§ Mr. Tom ClarkeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are his current plans for the future of the Natural Resources Institute.
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§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson) on 26 January at columns272-73. The study of ownership options is continuing and no decision has yet been reached. Meanwhile, restructuring is in train.
§ Mr. Tom ClarkeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) in which programmes staff, proposed for redundancy by the Natural Resources Institute in the course of 1994, are currently involved; and what the effect on these programmes of the proposed redundancies is expected to be;
(2) what aid projects and which developing countries benefit from the work done at the Natural Resources Institute on (a) oilseeds and (b) mycotoxins;
(3) how many staff at each grade the Natural Resources Institute proposes to make redundant in the course of 1994;
(4) what programmes of research are currently undertaken by the Natural Resources Institute; and how each programme will be affected by his plans for the institute's future development.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydResponsibility for the subject of the questions has been delegated to the Natural Resources Institute under its chief executive, Mr. Anthony Beattie. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from A. Beattie to Mr. Tom Clarke, dated 18 April 1994:
Mr. Lennox-Boyd has replied to the first of the five questions about NRI which you put down for written reply on 14 April. I have been asked to reply to the remainder. If I might take your questions in a slightly different order to that in which they were asked, dealing first with No. 79, the Institute is engaged in programmes of applied and adaptive research which, in line with the objectives of the Aid Programme and of ODA's Renewable Natural Resources Research Strategy, seek to help developing countries to improve the productivity and sustainable management of their natural resources. The Institute is presently undertaking research in some 13 programme areas as listed at Enclosure 1.As an executive agency, NRI undertakes research on a customer-contractor basis and its activities are accordingly shaped by the requirements of its clients, notably ODA and other major aid agencies. The priorities of these clients are bound to change over time and this will be reflected in the pattern of demand for the Institute's services. Thus it is not so much a question of how plans for future development will affect a pre-determined set of research activities, but rather how the Institute can best be adapted to respond flexibly and effectively to the changing requirements of its clients.You have asked specifically (No. 72) what aid projects and which developing countries benefit from work done here on oilseeds and mycotoxins. Details are provided in Enclosure 2.More generally, you have asked (No. 78) how many staff, by grade, are proposed for redundancy in 1994, which areas of work they are involved in and what the effect on existing programmes will be.Under a programme of staff reductions announced earlier this year a total of 49 posts have been abolished. A breakdown by grade is at Enclosure 3. As individual members of staff are likely to contribute to more than one programme of research I have 499W provided a breakdown by a broad strategy area rather than specific research programme. Details in response to question No. 70 are also at Enclosure 3. In all but six cases, this reduction in staff numbers has been achieved by voluntary means. It is likely that further reductions will be needed in due course, but the scale and timing of these have still to be determined.The staff reduction programme is based on a careful analysis of the skills available at NRI and developing patterns of demand for these skills. As mentioned above our concern is with adapting the skill-base to match demand. This is essential if we are to continue to meet the needs of our clients and to maintain the Institute's reputation as a multi-disciplinary centre of excellence in a competitive and evolving field of activity.I should of course be glad to provide any further information you may require.Areas of research in which NRI is presently engaged, grouped by strategy area:
Resource Assessment and Farming Systems
- Resource assessment
- Agronomy and cropping systems
- Livestock production
- Forestry
- Socio-economics
Integrated Pest Management
- Pest management for annual and perennial crops
- Component technologies for pest management
- Adaptive research in integrated pest management
- Biological systems and functional variability
Food Science and Crop Utilisation
- Horticulture and tree crops
- Food security in cereals and pulses
- Fisheries and aquatic resources
- Forest products, oilseeds, edible nuts and fibres
NRI's work on oilseeds and mycotoxins
INTRODUCTION
