other research funding organisations in agri-food over
the next 3-5 years. It is also to guide the mainstream grant-in-aid supported research
and innovation undertaken by Teagasc and other parties.
A framework for the implementation of this SRIA has also been developed, which
will is to ensure the delivery of the SRIA, within this framework all funders have
committed to ongoing dialogue to ensure a fully coordinated approach to
implementation, such that the various pieces of the agenda are addressed in the most
appropriate manner.
5.2 Acting on Relevant NRPE Systemic Recommendations
The NRPE also put forward 13 ‘systemic’ recommendations, the implementation of
which is now being actively monitored by the PAG Chaired by Minister English. Of
particular interest to DAFM are:
Don’t interfere with current funder landscape which, although appearing
complex and fragmented, is actually working quite well
Don’t invent new funding programmes unless there’s a clear need for them
Increase level of joint funding of research – DAFM competitive programmes
have engaged in this to a limited extent in the past with EPA, MI & HRB and
have found it to be administratively cumbersome. Nevertheless, we have
committed to a 12% target by 2017 for joint funding under the NRPE/PAG
process and the SRIA Implementation plan provides a basis for doing this
going forward mainly via links to MI, EI, SFI, HRB & IRC.
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Given budgetary constraints and FP/ Joint Programming (JP) focus on global, cross
cutting trans-national issues, it may be an opportune time to consider restricting RSF
& FIRM resources not committed to these cross-cutting programmes to stand alone
national projects relevant to DAFM’s core remit or used to finance Ireland’s
contribution to relevant ERANET’s or, in time, Joint Programmes. In other words a
3-way split of RSF/FIRM funds: - (i) singly to fund competitive ‘public good’
research of clear high relevance to DAFM core remit; (ii) jointly with other funders in
cross-cutting areas; (iii) fund Irish contribution to DAFM relevant ERANETs & Joint
Programmes to enable Teagasc & Irish HEI’s to participate / compete.
5.3 Encouraging RPOs and industry to aggressively pursue external funding
under H2020 in order to meet funder and RPO drawdown targets
DAFM provide the National Delegate and National Contact Point for the Societal
Challenge 2 programme of Horizon 2020- Food security, sustainable agriculture and
forestry, marine and maritime and inland water research and the bioeconomy. This
programme supersedes the KBBE programme of FP7. An ambitious national target of
€1.25 bn has been set nationally for Ireland which exceeds the ‘juste retour’ figure.
DAFM have been asked by the Department of Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation to set
drawdown targets for Horizon 2020 for both agencies under our remit, namely
Teagasc and Marine Institute. This process will be completed mid November and will
largely focus on identifying the key areas for agri-food research over the next 3-5
years.
Ireland’s involvement in international research is a central component in the
development of a knowledge economy. Over the course of the past 10 years there has
been considerable investment in DAFMs research calls and ultimately in the funded
research. Our stated objectives of internationalisation and the importance of
collaboration with other researchers outside of Ireland means that DAFM must expect
researchers who have attracted considerable national investment to advance to
international research.
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Horizon 2020 has received unprecedented interest in Ireland in the past months due to
the significant opportunities it presents. It is essential we harness this interest and
develop it into successful participation. It is vitally important that’s DAFM’s client
base is exposed to opportunities across the programme. Horizon 2020 is defined by
increased multidisciplinarity and cross-thematic joint funding. We must engage with
partner funding bodies in the national Horizon 2020 network to ensure our clients are
aware of opportunities in other areas and similarly our researcher database is vastly
expanded to include other disciplines that were previously not captured in our contact
list.
A considerable investment has been made in developing critical mass in certain
research areas that tackle the global challenges. DAFM must continue to develop
these areas. For example, DAFM should examine the clustering of existing research
projects around key themes and host seminars, workshops etc aimed at exploring how
ongoing research can be harnessed, in the short term, and translated into tangible
wealth/ job creation and used for evidence-based policy formation. Similarly, areas in
which we have invested in the past that have not delivered should be examined, on an
ongoing basis, with a view to deciding if they are still relevant to DAFM or if,
perhaps, they would be more appropriate to a different funding agency.
