The innovators

摘要

How governments invest in agricultural research and innovation plays a pivotal part in shaping what types of food we produce and consume. Given the challenges our global food system is likely to face in the coming century, it's crucial that we ensureorganic and agro-ecological approaches are at the heart of innovative and progressive farming. Ours is a radically different approach from that of the system dominated by large industrial interests and science labs and reliant on GM crops, chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilisers. Our vision starts with the real needs of farmers and the public, and fully involves them in finding humane and workable solutions. As Churchill said, the science should be 'on tap, not on top'. Sometimes our work has seemed focused on blocking the worst products of a broken research system - our campaigns against GM, the over-use of antibiotics in livestock farming or mega-farms.