Objective Technological innovation in the agrochemical, biotechnology and seeds industries and in associated public sector research establishments (PSREs) has the potential to deliver more socially and environmentally sustainable farming systems and to improve the quality of life in Europe. However, interactions and gaps in the policy, regulatory and market environments of these organisations can discourage or delay such improvements. The project will investigate these issues as follows: (i) a study of major influences on industry and PSRE decision making, including policies and regulations at national, regional and EU levels, as well as the demands of food processors, retailers, public opinion and attitudes (market-related factors); (ii) (the core of the project) an investigation of the impact of such issues on the strategies and decisions of companies, trade organizations and PSREs, focusing on decisions about product development, levels of investment and location of investment; and (iii) a study of the outcomes of these decisions, as reflected in effects on European and international competitiveness, employment levels and the sustainability and biodiversity of European intensive agriculture. The results from the project will be fed back to policy makers at national and EU levels and to managers in companies and PSREs to facilitate future development and implementation of policies in these areas. Partners will be based in the UK (including overall coordination), Netherlands (including coordination of policy-related research), France (including coordination of industry studies), Spain and Denmark. Deliverables will include reports on policy and market-related factors relevant to decision making in industry and PSREs, reports on strategic decision making in industry and its outcomes for industry and more widely, an integrated overall report, a PITA database and summary reports. We will also produce information packs for policy, industry and PSRE decision makers. The strength and novelty of this project lies in - its breadth, including the focus on interactions among a range of policies; - the relationship between policy and practice in the industries concerned; - the follow-through to competitiveness, employment, biodiversity and sustainability implications; and - the feedback to policy makers and other decision makers. For these reasons it will provide a significant new contribution to policy analysis and development at regional, national, EU and international levels. Fields of science agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturesustainable agriculturenatural sciencescomputer and information sciencesdatabasesnatural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystemssocial scienceseconomics and businessbusiness and managementemployment Programme(s) FP4-TSER - Specific programme of targeted socio-economic research, 1994-1998 Topic(s) 0102 - Evaluation of the inter-relations between short and medium-term needs and socio-economic changes and new scientific and technological developments Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator THE OPEN UNIVERSITY EU contribution No data Address Walton Hall MK7 6AA MILTON KEYNES United Kingdom See on map Total cost No data Participants (8) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all Dienst Landbouwkundig Onderzoek Netherlands EU contribution No data Address 2502 LS Den Haag See on map Total cost No data INSTITUTO DE DESARROLLO REGIONAL Spain EU contribution No data Address 35,Avenida San Francisco Javier 24 41018 SEVILLA See on map Total cost No data Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique France EU contribution No data Address Centre de Recherche d'Avignon 38040 Grenoble See on map Total cost No data International Centre for Human & Public Affairs Netherlands EU contribution No data Address 25,P. Smitsstraat 25 5014 RH Tilburg See on map Total cost No data QAP DECISION S.A.R.L. France EU contribution No data Address Chèteau Jail 38570 THEYS See on map Total cost No data Sydjysk Universitetcenter Denmark EU contribution No data Address 9,Niels Bohrs Vej 6700 Esbjerg Ø See on map Total cost No data UNIVERSITY OF MAASTRICHT Netherlands EU contribution No data Address 49,Tongersestraat 49 6200 MD MAASTRICHT See on map Total cost No data University of Edinburgh United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address Old Surgeons Hall EH1 1LZ Edinburgh See on map Total cost No data