AgriSA, component project (CP) 6, will be the hub where the information and results from all Mistra Biotech’s component projects are processed and where overall syntheses are performed, fed back to the other CP’s, and communicated with different stakeholder groups.
Agriculture is a socio-ecological system that is influenced by the society’s goals and the citizens’ values as well as biophysical conditions and the availability of different types of resources (genetic material, nutrients, water etc.). The work in AgriSA focuses on whole production systems and stretches across disciplines within the human, agricultural, natural, and social sciences, in order to understand and facilitate the implementation of sustainable food production using biotechnology as a tool.
AgriSA will constitute a platform for integration of sustainability issues related to the use of biotechnology in agriculture, and form a centre for discussions, analyses and syntheses. Thematic working groups will address cross-cutting research questions. Here scientists from all the Mistra Biotech projects, as well as from other research projects and groups, will contribute together with stakeholders and experts on food production systems and methods for systems analyses (for example scenario development, life cycle assessment, and cost-benefit analysis).
User involvement in planning as well as implementation of the activities in AgriSA and the other Mistra Biotech projects is vital for the success of the programme. Consequently, different stakeholders will play important roles in Mistra Biotech during the whole programme.
AgriSA will be responsible for the field evaluation of the performance of the new and improved crops produced by CP1 and 2. The novel crops will be tested for winter hardiness, nutrient use efficiency, pathogen resistance and product quality. The evaluation will be done together with stakeholders and scientists from the CP’s investigating ethical aspects, consumer behaviour and governance and regulations. Additionally, the sustainability of plant and animal breeding will be assessed in a production system perspective.
AgriSA employ both a strategic and a responsive approach. We will play an important role in identifying strategic investments to be made during phase 1 (years 1-4) and prepare for phase 2 (years 5-8) of the Mistra Biotech programme.
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