DAFM’s National Delegate and National Contact Point will continue to engage with
the Irish researcher community at both an academic and industry level in order to
maximise Ireland’s opportunities under the programme.
5.4 Forest Research Ireland (FORI) - a Strategic Research Agenda for Forestry in
Ireland
DAFM recently published a new Strategic Research Agenda for Forestry in Ireland
“Forest Research Ireland (FORI) – meeting the needs of Ireland’s forest sector to
2017 and beyond through research and innovation”.
Forest Research Ireland (FORI), which was developed under the auspices of the
sector-led COFORD Council Forest Research Working Group, involving a wide
diversity of stakeholders and co-ordinated by Research Division of the Department of
17
Agriculture, Food and the Marine, captures specific policy, knowledge and production
focused research topics and ideas relevant to the needs of forest stakeholders.
FORI is primarily intended to guide the content of Calls under DAFM’s CoFoRD
Programme but can also be used to inform the nature of other publicly funded forest
research. It comprises a menu of policy, knowledge and production focused research
topics and ideas prioritised for funding, with the flexibility to be utilised and adapted
in a dynamic manner during that period. The publication of FORI re-affirms the
Department’s on-going commitment to research, development and innovation in the
forest sector.
5.5 Maximising the Output of DAFM funded research
A critical aspect of tackling global challenges is that the research delivers a
quantifiable output. This is a clearly stated goal of Building Ireland’s Smart
Economy. DAFM funding is and should be primarily aimed at advances in science,
technology and innovation. The Department’s involvement here involves supporting
multidisciplinary research, including each of the global challenges relevant to Agri
Food (energy, climate change, environment etc). It is clear that we are not, and
should not be, the only research funders in these areas but in order to maximise the
potential of the research closer co-operation is required with other funding agencies.
The NRPE/PAG process has and is facilitating this.
Value for MoneyIn examining value for money, one must consider the aims of the scheme or initiative.
It is not sufficient to dismiss the role of basic science but rather to examine the whole
chain from concept to result. The policy of DAFM funded research has been firmly
rooted in the principles of “Public Good”. This is particularly so with the RSF which
has been directed more towards the traditional definition of ‘public good’. This
direction is supported by the structures within Teagasc where its extension service can
disseminate the outputs of research and so make a real difference to end users
(farmers). However, the requirement for innovation and job creation in the current
climate, coupled with the need for synergy between the various progressions in the
research environment from basic to applied, requires more joined up thinking and
18
more solid alliances between ‘public good’ funders and representatives of industry.
Indeed, the changing face of agriculture and the increasingly multidisciplinary of
Agri-research means there is now a more divergent constituency of end users
involved. This challenges the traditional definition of Public Good. Public Good is
most definitely served by innovation and job creation, the question is to what extent
does DAFM engage in this market and how do we best ensure delivery to agencies
who are equipped to deliver market benefits. This is a challenge for all funders at the
Public Good level who are involved in the SSTI structure.
Under its Terms of Reference the DAFM-hosted, industry-led, National Agri-Food
Research and Innovation (NAFRI) Group is tasked with informing and monitoring
the outputs of the initiatives funded in line with the SRIA to ensure that the outputs of
agri-food research is translated into enterprise enhancing innovative activities as
articulated by Knowledge Transfer Ireland6. Teagasc’s advisory programme is also a
key part of the State’s apparatus to achieve impact from agri-food research. EI’s
Technology Transfer Strengthening Initiative which supports the technology transfer
activities of HEI’s is also of considerable relevance.
