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About HGCA

RandD Advisory Committee - Terms of Reference

R&D Advisory Committee
Remit and description of Members' responsibilities

The HGCA R&D Advisory Committee is responsible for driving forward the applied research and development (R&D) and knowledge transfer (KT) programmes fully or partly funded through the cereals and oilseeds levies.  Currently, some £4.5 million of levy funds are invested every year in R&D and KT.  The programmes of R&D and KT aim to improve and enhance the sustainability UK cereals and oilseeds industries including profitability, competitiveness, environmental protection and product safety.  Delivery of information to appropriate stakeholder groups is a primary goal.

The Committee comprises sixteen voting members who are capable of representing the interests of growers, dealers and primary processors of cereals and growers of oilseeds within the UK, plus a representative from Defra and the Board.  They are nominated by representative bodies and appointed by the HGCA Board, with the Chairman and Chief Executive of HGCA as ex officio members. The Committee's primary responsibility is to evaluate and recommend for funding R&D and KT proposals on issues related to aspects of production, harvesting, storage and processing.  The Committee also works to develop the programmes through pro-active commissioning initiatives and plays an important role in directing research strategy. Committee meetings are held three times a year either in London, Stoneleigh or in research establishments throughout the UK.

The strongly interactive philosophy of HGCA means that at any one time numerous discussions with the industry and research community are on-going. Members are expected to represent the interests of their particular sector and to facilitate effective communication between the needs of the sector and the committee. Members will be invited to take a specific interest and develop a sense of 'ownership' of topics and on-going projects relevant to their expertise and/or interests.  This will include participation in monitoring activities, and members are expected to attend at least one of these one-day workshops each year. Attendance at one or more knowledge transfer activities during a year is also expected.

Members are expected to act as ambassadors for the cereals and oilseeds industries in their region and sector and to provide feedback on R&D and KT needs to the research community and the Committee.  Experience with production and/or processing is essential, combined with an aptitude for scientific issues.  Previous or current membership of other technical committees in relevant fields is desirable but not essential. Members are expected to make attendance at meetings a priority.

In line with the Government's policy on openness, and to avoid any conflict of interest, members will be requested to complete a 'declaration of interests' form each year and in addition, are expected to declare any conflict of interest during committee meetings.

Appointments will be for a 3-year period with two terms of office normally being the maximum except in the case of the Chairman.

The Committee is supported by a full-time secretariat.