Farmer Scientist Network
About Us
The future is bright for agriculture globally and it is essential that we here in the UK can build on the expertise of our scientists and farmers to catalyse innovation across the industry. The Yorkshire Agricultural Society has an excellent track record of success in bringing science and farming together, and developing research and educational programmes to inform the wider society of the importance of agriculture to every aspect of our lives.
Our aim is to work with the crop and livestock sectors to find new ways in which science and technology can find solutions and underpin innovation in agriculture.
Members include
- Professional scientists with a track record of academic excellence and commitment to strategic research related to agriculture and land-use
- Senior representatives from relevant governmental organisations
- Farmers spanning small and large successful businesses in the region, with entrepreneurial skills recognised by national awards and strong personal commitments to the future success of British agriculture.
The FSN works with YAS to advise policymakers in the UK and beyond on issues such as farming practices, food security, sustainable productivity and the ways in which new science and technology can solve problems and underpin innovation in agriculture.
Our goal is sustainable productivity, encouraging and supporting the changes that are urgently needed to bring innovation into farming.
Together we can achieve sustainable success for the industry and for society.
The Farmer Scientist Network has teamed up with award-winning Yorkshire farmer Angus Gowthorpe to successfully secure funds through the Farming Innovation Programme delivered by InnovateUK, to design and develop an independent farmers’ guide to cover crops species selection, establishment, and termination. Photograph taken by Simon Hill.
Click here for more details and email Holly Jones at hollyj@yas.co.uk for further updates.
The Farmer-Scientist Network has successfully completed a project funded by the European Innovation Partnership (EIP-AGRI) which delivered a wheat trial over a four-year period to investigate whether biocontrol’s could be used as an alternative to biopesticide use, with the basic question: Do biocontrol’s work to tackle pests and disease on winter wheat?
Results and final discussions can be viewed on the ‘Results’ section of the dedicated website via the link below. Alternatively, watch our results webinar here.
The European Agricultural Fund or Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas
The European Agricultural Fund or Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas
The Farmer-Scientist Network successfully secured grant funding through the European Innovation Partnership (EIP-AGRI) to develop a participatory approach where hill sheep farmers from Yorkshire and Cumbria identify a relevant disease issue and gain support in finding solutions through meetings, gathering evidence, getting the right advice and sharing with others what they have learnt. The current area of focus for the project the reduction and eradication of Liver Fluke disease.
The European Agricultural Fund or Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas
The European Agricultural Fund or Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas
Our Management Team
| Dr Dave George (Chair) | Newcastle University |
| Prof Jonathan Leake (Vice Chair) | University of Sheffield |
| Holly Jones (Network Coordinator) | Yorkshire Agricultural Society |
| Prof Lisa Collins | University of Leeds |
| Mike Powley | Mixed Farmer |
| Ellie Sweetman | National Institute of Agricultural Botany |
| Peter Trickett | Mixed Farmer |