Ensuring value for money and payback to the taxpayer from publicly funded research
can only be realised by identifying where progress has been strong and weak in the
past and where outputs have been beneficial to Ireland. One of the main strengths of
DAFM is that the investment made in the past in both food and agriculture research
has led to the building of capacity and critical mass in key areas of importance to the
Irish agri-food industry. This fits the description of our role in advancing science,
technology and innovation. This investment has resulted in the training of skilled
researchers, publications in high impact scientific journals, advice to farmers,
development of strategic collaborations both nationally and internationally and in a
number of cases, has led to products on the shelf; new processes adopted by industry
and in some cases has led to spin-out companies being formed. Each of these outputs
should be considered in evaluating the progress of funded research and in the
assessment of new research proposals rather than relying simply on the traditional
model of focussing on the output published papers. So the issue is not that DAFM
funded research hasn’t delivered, but rather how do we improve it? In addition, the 6 http://www.knowledgetransferireland.com/
19
Departments role as a funder of agri-food research to end users who profit from the
fruits of such research is drastically under publicised. For example, quite often RSF
funded projects are disseminated to farmers at various events including open days, but
the role of DAFM in funding these projects is not acknowledged. This has the effect
of hiding the undoubted value of ‘public good’ programmes in advancing production
and, therefore, the value of funded research is not fully appreciated.
RSF funded research has had significant impact on the production of food and on
improving the livelihoods of farm families. Quantifying such an impact is a challenge
but one we are committed to assessing. To this end DAFM and all funders have
agreed to stringent NRPE metrics and targets (Annex 2) that will be used to assess
performance and success.
Industry involvementIndustry involvement in EU research in the Agri-Food sciences has, traditionally,
been low. In an effort to address this the Commission established Technology
Platforms (TPs), the rationale being that if industry had no say in devising the
research agenda, then industry would not engage in the research to address that
agenda. The TPs are proving very successful in increasing industry’s role and
ultimately that will ensure increased commercial fruits from funded research. At
national level, the establishment of the NAFRI group (Previously AREA and FREA)
by DAFM has seen industry play an increasingly important role in the FIRM and RSF
programmes.
The Food Industry in Ireland and Europe is dominated by a large number of SMEs
and a small number of multinationals. These SME’s either, have no interest in R&D
or do not have the capacity to absorb research outputs from the research community,
or the willingness to develop in-house R&D capability. However, this is changing as
companies now believe that the future of the industry is in value added foods and
there is a real need for them to engage in research and development although in most
cases it is more likely to be the latter.
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DAFM has always placed great emphasis on the need for active and varied
dissemination of the outputs of research funded through its competitive ‘public good’
research programmes. In this regard it has been funding, from 1996 to 2011, a
succession of dedicated food research dissemination projects within FIRM - and its
pre-decessor, the Non-Commissioned Food Research Programme (NCFRP). In recent
years this has achieved considerable prominence under the RELAY brand, which took
the form of a 3-person team of contract disseminators operating within Teagasc/UCC.
In light of developments such as the EI assisted strengthening of the Technology
Transfer Officers (TTO’s) within virtually all the HEI’s and the EI-Teagasc Food
SME Technology Support Programme, a re-evaluation of the role of RELAY took
place, which resulted in the ending of its funding in 2011. Furthermore Teagasc have
worked to improve their interaction with the food industry through the identification
of customer liaison managers and the recent running of two large dissemination
events annually called Teagasc Gateways events.
Dissemination activities in the forest sector include seminars, field events and
publications, both scientific and technically focused such as the COFORD Connects
series which has provided a much-needed source of authoritative information for
foresters, forest owners, industry and wider stakeholders over the years. Latest media
technology can also help improve dissemination.
Knowledge transfer is of critical importance as is the continuity of commitment and
investment in this area. Not only will this ensure that research findings are made
known and available to the appropriate research audience but also the value of
research, through results, will help to inform funding support and ongoing and future
research initiatives and programmes.
5.7 Strengthening the Research Infrastructure
DAFM Laboratories
DAFM’s role and capability in the research infrastructure needs to be further
developed. DAFM has considered formal collaborations with some of the Higher
Education Institutions (HEIs) to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and technology.
In this regard, DAFM and UCD have entered into discussions to explore the potential
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for such collaboration between the two organisations. Such an arrangement could see
university researchers working in DAFM laboratories and farm facilities in exchange
for up-skilling local DAFM staff in the latest technologies.
