Production Systems - OMAFRA Strategic Research Themes

Table of Contents

1.0 Description and Scope of this Theme

1.1 The Approach

1.2 Theme Description

2.0 Context and Background for this Theme

2.1 Key Assumptions

2.2 Trends and Opportunities, Issues and Barriers

2.3 Dependencies and Linkage with the Theme

3.0 Research Areas and Priorities for this Theme

3.1 The Approach

3.2 Description of Research Areas

• High Priority
• Medium Priority

4.0 Critical Success Factors

4.1 Factors Over Which We Have Reasonable Control

5: Other Related Considerations and Recommendations

 

1.0 Description and Scope of this Theme

 

1.1 The Approach

 

For farmers:

1. How can I enhance my farm productivity and profitability? (economic stability, and new challenges/opportunities)

2. How can I adapt to societal or external pressures and variables? (links to other themes)
   

 

For researchers:

1. What do we need to do to answer these questions for farmers? ("reverse engineering" i.e. when the market or society provides the direction, Production Systems research engages to provide the solution.)
   

 

1.2 Theme Description

First and foremost, Production Systems research must focus on production research and profitable agriculture. Secondly the Production Systems research capacity can be employed to incorporate the needs of other themes into profitable systems.

The Production Systems Theme encompasses the development of agricultural production systems that will enhance profitability of agricultural production, while incorporating issues, opportunities and advances arising from related research areas that address the greater societal milieu within which production agriculture operates, including environmental sustainability, emergency management, end product expectations with regard to food (healthy eating) and non-food (industrial ) uses, value chain opportunities and government agriculture and economic development policy directions.

 

2.0 Context and Background for this Theme

2.1 Key Assumptions

• There is benefit to OMAFRA funding research throughout the applied to basic continuum, with the more critical question being whether the research could be tied to some potential economic gain. The focus of Production Systems research should be on supporting good science that will have a market at the end (must have an economic end-target.
• Public genetic improvement programs are needed in this theme for some, but not all crops. The strong resource and research base in the private sector is concentrated in genetically modified traits in 3 major crops, soybeans, corn and canola. There are many examples where Ontario based plant breeding has not only put Ontario in a more competitive position but has also had global impacts from the research. Examples include the Millennium variety of asparagus, in high demand and paying significant royalties to the industry and Yukon Gold potato that is the most widely grown variety in the world. This type of public research is vital to the fruit and vegetable industry in Ontario, where very little private research is done.
• Economics should be the key driver of Production Systems research, supported by the objectives of sector stability and prevention of lost opportunities.
• Opportunities for future markets or product utilization advancements could be undermined if struggling commodities received less research.

2.2 Trends and Opportunities, Issues and Barriers

Agriculture will continue to be a major economic engine in Ontario, with enhanced returns from the bioproducts and food for health fields.

Agricultural input costs will remain high and there will be plenty of impetus to reduce input use.

Food safety and traceability will continue to attract a great deal of attention and will demand research.

There will continue to be new and alien animal and plant disease and pest threats, affecting production, human health and impacting trade opportunities. At the present time, all livestock species have their own challenges, whether it is Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), Johne's, BSE, etc., they are all impacted by something.

Climate change will create both opportunities and challenges.

Markets will source agricultural products to address many societal challenges in addition to nutrition. Most of those challenges will involve the utilization of components in familiar crops and livestock, but others will require the introduction of new specialized traits into those products or the adaptation of new crops to Ontario conditions.

The future is not necessarily represented by large, specialized farms. Some foresee an agricultural sector in Ontario with opportunity for smaller and more diverse farm operations and for farms serving niche and innovation markets.

 

2.3 Dependencies and Linkage with the Theme

Linkages between the research themes are viewed as the most critical factor determining the success of OMAFRA funded research. Few of the challenges facing Ontario agriculture or the opportunities which exist can be addressed under a single theme.

Researchers should develop communication channels across research areas and with the private sector.

