Dr Jonathan Birnie, Head of Agriculture & Research for Dunbia has published a Nuffield Scholar Report entitled “Facilitating change within the red meat chain through knowledge transfer, feedback and technology uptake.”
During the course of the Nuffied Scholarship Programme, Dr Birnie visited New Zealand, Australia, USA, Canada and China, taking in views from many different parts of the food supply chain along the way.
The main purpose of the report was to study current methods of knowledge transfer to the farming supply base, and to study the factors which encourage or discourage understanding and
implementation.
Dr Birnie has concluded that the key component to unlocking farm improvement is through effective on farm data gathering, local or remote interpretation and the provision of simple and direct ongoing advice from easily accessible experts. Technology has a major part to play in increasing data collection, interpretation and provision of advice. Maximising automation of this process will deliver fastest progress. The technology must be both simple to use and cost effective. Progress will be accelerated when farmers can measure the effect of changes they make and relate this to a financial return.
Dr Birnie’s full Nuffield report can be accessed via http://www.nuffieldscholar.org/news/jonathan-birnie-report-published-/