Commissioned ResearchPolicy is generally reflective of trading needs and consumer concerns; these in turn
dictate control activities and the research needed to underpin them. In general, there
is a long lead-in time such that the research needed is predictable and can be
conducted over the medium to long term, which is normal. However, there are
occasions when issues arise needing urgent attention where evidence-based solutions
are required in the short term. DAFM’s competitive research programmes, and
indeed the Teagasc mainstream programme, are often unsuitable in these situations as
they lack the flexibility needed to respond quickly. Moreover, even if a budget was
available at the required time (which might not be the case) to launch a call,
difficulties might arise in scoping out a sufficiently tight specification and, in
addition, it still takes 4 – 6 months from start to finish to organise a call and fund a
project. In such cases, a Commissioned research fund could be used to develop
solutions on a range of requirements related to an issue (e.g. policy matter or
contamination incident) in a quick and efficient manner. In such cases, DAFM should
examine the establishment of a Commissioned Research fund (Rapid Response
Research Fund). DAFM should examine this process in other countries with a view to
establishing such a process in Ireland. In addition, the administration of such a
process should be examined with options such as issuing a two-stage tender process in
the Official Journal to be examined.
Long Term Commitment to Forest Research
Due to the long term nature of forestry and its social, environmental and economic
values, certain aspects of forest research need to be undertaken with a long term
perspective and commitment. In DAFM’s 2014 Call, it invited proposals for the
establishment of a new for Long Term Forest Research Initiative which would bring
together the available national expertise in an initiative which will consolidate,
analyse, manage and maintain existing research plots and research data on an on-
going basis and undertake new long term forest research in a consolidated, multi-
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actor, inter-institutional, collaborative manner. This initiative will be further
developed in 2015.
5.7 Looking beyond Ireland/ Facilitating Internationalisation in various ways
A fundamental point of national R&D policy is the importance of internationalisation
of our research. We expect researchers who have developed competency under
national programmes to engage in international collaborations. However, DAFM as a
funding agency needs to examine the potential for international collaborations with
other funders.
North South Co-operationTo begin with it is worth examining the relationship with Northern Ireland. During the
last decade of the twentieth century and early part of this decade we have funded
partners in projects from Northern Ireland under FIRM and RSF Calls. This led to
some very useful research collaborations between Irish RPOs and their NI based
counterparts in certain areas. However, this practice was terminated in 2014 owing to
budget pressure and fact that SFI had entered into a MoU with the Dept. of Education
& Learning in NI whereby the latter funded NI institutions participating in projects
submitted under SFI Calls. Given that such N-S research collaboration in the agri-
food area has proven to be useful and the fact that the main player (AFBI) is funded
by DARD, it is recommended that DAFM enter into an agreement with DARD to
allow AFBI participate in proposals under RSF in future and consideration given to
other institutions relevant to FIRM.
Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The Global Research Alliance (GRA) on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases was
launched in the margins of the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit on 16th
December 2009 with Ireland as a founder member. The Alliance is focused on
research, development and extension of technologies and practices that will increase
food production without increasing emissions of greenhouse gases at farm level.
Currently there are 31 member countries in the Alliance, with representation from
across the world.
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The Alliance operates through a Governing Council (GC) and five (three vertical and
two cross-cutting) Research Groups namely; Crops, Livestock, Paddy Rice, Soil
Carbon & Nitrogen Cycling, and Inventory & Measurement. DAFM sits on the GC
while Teagasc attends the Crops, Livestock, and Soil Carbon Groups and EPA is
represented on the Inventory & Measurement Group. The alliance aims to build
genuine worldwide research collaborations and Ireland is involved in a number of
initiatives on the back of the alliance. DAFM will continue to aid the development of
the alliance in the years ahead.
ERA-NETS
ERA NETs objective is to establish cooperation and coordination of research
activities carried out at national or regional level in the Member States and Associated
States through the networking of research activities, and the mutual opening of
national and regional research programmes. It provides a framework for actors
implementing public research programmes to coordinate their activities and reduce
the fragmentation of the European Research Area. DAFM are of the view that
participating in ERA-Nets is a valuable way for the research community to engage
and collaborate with their European counterparts. DAFM has been involved in a
number of ERA-Nets to date and they are detailed in Annex 4.
