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AKIS and Advisory Services in the United Kingdom

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AKIS and Advisory Services in the United Kingdom AKIS and advisory services in the United Kingdom Report for the AKIS inventory (WP3) of the PRO AKIS project March 2014 Authors: Katrin Prager & Ken Thomson The James Hutton Institute Contact: [email protected] This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no 311994 Please reference this report as follows: Prager, K.; Thomson, K. (2014): AKIS and advisory services in the United Kingdom. Report for the AKIS inventory (WP3) of the PRO AKIS project. Online resource: www.proakis.eu/publicationsandevents/pubs 1 Executive Summary The main aim of the report is to provide a comprehensive description of the Agricultural Knowledge and Information System (AKIS) in the United Kingdom, with a particular focus on agricultural advisory services. The description includes history, policy, funding, advisory methods and a section on how the Farm Advisory System (FAS) was implemented. This report represents an output of the PRO AKIS project (Prospects for Farmers’ Support: Advisory Services in the European Agricultural Knowledge and Information Systems’). It is one of 27 country reports that were produced in 2013 by project partners and subcontractors for compiling an inventory of Agricultural Knowledge and Information Systems. AKIS describe the exchange of knowledge and supporting services between many diverse actors from the first, second or third sector in rural areas. AKIS provide farmers with relevant knowledge and networks around innovations in agriculture. Findings from the 27 country reports were presented at three regional workshops across Europe in February and March 2014, discussed with stakeholders and experts, and feedback integrated in the reports. The agricultural sector in the United Kingdom is diverse, with about a third of the utilisable agricultural area arable, a third grassland and the remainder rough grazing in the uplands. The main arable crop is cereal; and the livestock sector includes sheep, cattle, poultry and pigs. The number of agricultural holdings (average size in 2012 was 77 ha) and agricultural labour input are decreasing. The UK comprises four “countries”: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Each of the last three have separate administrations, e.g. for agriculture and substantial “devolved” powers. This has consequences for the current AKIS and advisory system in the UK which is characterised by diverse arrangements and increasingly separate knowledge systems in each country. Each country is governed by a discrete set of policy, government departments and agencies, and to a large degree also by discrete sets of NGOs, farmer organisations and private commercial actors. The four systems have in common that they involve a mix of public, private commercial and non-governmental actors, with stronger governmental intervention in the provision of advice in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Public policy on agricultural advice is fragmented, with no overarching national policy. Advice on the agri-environment and public goods is subsidised or fully funded by government, while general business advice, marketing and agronomic advice is paid for by farmers. Evaluations of advisory services have typically been carried out for individual UK countries. These evaluations consistently find that different sources of advice are available and coverage is fairly good, providing reasonable support to farmers. However, there is also a share of farmers who are perceived to be in greatest need of advice who do not access advice. Some evaluations identify a lack of coherence between advisory activities, leading to ‘advice silos’ (where specific advisors provide advice only on specific topics), inefficiencies and duplication. In particular, public and private sector advice is seen to need more joining-up. 2 Contents Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................................... 2 List of Acronyms .......................................................................................................................................... 4 List of Figures .............................................................................................................................................. 5 List of Tables ................................................................................................................................................ 5 1. Main structural characteristics of agricultural sector ............................................................................... 6 2. AKIS Characteristics ................................................................................................................................ 8 2.1 AKIS description ................................................................................................................................ 8 2.2 AKIS diagram .................................................................................................................................. 12 3. History of the advisory system ............................................................................................................... 15 4. Agricultural advisory services ................................................................................................................ 17 4.1 Overview of all service suppliers ..................................................................................................... 17 4.2 State involvement in advisory services: public policy, funding schemes, financing mechanisms ... 18 4.3 Funding ............................................................................................................................................. 20 4.4 Methods and Human resources ........................................................................................................ 20 4.5 Clients and topics ............................................................................................................................. 21 4.6 Linkages with other AKIS actors / knowledge flows ....................................................................... 23 4.7 Programming and Planning of advisory work .................................................................................. 24 5. Characteristic of Farm Advisory System (EC regulation) ..................................................................... 25 5.1 Organisations forming the FAS ........................................................................................................ 25 5.2 Accreditation .................................................................................................................................... 26 5.3 Methods of advice ............................................................................................................................ 27 5.4 Evaluation of implementation of FAS .............................................................................................. 27 6. Summary and Conclusions ..................................................................................................................... 28 7. Acknowledgement of partners, information sources and reflection on methodology ............................ 31 8. References .............................................................................................................................................. 32 9. Appendices ............................................................................................................................................. 34 3 List of Acronyms Acronym Explanation ADAS Agricultural Development and Advisory Services ADE Analysis for Economic Decisions AHDB Agriculture and Development Board AIC Agricultural Industries Confederation AICC Association of Independent Crop Consultants AKIS Agricultural Knowledge and Information/ Innovation Systems AKS Agricultural Knowledge Systems AWU(s) Annual Work Unit(s) BBC British Broadcasting Corporation BBRO British Beet Research Organisation BBSRC Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council BCPC British Crop Production Council BIAC The British Institute of Agricultural Consultants BIS Department for Business, Innovation and Skills CAAV Central Association of Agricultural Valuers CAFRE College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise CAP Common Agricultural Policy DARDNI Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Northern Ireland DECC Department of Energy & Climate Change DEFRA Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs E England FAS Farming Advisory System FBAASS Farm Business Advisor Accreditation Scheme for Scotland FCS Forestry Commission Scotland FWAG Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group GAEC good agricultural and environmental condition GHG Green House Gases GVA Gross Value Added HFCF “the Helping Farmers Comply Forum” IBERS Aberystwyth University ICF Institute of Chartered Foresters JHI James Hutton Institute KT Knowledge Transfer KTN Knowledge Transfer Networks LEADER Links Between Activities Developing the Rural Economy LEAF Linking Environment and Farming MAFF Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food NGO Non-Governmental Organisation NI Northern Ireland NIAB-TAG National Institute of Agricultural Botany NIACA Northern Ireland Agricultural Consultants Association OB Operating Body QMS Quality Meat Scotland R&D Research & Development RDPE Rural Development Programme for England RICS The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
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