ABSTRACT
Having set the book in context in the Introduction, we would now like to explore the various factors that affect and influence agricultural research, from the political environment through to what motivates individuals carrying out the work. We can explore this with some very simple questions:
Why is agricultural research carried out? Is it to provide information to solve a problem, to develop new ideas or to expand on existing ones? Is it to ‘move things forward’, to provide opportunities for wealth creation, to ‘keep ahead of the game’?
What drives agricultural research? Is it a need generated within the industry? And if so, at what level? Is the research self-motivating through the personal ambition and motivation of the researchers? Or is it politically motivated, either through national or international collaboration, or some technological need or support for industry? Or is it simply profit driven?
Who determines what drives agricultural research? Is it ‘technology push’ seeking to employ research through the development of techniques and materials looking for applications, or ‘market pull’ in which the need is identified by industry which then seeks a solution through research?
How closely is the research matched to the need? Who decides and how are the two brought together? Who monitors this decision and the provision of solutions through research?
Who ensures effective use of funds, time, labour and facilities, and who monitors this? Is there any accountability involved?
How are the objectives for the research set and who sets them? Who sets the objectives for the funding agencies and are the objectives based on requirements in the real world, perhaps in industry, or to serve a pressing need and, as such, recognized as being essential? Are the objectives influenced by the needs, aspirations or requirements of the scientist? Or are they politically driven, perhaps to satisfy a demand from the public, to gain parliamentary popularity, or for so called political correctness? They may even be strongly influenced by what is thought to be popular or trendy.
