Challenges for Research in the Field of Agricultural Economics in the UK

Abstract

Research challenges for agricultural economics in the United Kingdom (UK) can be classified under issues, methods and resources. Under issues, those of environmental land management (e.g. for landscape, biodiversity, outdoor access) have received most attention, along with questions of food security, and of animal health and welfare. In contrast, farm management has been relatively neglected, in line with the traditional (and government-shared) inclination towards economic liberalism. In terms of methods, new concepts, such as multifunctionality, payments for ecosystem services, and environmental valuation techniques, have predominated, with relatively little effort to model the EU Common Agricultural Policy. Resource issues have primarily arisen from the rather radical restructuring (including closure of many UK agricultural faculties) and stringent procedures (e.g. research assessment exercises) within the current and increasingly competitive UK university system. In this context, new staff, as well as ideas and funding, have often been sought, and gained, from elsewhere in the European Union.