NRI's work on oilseeds and mycotoxins spans a wide range of activities and benefits, both directly and indirectly, many developing countries. It is principally funded by ODA's Natural Resources Research Department and feeds into bilateral and multi-lateral development programmes. The following is a synopsis of activities which have been carried out over the last year or so.Oilseeds
The focus of work has been principally on the two priority commodities of ODA's Renewable Natural Resources Research Strategy: groundnuts and coconuts. Total expenditure in 1993–94 from all funding sources was approximately £325,000.Advisory and representation
In the last year over 240 inquiries were received from 36 countries on oilseeds processing and utilisation, mainly from Latin America. Africa and Asia. Several international conferences were attended and research and development findings disseminated.Training
In 1993 eight personnel from Ghana, Indonesia, Morocco, Peru, The Philippines, Sri Lanka and Turkey were trained in various aspects of oilseeds, oils and fats.PROJECT ACTIVITIES
Agronomic, pest control and plant pathology:
assisting in improving oilseeds production at the Lumle
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Analysis of (job) redundancies by grade and strategy area Enclosure 3 Grade Resource assessment and farming systems Integrated pest management Food science and crop utilisation Social sciences group Corporate services Grade total Grade 6 — 1 — — — 1 Grade 7 1 — 5 — — 6 Senior Scientific Officer 1 3 6 — 2 12 Higher Scientific Officer 2 — 3 — — 5 Scientific Officer 1 1 5 — — 7 Assistant Scientific Officer 2 — — — — 2 Higher Executive Officer — — — — 1 1 Executive Officer — — — — 3 3 Administrative Officer — — — — 3 3 Personal Secretary — 1 1 2 1 5
and Pakribas Agricultural Centres in Nepal;a study on oilseeds in mixed cropping systems in lowland tropical forest margins;a pest control manual for groundnuts (China, India and other producing countries);work on lethal yellowing and wilt disorder of coconuts (Zanzibar and West Africa);collaboration with CGIAR in India on groundnut rosette virus and vector control.Processing and development:
stemming from socio-economic, marketing and technical studies, the introduction of new and improved methods of small-scale processing of oilseeds mainly in rural areas, with particular emphasis on smallholder farmers, traders and gender issues (Tanzania, The Gambia, Ghana, Zimbabwe, India, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Indonesia, Solomon Islands). This work is part-funded by the United Nations' Common Fund for Commodities;development of analytical techniques, and training in product analysis and quality control, including trade assessments.Mycotoxins
Over the past year the control of mycotoxins in foods and feeds has been pursued at NRI through some nineteen projects. The range of commodities studied includes cereals, oilseeds, edible nuts, spices and livestock feeds from numerous countries. Total expenditure from all funding sources in 1993–94 was approximately £375,000.Advisory and representation
Over 130 enquiries were received from 30 countries on mycotoxins over the last year, mainly from Asia, Africa and Latin America. Staff attended several international conferences to disseminate information and served on several United Kingdom and EC Committees dealing with mycotoxins.Training
In 1993 four analysts from Brazil, Philippines and Saudi Arabia were trained in mycotoxin analysis.PROJECT ACTIVMES
The Institute's mycotoxins work involves the establishment, of Mycotoxin Centres in developing countries, with fully equipped and trained personnel; and the utilisation of these Centres in the identification and control of mycotoxin contamination, using multi-disciplinary teams.Centres have been established in Pakistan, India, Thailand and Philippines. This approach is supported by a research programme which focuses upon the development of methods (sampling and analysis) for the surveillance of mycotoxins and the development and testing of control (including chemical detoxification) procedures.Work carried out over the last year includes:
501Wstudies on sampling procedures for monitoring bulk shipments of livestock feed ingredients and on methods for the analysis of moulds and mycotoxins in a variety of foods and feeds. The findings assist in the formulation of quality standards and legislation. This work has been partly funded by the EC and MAFF;a study of the effect of commercial chemical detoxicification procedures on the transmission of mycotoxins into milk;setting up a Mycotoxin Centre in Bangladesh;establishing a strategy for the quality control of pistachio nuts in Turkey;surveillance studies in Honduras, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Grade Resource assessment and farming systems Integrated pest management Food science and crop utilisation Social sciences group Corporate services Grade total Typist — — 1 — 1 2 Support Grade Band 1 — — 1 — — 1 Support Grade Band 2 — — 1 — — 1 Strategy area total 7 6 23 2 11 49