Call for clarity on ag research funding amid cuts fears

Experts have called for “long-term clarity” on agricultural research funding amid fears it will be slashed at the upcoming Budget.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is said to be considering wrapping the cost of participating in Horizon Europe into the existing funding envelope of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, rather than having it directly funded by the Treasury.

See also: Pre-Budget fears of inheritance tax relief cuts grow

According to reports in The Times Higher Education, this would deliver an effective cut in funding for UK Research and Innovation, with the cost of participation thought to run to as much as £1bn.

Collaborative projects have featured heavily in recent Horizon programmes, and agriculture, food production and climate change are all key focus areas.

Phil Bicknell, chief executive of the UK Agri-Tech Centre, told Farmers Weekly that access to funding opportunities was a frequent discussion point for the businesses the centre collaborates with.

“The bottom line is that public investment in research and development, from whatever source, is an effective catalyst for innovation,” he said.

“The discussion about funding needs to include longer term clarity and to ensure it is properly focused and reflects wider strategic priorities. That is particularly vital for agriculture, where lengthy production cycles and adoption provide some unique challenges.

“Such an approach would recognise how invaluable stability is when investing in the future, especially when seeking to address increasingly complex challenges with a robust evidence base.”