Innovation in agriculture comes under the spotlight
Academics from the University of Edinburgh and the Open University in the UK are to collaborate with European colleagues in an EC-funded initiative to look at the effects of various policies on technological innovation in the agrochemical, biotechnological and seeds sectors. The areas to be investigated include policies relating to international trade, innovation in agriculture-related industries, environmental protection, and wildlife biodiversity in arable farming areas. The research aims to promote the uptake of 'cleaner' technology for intensive agriculture and will be undertaken with partners from The Netherlands, France, Spain, Denmark and Austria. The study will analyse policies and market-related factors relevant to agriculture and other similar industries. It will also look at the way these factors affect company decision -making, employment and international competitiveness. The industry-based section of the research will take in all the major multinational companies operating in Europe, including those based in Switzerland, all relevant trade associations, public sector research establishments and small companies, where appropriate.