Joint Programming Initiatives
The JPI concept stems from the realisation that a more coordinated approach is
needed to optimise the value of research conducted across the EU and that certain
research is best conducted on a pan-European basis. Building on the more limited
ERA-Net model, it is a new bottom-up approach aimed at combining the national
research effort (and related funding) of interested EU Member and Associated States.
The ‘Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change (FACCE)’ JPI is of considerable
relevance to agricultural production research. Ireland is a member and is represented
on the Governing Board by both DAFM and Teagasc. The objective of the initiative,
which currently comprises 20 Member States, is to co-ordinate research across the
Member States to address the major societal challenge of producing enough food
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while simultaneously addressing the challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions
from the sector.
DAFM is also strongly involved in the Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life (HDHL) JPI.
It comprises of 25 mostly European countries, along with Canada and observer
member New Zealand. Ireland is represented on the Management Board, represented
by DAFM and SFI. To attain the vision of the JPI HDHL and contribute significantly
to the construction of a fully operational European Research Area (ERA) on the
prevention of diet- and sedentary lifestyle-related diseases and effectively integrate
research efforts in the food-, nutritional-, exercise-, social- and health sciences, three
key interacting research pillars have been identified and adopted in the JPI HDHL
Strategic Research Agenda:
1. Determinants of diet and physical activity: ensuring the healthy choice is the
easy choice for consumers.
2. Diet and food production: developing high-quality, healthy, safe and
sustainable foods.
3. Diet-related chronic diseases: preventing diet-related chronic diseases and
increasing the quality of life, delivering a healthier diet.
UK-Ireland Food Innovation
The UK-Ireland Food Business Innovation Initiative stems directly from the Joint
Statement of the Taoiseach and UK Prime Minister in March 2012, and resulted in the
‘UK-Ireland Food Business Innovation Summit’ in Dublin 29th May 2013. Since the
Summit, a high level steering group has been created and meets regularly. The current
focus of discussions include, joint UK-Ireland research Calls/proposals and plans for a
second Summit.
US-Ireland Programme
DAFM has recently begun to explore the research opportunities under the US- Ireland
programme. This programme may provide an opportunity for Irish researchers to
collaborate with the American counterparts in areas of mutual interest.
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4 Annexes
Annex 1: Glossary of TermsAFBI Agri-Food and Bioscience Institute
APC Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre
AREA Agriculture Research Expert Advisory Group
BBI Bio-Based Industries
CSET Centres for Science, Engineering and Technology
COFORD The National Council for Forest Research and Development
CoFoRD The Programme of Competitive Forest Research for
Development
DAFM Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
DARD Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
DARDNI Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Northern
Ireland
EC European Commission
EI Enterprise Ireland
EIARD European Initiative for Agricultural Research for Development
EMIDA Coordination of European Research on Emerging and Major
Infectious Diseases of Livestock
EPA Environmental Protection Agency
ERA European Research Area
ERA NET European Research Area Network
ESFRI European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures
EU European Union
EUMS European Union Member States
FACCE Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change
FORI Forest Research Ireland
FAFB Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology
FIRM Food Institutional Research Measure
FP Framework Programme
FP7 Seventh EU Framework Programme for Research and
Technological Development
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FREA Food Research Expert Advisory Group
GRA Global Research Alliance
GC Governing Council
H2020 EU Framework Research & Innovation Programme 2013-20
Horizon 2020 EU Framework Research & Innovation Programme 2013-20
HDHL Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life
HEA Higher Education Authority
HEI Higher Education Institute
HPSU High Potential Start Up
HRB Health Research Board
ICAC Irish Codex Advisory Committee
ICBF Irish Cattle Breeding Federation
IDC Inter-Departmental Committee
ICT Information and Communication Technologies
IFHRA Irish Food and Health Research Alliance
ILRP Industry-led Research Networks Programme
IOTI Institutes of Technology Ireland
IRC Irish Research Council
IUNA Irish Universities Nutrition Alliance
JP Joint Programming
JPI Joint Programming Initiative
KBBE-NET Knowledge Based Bio Economy Committee Network
KTI Knowledge Transfer Ireland
MI Marine Institute
MOU Memorandum of Understanding
NAFRI National Agri-Food Research & Innovation
