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markets
The uplift in cattle prices of recent weeks slowed in week ended 11th May read more
With more new season lambs entering the market, the dynamics of the trade have started to change read more
Provisional data for April milk deliveries of approximately 1,111m litres are 93m litres (7.7%) down on the previous year read more
In April, the DAPP averaged 160.9p/kg, almost 4p up on the month. At the same time, the average retail price came down by a small amount read more
The GB weekly average price fell by £7.68/t to £295.35/t and the free-buy average fell by £22.02/t to £368.39/t. read more
The first USDA estimates for world production in 2013-14 forecast record maize and wheat production, citing larger planted areas and a rebound in yields from the US (maize) and the Former Soviet Union (wheat) read more
The USDA has released its first soyabean supply and demand estimates for the new season read more
UK malting barley export prices are at €245/t FOB (spring, South Coast) w/e 11th April. read more
The latest National Statistics produced by Defra on the activity of UK hatcheries and poultry slaughterhouses. read more
USDA’s latest quarterly stocks report, released on 28th September, estimated US maize stocks (at 1st September) at 25.1m t, down 12% on the same point in 2011 and the lowest since 2004. read more

 
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Grant Walling

THE APPLIANCE OF SCIENCE

Dr Grant Walling believes there is a need for research to be more in step with
commercial and practical applications to attract funding, reports Iona Walton

UK research must become more accountable and accessible if it is to benefit industry and the economy as a whole. Dr Grant Walling, research and development director at JSR Genetics, advocates the view that greater emphasis on the commercial economic value of every research project is needed. “The past five to 10 years has seen science become less linked to industry, allowing scientists to pursue their own agendas as opposed to considering the commercial value of what they are doing,” he says. “Quantifying the value of each piece of research would be a powerful tool – including figures that make people sit up and listen – particularly if it’s written for a wider readership in mind than most scientific journals currently have.” A two-way relationship of respect between industry and scientists would benefit the UK economy, as would more uptake of the opinion that the purpose of higher education is to develop skills in people that they can use in a commercial market. “Academia should not feed academia,” says Dr Walling. “When it comes to funding, the purse strings in ques- tion should be those that are likely to benefit from the research. If the research is being conducted to benefit government targets or objectives, the Government should pay, as should industry if it is going to reap rewards. Joint ventures could be funded by both parties. While budgets are being pushed, research that delivers good value for money is more important than the most advanced.” GREATER FOCUS NEEDED Science for industry is more focussed elsewhere, such as the Institute of Pig Genetics in the Netherlands where applied research is the name of the game and in Australia and New Zealand, where research institutes are dedicated to investigating useable technology for the agricultural industry. Back in the UK, the wide gap between researcher and consumer creates problems. “A considerable amount of technology goes into the production of pork, but the cost of the end product is exceedingly low, decreasing over time in real terms because the technology has allowed us to produce it more efficiently says Dr Walling. “New technology is not cheap to implement; to genotype one animal costs about £160, so to profile 500 introduces a significant cost.” The UK’s pig industry is relatively stable today with more realistic prices being achieved by producers and supermarkets responding well over the past 12-18 months. A more likely threat to pig producers, Dr Walling asserts, comes from the processors. “Mergers have left three main players – Vion, Cranswick and Tulip – which have a tight stranglehold on the industry,” he explains. “Most producers are happy with their historic contracts, but when it comes to renegotiation we could see a different picture. It’s only going to take one processor to give in to supermarket pressure and squeeze producers too tightly and the others will follow. “Greater co-operation in the form of contract discussions between producers, processors and supermarket buyers could work out how to look after each part of the supply chain and introduce a more robust system.”

 

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