One of the key factors in creating long term economic growth and competitiveness is the development of a strong innovation system that creates new products, processes and services.Given this, it is surprising to find that there remains uncertainty over the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), based at Aberystwyth University.
According to reports, the Institute faces a £2.4 million deficit and is facing the loss of up to 100 jobs.
This news has come less than four months it was awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education and a commitment, by the University, to use IBERS to address “the important issues in land-based science” and an acknowledgement that it represented best practice in the “seamless connection between scientific research and innovation”.
Universities in Wales are under immense short term financial pressure and are looking to address potential future deficits in their budgets. However, it is inconceivable that the Welsh nation would allow one of its key research centres to be decimated at a time when the food industry is becoming a key issue around the World.
For example, one only has to read the UK Government report on implementing the "Food 2030" strategy to show how IBERS has a future in helping to support the critical future role of the UK's food production and distribution system.
To close IBERS down now would not only be an embarrassment to the Welsh higher education sector but would jeopardise any opportunity to establish a critical mass of research expertise in an area that will be growing in international importance and significance over the next decade. It is therefore imperative that WAG examines how it can support IBERS to continue.
Indeed, if public funds can be used to underwrite projects such as the Millennium Centre or the National Botanic Gardens, then there is no reason why we cannot support a vital national research centre that has the potential to make a real difference to the future economy of Wales.
Comments
We are currently facing an approaching oil supply crisis, increases in food demand from a rising global population and erratic weather patterns due to climate change. We are unable to predict the precise course of these events however we can be in no doubt that they will have a major socio-economic impact. It is now more vital than ever to invest public funding wisely to develop strategies to cope with these challenges which will include adaptation of our energy-intensive agricultural systems and identification of alternatives to petroleum and petroleum derived products.
IBERS, as correctly described in this article, is one of Wales key research institutes with a wealth of expertise in grassland and animal nutrition research that can help address these future concerns. The institute holds extensive collections of grass and legume germplasm and carries out a wide range of breeding programmes. Current research projects include screening these germplasm collections from novel perspectives e.g. improved nutrient uptake, mitigation of nitrogen pollution and green-house gas production by ruminants, sourcing of platform chemicals currently derived from petroleum. Other areas involve production of biofuels and platform chemicals from agricultural waste products and non-arable crops with emphasis on minimising impact on food production. WAG has made a substantial investment in these areas and with current expertise and staffing levels, the institute can support the infrastructure necessary for successful delivery of a pipeline from basic through to applied outputs on these projects. Moreover these projects are carried out in partnership with other Welsh academic institutions, agricultural organisations and Welsh and UK industry and are excellent demonstrations of knowledge transfer from academia through to the agricultural sector and industry.
IBERS was formed in April 2008 following the merger of the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (IGER) with two Aberystwyth University departments, The Institute of Biological Sciences and The Institute of Rural Sciences. The current issue concerns a restructuring plan which involves replacement of a large complement of permanent research staff (70 posts) with a small number of academic staff (13 posts) to create a model based more on a university system than that of a research institute. While the university will undoubtedly be able to attract talented scientists, academic staff generally carry out independent research programmes, largely through short-term contract staff. This is contrary to a research institute model which is based on a team approach involving experienced staff which can address large priority areas through more long-term integrated research programmes. The loss of this number of posts, mainly non-teaching and therefore by implication ex-IGER, must involve a loss of staff with a unique skill set in the areas of breeding and agronomy and also a depletion of the infrastructure necessary for delivery of projects focussed on the end user.
There can be no dispute that there are significant advantages to be gained from merging a research institute with a university department. Such a merger affords valuable training opportunities for students, collaborations which can deliver from basic through to applied research and revitalisation of existing research programmes. However if the merger results in the essential annihilation of one of the merging partners all advantage is lost. If this proposed restructuring plan is carried through to completion, Aberystwyth University may gain in the short term in academic assessment exercises however Wales will lose a vital resource at a time when future planning is more crucial than ever. IBERS cannot provide all the solutions for the future however it can realistically be part of the solution in its current form. Policy makers have to answer to the public, there are many pressures on limited budgets however now is a time for brave decisions which will impact on all our futures.
See http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/media/aber%20research%20english.pdf