MAF POLICY FUNDED OPERATIONAL RESEARCH IN PROGRESS 1998/99
MAF Policy is responsible for providing the Minister for Food, Fibre, Biosecurity and Border Control with policy advice on a wide range of issues. Sound policy advice is built on a foundation of robust data. Where there is a lack of suitable information MAF may seek to contract a research group to provide it. This type of research, which provides information to assist in policy development, is known as "operational research".
Operational research is funded through departmental votes and established by chief executives to:
- support policy advice to Ministers;
- assist with the execution of statutory duties;
- support purchasing decisions;
- evaluate practice, programmes or policies funded by other organisations/departments;
- support departmental advisory services to industry or the community; and
- support the production of specific outputs which are agreed between chief executives of departments and their Minister, and appear in the departments’ corporate plan.
Some specific recent examples include; the development of diagnostic techniques for fruit fly to assist in protecting New Zealand’s horticultural industry; public perceptions and issues in the biological control of possums and rabbits; pen configuration for sheep-carrying ships protecting trade; cost-benefit analysis model for pest risk analysis; and determining the levels of methane produced by ruminants to gather inventory data enabling New Zealand to meet international obligations concerning greenhouse gases.
MAF reviewed its operational research system during 1996/97 to enhance its effectiveness. Six priority research categories (below) were established and scored by MAF staff against a model comprising high level criteria of MAF’s need for research information and strategic fit to MAF goals. The model was developed using a Visual Interactive Sensitivity Analysis computer package in association with Victoria Link Ltd. These priority categories should assist science providers in determining the type of research MAF Policy is likely to fund over the next five years. MAF will be reconsidering these priorities over the next year in response to recent changes in its responsibilities.
Research currently being carried out under contract is covered in the following outcome-driven categories:
- Facilitating horticultural market access;
- Facilitating agricultural market access;
- Maintaining horticultural security;
- Maintaining agricultural security;
- Promoting industry and rural community performance; and
- Facilitating resource management.
Research proposals on animal welfare were assessed under a number of categories, indicated by their identifier letters. These have been separated out in this document for ease of access.
SUMMARY OF RESEARCH PORTFOLIO
Figure 1
OPERATIONAL RESEARCH
To underpin MAF Policy advice and operational responsibilities
($1.8 million GST inclusive)
Fig 2
Possum Bovine Tb Research
($2.9 million GST Inclusive)
Contact for Enquiries
Farm Monitoring Programme Manager
Monitoring and Evaluation
MAF Policy
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 4 894 0623
Fax: +64 4 894 0741
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