Investing in Innovation: HGCA's Research Strategy Review

A competitive UK arable industry relies on research leading to technical innovation and the provision of targeted knowl- edge and understanding to enable its end users to stay ahead in a competitive world. HGCA's Research Strategy is key to ensuring its levy-funded research programme delivers the best possible value for money for the UK industry. The rolling four year strategy is based on a thorough assessment of levy- payer needs and evaluation of the value of research areas to levy-payer businesses. It informs the commissioning of new research projects and provides a clear message to levy payers, other research sponsors and research providers of the priori- ties and direction of HGCA research funding in the future The recent review of the 2007-2010 Research Strategy has included the following components: Evaluation of research funded during the 2007-10 strategy period; Evaluation of the impact of HGCA funded research; Questionnaire for levy-payers and other stakeholders; Consultation meetings with more than 20 key stakeholder groups; and Assessment of the priorities of other research sponsors and policy-makers.