future farming conference 21 nov11
TRANSCRIPT
Image 1 – Tomato seedling iStockphoto/Thinkstock, Image 2 – Fermenter iStockphoto/Thinkstock 2011, Image 3 – Wheat Hermerara/Getty Images, Image 4 –DNAConfig Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Thinkstock, Image 5 – Jersey Cow iStockphoto/Thinkstock, Image 6 – Scientist Comstock / Thinkstock
Addressing the skills gap in UK agriculture:
Connecting academic and private sectors
Dr David McAllister
Head of Skills and Careers
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
BBSRC allocates around £470M p.a. (2010/11) to:
• Fund innovative, internationally competitive
bioscience research
• Train bioscientists
• Support knowledge exchange and encourage
economic and social impact
• Engage with the public and stakeholders
Bioenergy and Industrial Biotechnology
Food Security Basic bioscience underpinning health
• Brings together the major public funders
of food-related research to tackle the
challenge of feeding 9bn people
sustainably by 2050
• Collective spend ~£426M per year
• Fosters a multidisciplinary approach to
this very complex challenge
• Ensures added value by minimising
duplication and maximising synergies
across funders
• Long-term though there will be quick
wins
Global Food Security
Beneforté ‘super broccoli’ case study
2011: UK launch in Marks & Spencer stores 4 October of high glucosinolate ‘super broccoli’, which has health benefits
Result of a collaboration between the John Innes Centre and Institute of Food Research, both of which receive long-term strategic funding from BBSRC, and Plant Bioscience Limited (PBL)
Defence against animal diseases and zoonoses
•Using recombinant DNA technology and fundamental biology
research, the Institute for Animal Health, Surrey, has
developed a way of producing a new, ultra-safe and stable
vaccine against Foot & Mouth Disease virus (FMDV).
•The new vaccine was developed by research funded jointly by
BBSRC and Defra and production yields are at commercially
viable levels. It contains FMDV devoid of genetic material,
therefore is not infectious and does not need high containment
facilities. The vaccine is at prototype stage, and initial tests
appear to support its efficacy in animals, in protecting against
disease.
•Medicago Inc., a Canadian company is to open a production
facility for plant-based production of ‘flu vaccines using
biotechnology processes, under licence from the John Innes
Centre. The technology is based on inactivated plant viruses.
A vaccine for H5N1 bird ‘flu produced in this way has just
completed Phase II clinical trials.
70% of agricultural land is used to raise livestock; consumption could be
doubling between 2000-2050. Protection against disease of livestock and
diseases they can pass to humans is needed more than ever.
Roslin Institute
Copyright iStockphoto / Thinkstock
BBSRC support for collaborative training
Postdocs / PIs
Flexible
Interchange
Programme
Biotechnology
YES
Enterprise
Fellowships
Postgraduates
Industrial
CASE
Studentships
Policy
Placements
Research
Experience
PlacementsAdvanced
Training
Partnerships
Undergraduates
Professional
Internships for
PhD Students
BBSRC support for collaborative training in the agri-food sector
“Develop Advanced Training
Partnerships (ATPs):
Support the uptake of industry-
relevant specialist and technical
professional development, to help
businesses in key sectors take up
new science and innovation.”
Partnership is key to success…
Bringing together users
and providers ofhigh level
training in the agri-food sector
Companies
Professional and
Accreditation Bodies
Levy Bodies
Universities
Research Institutes
Agricultural Colleges
Four ATPs have been awarded
Aberystwyth University
(C. Newbold) - £2.7M
ATP for Sustainable and Efficient Food
Production
Partnering with Bangor and NIAB, plus
Waitrose, White Gold, Velcourt
Royal Veterinary College
(S. May) - £2.9M
Advanced Training in Intensive Livestock
Health and Production
Partnering with Cambridge, Edinburgh
(Roslin), Newcastle, Kent, plus Aviagen,
Pfizer, Vion
University of Nottingham
(J. Roberts) - £4M
Establishment of a Strategic Training
Hub for the Advancement of the
UK Agri-Food Industry
Partnering with Harper Adams, Rothamsted
(Brooms Barn), Cranfield, plus
Campden BRI, BASF, Masstock, Waitrose,
Bakkavor
University of Reading
(C. Williams) - £3.1M
Food Quality and Health – Sustaining
the Future
Partnering with Rothamsted,
Birmingham and, via Leatherhead Food
Research, British Sugar, Danisco, National Milk
Research, PepsiCo, Sainsbury’s
• Delivering up to date, industrially-relevant training for graduates working in industry
• BBSRC provides pump priming support (~£15K for year 1 only) to develop modular courses at Masters level
• Must demonstrate clear evidence of industrial demand
• Flexibility in format depending on needs of industry e.g. distance learning, e-modules, workshops
• Examples of previously-supported courses:
eCPD in histotechnology in-vivo techniques for biosciences and drug development contemporary techniques in plant sciences principles of genetic improvement Positron Emission Tomography: technology and application post-genomic data analysis the business of bioremediation
Modular Training for Industry
CASE studentships
• Research training in area of relevance to non-academic (e.g.