NAFRIA National Agri-Food Research & Innovation Advisory Group
NCFRP Non-Commissioned Food Research Programme
NI Northern Ireland
NRPE National Research Prioritisation Exercise
PAG Prioritisation Action Group
PhD Doctor of Philosophy
PRTLI Programme for Research in Third-Level Institutions
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RELAY Communication, exploitation & support of technology transfer
opportunities from FIRM research projects
R & D Research and Development
R & I Research and Innovation
RRRF Rapid Response Research Fund
RPO Research Performing Organisation
RSF Research Stimulus Fund
RTDI Research, Technological Development & Innovation
SC2 Societal Challenge 2
SCAR Standing Committee on Agricultural Research
SCAR WG Standing Committee on Agricultural Research Working Group
SEI Sustainable Energy Ireland
SFI Science Foundation Ireland
SME Small to medium sized enterprise
SRIA Strategic Research & Innovation Agenda
STRIVE Science, Technology, Research and Innovation for the
Environment
SSTI Strategy for Science Technology and Innovation
TCD Trinity College Dublin
TP Technology Platform
TTO Technology Transfer Office
UCC University College Cork
UCD University College Dublin
UU University Ulster
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Annex 2: Public Funding for Agri-Food Research & Innovation
DAFM Programmes
DAFM operates three competitive research-funding programmes; the Food
Institutional Research Measure (FIRM), the Research Stimulus Fund (RSF), and the
Programme of Competitive Forest Research for Development (CoFoRD). These are
all competitive programmes of a public good nature i.e. outputs must be disseminated
widely and are freely available to all. The type of research runs from basic or
fundamental through to pre-commercial. Researchers compete for NDP funding and
those proposals scoring highest after independent expert evaluation are approved for
funding following review by the Research Committee. Collaborative efforts are
encouraged and funded projects usually entail partners from more than two different
research institutes involved in problem solving.
Food Institutional Research Measure (FIRM)
FIRM provides funding, on a competitive basis, to public institutes in Ireland with a
proven research performing capability – mainly Higher Education Institutes (HEIs)
and Research Institutes (RIs) such as Teagasc – for ‘public good’ food research to
underpin a competitive, innovative and sustainable food manufacturing, processing
and marketing sector. The research covers food areas such as food product
development, processing, safety, nutrition and health. Most of the projects funded are
3 to 5 years in duration and involve multi-disciplinary, inter-institutional
collaboration.
FIRM’s core objectives are to:
(1) Provide a base of scientific knowledge and expertise in generic technologies
that will support innovation and product development in the Irish food industry;
(2) Assist in assuring consumer protection and in ensuring that development is
underpinned by attention to food safety and quality issues.
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FIRM supports the development of capability and critical mass in all areas of interest
to the food industry including processing and manufacturing technologies, innovative
food & drink ingredients, products and by-products, food safety as well as equipment,
and specialist research networks. In addition, its graduate development programme is
designed to equip researchers working on FIRM-funded projects with a set of
business-oriented transferable skills such that they understand industry needs and,
therefore, are highly employable or, if they stay in academia, will have gained an
understanding that will lead to more academia-industry research collaboration.
FIRM has promoted centres of excellence in food research, improved Irish access and
involvement in EU programmes and initiatives, and provided a resource and network
of expertise and technologies on which food companies can draw. A key output is
researchers, trained to PhD and postdoctoral level, with specialist skills. The
Department is engaged in ensuring that FIRM funded researchers commercialise
research outputs, where appropriate, and have introduced an initiative, Research Plus,
to support this by acting as a bridge to bring the outputs of FIRM-funded research to a
point where they can benefit from funding schemes operated by Enterprise Ireland
and add value to the outputs of previous research.
Research Stimulus Fund (RSF)
The RSF programme runs on broadly similar lines to FIRM but is directed at the pre-
farm gate primary agriculture sector and so aims to fill gaps in Teagasc’s long term,
mainstream research programme support sustainable and competitive agricultural
production practices and policies, and contribute to building and maintaining a
knowledge economy and research capability in the agriculture sector. RSF supports
the development of capability and critical mass in all areas of interest to the
agriculture sector including Animal Bioscience, Plant Bioscience, Animal and Plant
Genetics and Health, Non-Food Uses of Agricultural Land, Agri-Environment,
Aquaculture and Agri Economy & Policy areas.