Successful research outcomes will be dependent on linkages between research institutions and the members of those institutions as well as between research funding organizations including farm organizations.

Staying abreast of global developments will require researcher contact with experts in trade, global marketing, global economic matters, etc.

It is also important to be connected with research being done elsewhere.

 

3.0 Research Areas and Priorities for this Theme

 

3.1 The Approach

The high priority areas of Productions Systems research are considered the most critical because the issues they address fall within the responsibility of government. Animal and Plant Health and the Impact of Agriculture on the Environment are closely tied to societal priorities, are often related to government regulatory schemes, involve Ontario specific challenges and are supported to a smaller extent by private sector research. On that basis, there is a strong justification for public sector research.

The continued priority of production efficiency relates to the significant economic contribution of agriculture to Ontario's economy, and to the interrelatedness of efficiency research and the three other high priorities. Being positioned to address the needs in the other three high priority fields requires investment in production agriculture research.

Product quality improvement and product diversification were rated as medium priorities because, although very important, they did not have the same degree of alignment with the government mandate, they are areas where the private sector injects more research and influence, and they are somewhat less critical.

Genetic technologies and reproductive technologies competency were added because these technologies act together as a platform for success in the high and medium priority areas.

 

3.2 Description of Research Areas

High Priority

 

A Plant Protection

• Invasive alien species (weed, pathogen, and insect management)

• Pesticide resistance

• Controlling spread of pest, pathogens and myco-toxins - for human and animal/crop health

• Diagnostic techniques and disease surveillance methods

 

B Animal Health and Welfare

• Production limiting diseases (incl. detection methods - e.g., prions)

• Zoonotic diseases (linked to Emergency Management Theme)

• Animal welfare/behaviour

• Antimicrobial resistance and the use of non-antibiotic therapeutics

• Emerging and foreign animal diseases

• Biosecurity and traceability

• Diagnostic techniques and disease surveillance methods

 

C Production Efficiency

• Profit enhancement and improved efficiencies
• Reductions in labour
• Energy saving technologies and processe
• Reduced input costs
• More efficient use of land, labour, energy, etc
• Waste stream reduction and reuse
• Alternate livestock feeds

 

D Environmental/Ecosystem Impact

• Resource use, including water management

• Environmental impacts on natural and man made environments

• Alternate pollinators

• Alternate energy generation

• Climate change induced challenges and opportunities

• Reduction of harmful emissions

• Maintain biodiversity

 

Medium Priority

E Product Quality Improvement

• The introduction of traits for human health (Omega in eggs or milk)

• The introduction of traits to enhance value - (higher oil content)

• New markets or new products

• Storability and post harvest extension/shelf life

 

F Product Diversification

• Biomass production and use

• New product development and associated production systems

• Climate change response - different crops, or different production strategies

• Expansion of crop production to different land

• Platform Competency and Capacity

 

G Genetic Technologies and Reproductive Technologies

• This is a key "how?" rather than "what?" of 1) to 6)

• Developing new products and specialty crops

• Enhancing the marketability of existing products

• Improved productivity - disease resistance or drought tolerance

• Gene pool retention

 

4.0 Critical Success Factors

 

4.1 Factors Over Which We Have Reasonable Control:

• Money: The provision of adequate research funding and the assignment of that money in the most beneficial manner will be critical to achieving success.

• Smarts: The ability to select strategic areas of focus and to select research projects that have demonstrated science quality and relevance to the sector; the ability to target research.

• Infrastructure: Physical research infrastructure and high quality people with a track record of delivering results.

• Others mentioned: networking (including globally) and collaboration/facilitation with other research groups, stable workforce and ability to achieve tech transfer.
  

 

5: Other Related Considerations and Recommendations

There is enough concern about the regulatory burden on agriculture to raise it as an outstanding issue, even though it does not form part of the Productions Systems Theme. It is noted here to highlight its importance and to recommend that it form part of the agricultural policy theme.