industry) partner
• Collaborative postgraduate research training leading to a PhD
• CASE Partner: a non-academic organisation which provides
students with distinctive research training / experience not
available in an academic setting
• BBSRC supports CASE studentships within remit
• Scheme is supported by all Research Councils
• Non-academic Partner must provide:
o 6 - 18 month placement with relevant training
o £1.4k pa towards project costs
o Expenses associated with the placement
o Cash contribution to student’s stipend of at least £2.5k pa
BBSRC support for people exchange
schemes in the agri-food sector
Undergraduates: Research Experience Placements (REPs)
• Provide support for undergraduate summer research placements to:
– give promising undergraduates a first-hand opportunity to gain greater
experience of research in the biosciences
– raise the profile of research careers amongst undergraduate students
– interest students in postgraduate research in strategically important
areas
• REPs are allocated to a number of departments/institutes selected and
approved by BBSRC and the Bioscience Skills and Careers strategy panel
• Around 100 placements are available per year
• A significant number have been allocated to promote agricultural and
veterinary research, including 3 REPs to each of the UK’s vet schools
• Other REPs support agricultural science, integrative mammalian biology and
other areas
• Details at:
www.bbsrc.ac.uk/funding/studentships/research-experience-placements
• It is envisaged this new scheme will provide flexible
opportunities to enhance the genuine two-way flow of
ideas, people and skills through individuals moving
between different disciplines and sectors at all stages in
their career beyond the PhD (or equivalent)
• FLIP is currently being developed and is due to be
launched in 2012
Other BBSRC schemes also support
collaborative research and training in
the agri-food sector
BBSRC Fellowships
Research and Technology Clubs
Postdoctoral research grants
Research and Technology Clubs
Key Features
• A consortium of companies work together with BBSRC to fund basic research in strategic areas within the research base
• Company members decide on the research priorities and contribute to review and monitoring of research proposals
• ‘Common-pot’ funding (BBSRC/industry/ Other funders)
• In the typical club model, BBSRC contributes 90% of funding, industry consortium contributes 10%
• Industry members subscriptions on sliding scale (company size)
• Regular dissemination events allow members to network, to hear about research projects and to meet researchers
• Training (studentships targeted to Club areas)
New academic block studentships
scheme to replace Quota DTG
Shaped by recent Quota Evaluation and BSC Strategy
Panel advice
DTPs allow for better strategic alignment and coordination
Students placed in world-class research
environments
Integrated Professional
Internships for PhD Students (PIPS)
CASE no longer mandatory, now
supported through separate schemes
Expect to fund up to 15-20 DTPs (most
multi-institutional) for 3 yrs (2012-14)
Total investment £60M, funding
around 220 students per annum
Call launched 16 March 2011, closing date 15 Sept 2011
bbsrc.ac.uk/dtp
Strategic Alignment
Excellence of Training
Leverage Partnership Concentration
BBSRC Skills Statement
• Brings together the skills that BBSRC is particularly looking to
support through its Training Grants, including:
Broad strategic research priorities and enabling technologies
Specific strategically important and vulnerable niche research
skills
Cross-cutting core bioscience and generic professional skills
New academic block studentships
scheme to replace Quota DTG
Shaped by recent Quota Evaluation and BSC Strategy
Panel advice
DTPs allow for better strategic alignment and coordination
Students placed in world-class research
environments
Integrated Professional
Internships for PhD Students (PIPS)
CASE no longer mandatory, now
supported through separate schemes
Expect to fund up to 15-20 DTPs (most
multi-institutional) for 3 yrs (2012-14)
Total investment £60M, funding
around 220 students p.a. (inc £5k RTSG)
Call open 16 March workshop 23 June
closing 15 Sept 2011
Strategic Alignment
Excellence of Training
Leverage Partnership Concentration
bbsrc.ac.uk/dtp
Summary
Undergraduate
Postgraduate
Postdoctoral
Continuing ProfessionalDevelopment
Image 1 – Tomato seedling iStockphoto/Thinkstock, Image 2 – Fermenter iStockphoto/Thinkstock 2011, Image 3 – Wheat Hermerara/Getty Images, Image 4 –DNAConfig Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Thinkstock, Image 5 – Jersey Cow iStockphoto/Thinkstock, Image 6 – Scientist Comstock / Thinkstock
Any Questions?
www.bbsrc.ac.uk