Biotechnology Commission Research Agendas workstream:
What Shapes The Research Agenda?
Rationale
Hundreds of millions of pounds are invested each year in agricultural research
in the UK, much of this in the area of biotechnology. In its previous work, the
Commission has become aware of a number of concerns about how this money is spent.
These include a sense that the balance of public research has shifted and is now
too focused on commercial applications; that agendas do not adequately encompass
social and ethical realities, including the basis of public confidence in science;
that creativity and innovation are stifled by a preoccupation with risk and
regulation; that public funding into crucial areas such as soil science has
shrunk; and that ‘orphan crops’ of low commercial significance but possible great
benefit to society are neglected. But are these concerns well founded?
This workstream will examine how research agendas in agricultural biotechnology
are determined. It will identify the key drivers and ask how they are taken into
account in priority setting - looking beyond the agriculture-specific issues to wider
drivers such as the commercial exploitation of science and the new mood for public
engagement. More specifically, it will ask if research is properly geared towards
the relevant policy agendas - chiefly, the drive for sustainability in agriculture.
And it will consider whether research agendas adequately reflect public attitudes and
aspirations for the future of farming, food and land use.
Key questions
What are the key drivers behind agricultural biotechnology research agendas and
how are they balanced?
What mechanisms exist to ensure public attitudes and aspirations and Government
policy priorities are taken into account when research agendas are set?
How well do these mechanisms work?
What have been the implications of the above for research and development?
Methodology
In looking at drivers, the Commission will consider how the various factors are
balanced and how they translate downstream to the research that is eventually
carried out. In researching the mechanisms for taking account of public attitudes,
aspirations and policy needs, the Commission will look at the structure, composition
and terms of reference of funding bodies strategic committees, the elements of the
decision-making process, and how various wider strategic initiatives and reports are
taken into account.
As part of the workstream, the Commission will seek to undertake a public
engagement exercise. This may follow the model used in the Commission’s Animals and
Biotechnology study (September 2002) in which a series of workshops are held with a
"reference group", culminating in the group being asked to comment on the Commission’s
emerging findings. Two groups - one composed of members of the public and the other of
working scientists - have been proposed.
An exhaustive study of the implications of drivers and mechanisms for research
would be extremely resource intensive, so this part of the workstream will be carried
out using specific case studies. Case study examples will be chosen across the whole
spectrum of agricultural biotechnology.
The Commission will seek to ensure that its contribution synergises with the work
of other bodies that have addressed or are addressing similar issues.
Scope
In the context of this workstream, a broad definition of biotechnology will be used,
encompassing more than just genetic modification.
The workstream will focus mainly on publicly funded research, but will not neglect
private sector research, particularly the influences that the public research and its
drivers have on the private sector and vice versa.
The study will be restricted to UK-funded research, while recognizing that research
is an international activity. It will include UK research relating to the needs of
developing countries.
Timeline
The project will be completed within a year, and a staged approach will be used as
below:
Stage 1 - approx. April to August/September 2004: Information gathering on research
drivers and on mechanisms for taking into account public attitudes, aspirations and
policy priorities
Stage 2 - approx. September to December 2004/January 2005: Analysis of information
and judgement on how well the mechanisms work, looking at specific examples. Some of
this work to begin during Stage 1.
Stage 3 - approx September 2004 to February 2005: Public Engagement exercise
(Public Reference Group and Scientists’ Reference Group).
Stage 4 - February/March 2005: Publish Reflections and Recommendations.
Outputs from each stage will be published separately, as stand alone documents.
