CEO of Foundation for Arable Research, Dr Scott Champion, has launched their new five-year strategy, replacing one that had timed out.

He says it rests on four pillars: trusted research, development and innovation, extension with impact, building arable sector understanding and an efficient and effective FAR.

Building sector understanding is the departure from past strategies.

“Often beyond the boundaries of the sector, not a lot of people understand it,” he says.

He wants the sector’s role in feeding and seeding the dairy, sheep, and beef sectors to be better recognised.

FAR is leaving policy and advocacy to others like Federated Farmers rather than taking it on, and proposes no change to how the levy is collected.

“It is what it is.”

He took the strategy to the Mid Canterbury arable research group yesterday morning.

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