Questions from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs:
Clean and safe seas
Determine the socio-economic costs of plastic litter on marine wildlife, ecosystems, and maritime industries. The costs incurred from changing to other materials, including the potential benefits to be made from new industries including small medium-size enterprise.
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, 2021
Biosecurity: protecting animals and plants from health risks
We need to better understand the true value of plants and trees to society and deliver ongoing research to understand and prevent the introduction and spread of threats to UK plants – natural and crops. This include key threats such as Xylella, emerald ash borer, and other risks highlighted on the UK Plant Health Risk Register.
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, 2021
Biosecurity: protecting animals and plants from health risks
The risk of an unknown pandemic human disease (“disease x) has been at the top of the National Risk Register for some time and been realised this year in the shape of COVID-19. Two thirds of new human infectious diseases originate in animals. How can we better understand and prepare for future threats? How can we better join up animal and human health research, capability, and digital backbone across government to facilitate agile responses?
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, 2021
Biosecurity: protecting animals and plants from health risks
How can we use digital innovation and precision farming techniques to measure animal health and welfare outcomes for livestock, and to provide early warning of livestock disease and health threats?
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, 2021
Biosecurity: protecting animals and plants from health risks
How can we better understand and prevent the development of antimicrobial and anthelmintic resistance? How can we develop better diagnostic tests to encourage more judicious use of antimicrobials and anthelmintics?
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, 2021
Biosecurity: protecting animals and plants from health risks
Endemic animal diseases undermine agricultural productivity, negatively impacting animal welfare, farmers’ livelihoods, public health, and threaten trade. Increased research into improved methods of detection and control of bovine TB and other such endemic diseases remains a priority for Defra
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, 2021
Biosecurity: protecting animals and plants from health risks
How can we enable better biosecurity standards and behaviours to control and minimise the impact of disease and pests? how can we build systems that are resilient to introductions of pests and diseases and that can support adaptation and recovery? How can we breed animals and plants which are resistant to key diseases?
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, 2021
Sustainable food and farming
What data and evidence are needed to inform policy and delivery and what are the best sources to meet these needs? How can we improve broad access to this data and enhance knowledge exchange across the agri-food industry?
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, 2021