Programme of Competitive Forest Research for Development (CoFoRD)
CoFoRD is DAFM’s competitive ‘public good’ forest research funding programme
and is the main vehicle for funding forest research in Ireland. The primary aim of the
CoFoRD programme is to develop a scientific foundation and support for a
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sustainable, competitive, market orientated and innovative forest industry. In its three
most recent calls for proposals 2010-2013, 17 projects have been funded to a value of
€7.6m.
Teagasc
Teagasc is the national agriculture and food development authority and a leading
organisation in the fields of agriculture and food research in Ireland, undertaking
innovative research coupled with knowledge transfer in four programme areas:
Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation
Crops, Environment and Land Use
Food
Rural Economy and Development
The Teagasc mission is to support science-based innovation in the agri-food sector
and wider bio-economy that will underpin profitability, competitiveness and
sustainability. Each of these programme areas is composed of research, development
and knowledge-transfer/industry-development departments. Research is conducted at
seven dedicated locations, while knowledge transfer professionals are located
throughout the country.
Research carried out by Teagasc is funded through core funding and/or competitive
funding from Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (FIRM, COFORD and
RSF programmes), Science Foundation Ireland, EU funding programmes and the
National Dairy Level.
Enterprise IrelandEnterprise Ireland helps both companies and researchers based in third level
institutions to engage in research. The aim is to facilitate collaborative links between
enterprise and the research community that lead to the practical application of
research in business, yielding benefits to both groups.
Enterprise Ireland is the largest investor in commercially focussed and industry linked
food R&D, while they also support the technology transfer capabilities of the
academic institutes via the Technology Transfer Strengthening Initiative.
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Enterprise Ireland primarily funding research in agri-food through the following
formats;
Technical Feasibility Study Grant
R&D Fund: Small Projects
R&D Fund: Standard Projects
Innovative High Potential Start Up (HPSU) Fund
Technology Centres Initiative
Industry-led Research Networks Programme (ILRP)
Technology Gateway Programme
Innovation Partnership Programme
Innovation Voucher Programme
Access to EU and International Programmes
Programme for Research in Third-Level Institutions (PRTLI)PRTLI administered by the Higher Education Authority provides integrated financial
support to the HEI’s for institutional strategies, programmes and infrastructure in key
areas of research spread across all disciplines including agri-food. An example of the
programmes funded under PRTLI include; Food Ireland: National Food and Health
Collaborative Research Programmes and Environment and Climate Change: Impacts
and Responses. The PRTLI aims to propel Ireland toward establishing an international
profile as a premier location for carrying out world-class research and development.
PRTLI is currently rolling out its 5th Cycle of funding.
Science Foundation IrelandFounded in 2000, Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) invests in academic researchers
and research teams who are most likely to generate new knowledge, leading edge
technologies and competitive enterprises in the fields of science and engineering
underpinning three broad areas: Biotechnology, Information and Communications
Technology; Sustainable Energy and Energy-Efficient Technologies. SFI has a large
number of grants and awards mechanisms available, including the Principal
Investigator Programme, Centres for Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET)
and Strategic Research Clusters.
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Environmental Protection AgencyThe EPA research programme Science, Technology, Research and Innovation for the
Environment (STRIVE) addresses key environmental issues spanning a number of
research areas including:
- Air Quality, Atmospheric Deposition and Noise
- Sectoral impacts on Biodiversity
- Climate Change
- Soils and Landscape
- Socio-Economics
- Waste, Resource Management and Chemicals
- Water Quality and the Aquatic Environment
Projects range in scale from desk studies and scholarships up to large-scale multi-
annual projects.
Marine InstituteThe Marine Institute co-ordinates and promotes marine research as well as being a
research performer. It funds national marine research through a number of initiatives
namely:
Capacity building (Beaufort Marine Awards);
Projects (PhD scholarships, Post-Doctoral Fellowships, Industry-Led and
Desk Studies);
Access to National Research Vessels (Ship-time Programme); and
Networking Initiative (Networking & Travel Grants for International
Conferences & Workshops).
