For more from our Cereals 2010 preview see the links on the right hand side.

Have-a-say invite to all levy payers

May 28, 2010 | By Teresa Rush

LEVY payers will have the opportunity to have their say on the future of HGCA research and vote on its delivery on the HGCA stand at Cereals 2010.

HGCA is currently preparing to seek the industry’s views on its priorities for levy-funded

research for the next three years from 2011 to 2014, and will be using Cereals as the first direct opportunity to ask growers for their opinions on the challenges ahead for the industry by completing a questionnaire and talking to staff.

“Cereals 2010 is the ideal place to start collecting levy payers’ thoughts on the areas HGCA should be addressing in its research over the next few years - areas which directly affect the bottom line of individual businesses and which can have a knock-on effect across the supply chain,” says Dr Susannah Bolton, head of HGCA Research and Development.

Farm profitability will be one of the key drivers behind the R&D strategy, says Dr Bolton.

“We’ve been tied up for a long time with yield but we also need to think about input costs:

– What would make businesses more efficient?

– Is there research that could help?

“Growers can help us identify research areas where there might be the opportunity for collaboration with other sectors, as well as emerging gaps that we may need to scrutinise. More importantly, we need to make sure the research we are delivering is reaching levy payers in a format that works for them.”

TO VIEW QUESTIONNAIRE

The research strategy questionnaire will also be available online at www.hgca.com/haveyoursay after Cereals.

MORE INFORMATION ON HGCA AND WHAT’S ON AT THEIR EVENT STAND

The current HGCA R&D strategy covers the period 2007-2010
150 projects have been commissioned - 43 strategic research projects and 107 applied research projects
These required £16.2 million HGCA funding
And attracted £52m in co-funding

ALSO on the HGCA stand at Cereals

Recommended List plot tours (covering Recommended and RL candidate varieties) with HGCA variety experts Jim McVittie and Bill Handley
Free 2010 Recommended List pocketbooks
Dr James Brosnan, of the Scotch Whisky Research Institute, will be talking about the requirements of the wheat distilling market
New publications will be available, including the updated HGCA nozzle chart, the new HGCA Weed Management in a Rotation guide and a new Topic Sheet on growing crops for industrial uses
There will be opportunity to sign up for free weekly HGCA Market Reports, with a brief outline of the latest economic information on the global drivers shaping grain and oilseed prices
Farm4Bio project demonstration, including advice on establishing Conservation margins
See how HGCA is helping to build sustainable markets for grain and oilseeds through its British Cereal Exports (BCE) activities and working jointly with nabim on the Grain Chain initiative for schools
Nabim, MAGB and Red Tractor Assurance Crops and Sugar Beet will all be on the HGCA stand, giving growers a unique opportunity to chat to the supply chain about current issues