The gap between scientific research and the farm gate needs to be reduced, according to speakers at the Crop World conference.

Links between research and the end user were efficient in industries such as medicine, but agriculture had no such clarity, Tina Barsby, chief executive officer for plant science organisation NIAB TAG told conference visitors.

NIAB TAG was working to fill this void by making new genetic material available to plant breeders and filtering knowledge from its scientists to farmers via its team of agronomists, she said.

“We have tried to complete the chain between research and innovation delivered into the industry.”

Plant breeding was the only route to transfer genetic innovation to the farmer and consumer, but royalty incomes were not sufficient for breeders to take risks with genetic material, she added.

Monsanto’s Juan Ferreira agreed that knowledge transfer was crucial. “We are investing in technical development experts in field to help farmers use seeds, fertilisers and agrochemicals as effectively as possible.”

Collaboration with other firms to share genes and traits would be crucial to develop new crops, he added.

The firm had already joined forces with BASF to develop drought tolerance maize which would be launched in 2012 and was part of a non-commercial project to bring these traits to African countries.

Nigel Kirby managing director for Mylnefield Research said plant breeding was crucial as well as links between institutions and countries. “We need long-term partnerships between academics, scientists and end users, locally, nationally and internationally.”

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