Irish Research Council The Irish Research Council operates research-funding initiatives that support talented
researchers in their early stage career development across Masters, Doctoral and
Postdoctoral levels in the sciences (including agriculture and food science),
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engineering and technology. The emphasis is on exploratory research aimed at
yielding new concepts, findings and innovations in Ireland.
Health Research Board The Health Research Board (HRB) currently funds all areas of health research from
biomedical, applied, clinical and practice-based research through to population health
and health services research in a programme worth more than €100m. Agri-food
research, in particular food research, is of huge importance when considering
population health, people’s diets, eating habits and health promoting functional foods.
Food and nutritional research is now intrinsic to research on many aspects of human
health and collaborative efforts are ever-increasing between food and medical
scientists.
Safefood
Safefood was established in December 1999 as the Food Safety Promotion Board.
The legislation provides that: “The Body will have a general remit to promote
research into all aspects of food safety, including:
a) identifying priorities for research;
b) commissioning and funding research projects as necessary to fill identified
gaps;
c) establishing and maintaining a database of research programmes and
monitoring progress;
d) disseminating research findings to relevant interests;
e) recommending action arising from research findings;
f) Maintaining links with international research bodies.”
EU Horizon 2020 Programme
Horizon 2020 is the European Union’s main instrument for funding research and
innovation in Europe. The programme follows the 7th Framework Programme (FP7)
that ended in 2013 and is set to run from 2014 to 2020. It has a budget of
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approximately €80 billion and its objective is to build a European Knowledge
Economy, i.e. make Europe competitive with leading countries such as USA and
Japan in knowledge generation and innovation. The programme is broken down into
three main pillars:
1. Excellent Science
2. Industrial Leadership
3. Societal Challenges
Under Pillar 3, Societal Challenge 2 (SC 2) is one of 7 societal challenges and is the
one of most interest to the agri-food, forestry and marine sector. It is entitled Food
security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine and maritime and inland water
research and the bioeconomy and has an overall budget of €3.8bn. The primary aim
of the SC2 Programme is to contribute to securing sufficient supplies of safe, healthy
and high quality food and bio based products and transform Europe into a sustainable
bioeconomy.
The Societal Challenge 2 (SC2) Programme covers an extremely broad remit and is
built around three major activity areas:
1: Sustainable Food Security
2: Blue Growth
3: Innovative, Sustainable and Inclusive Bioeconomy
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Annex 3: NRPE National Metrics and Targets
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Annex 4: National Research & Innovation Funder’s Areas of Activity on the Research Continuum
The diagram below gives a broad overview of National Funder responsibilities across the different components of Sustainable Agri-Food Production and Processing and
Food for Health PAG priority areas.
DAFM
Teagasc
Marine Institute
SFI
EI
HRB
EPA
IRC
HEA
Basic Applied Pre-Commercial Commercial
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Annex 5: ERANETS of interest to DAFM
ERA-Net Name ERA-Net Type RemitDAFM Initial Amount Pledged Date Pledged
DAFM Actual Commitment Actual paid
Actual remaining
EMIDA ERA-Net
Emerging and Major Infectious Diseases of Livestock 450,000 435,716 99,188 336,528
Euphresco ERA-NetPlant pest, diseases and invasive species 0 0 0 0
ICT-Agri ERA-Net
Information and Communications Technology 225,000 224,999 84,375 140,624
RURAGRI ERA-Net
Sustainability of rural areas
100,000 99,758 37,409 62,349
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Core Organic
ERA-Net
Organic food and farming
0 0 0 0Wood Wisdom
ERA-Net
Whole value forest chain, sustainable use of natural resources
750,000 303,406 56,326 247,080ERA-CAPS ERA-Net 200,000 0 0 ANIWHA ERA-Net 250,000 TBC 0 Wood Wisdom+ ERA-Net+ 450,000 355,643 0 1,497,867SUMFOREST ERA-Net 355,774 2,425,000 1,419,522 277,298 2,640,222
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