Labour’s so-called ‘Fast Forward Fund’ has come at the eleventh hour, at a time when investment in scientific research in general, and in particular pastoral research, has eroded in real dollar terms over many years.

John Key has said, ‘National will make long-term commitments to research and development’, which will provide certainty to the sector. He has also said, ‘National will make a significant increase in funding for agriculture R&D.’

National does not think the fund as described is the optimal vehicle. We support funding models that encourage partnership between government and industry, but we are not convinced the fund is the best model for achieving this collaboration.

A major problem is that it is not known how much will be available annually. As National Party’s Bill English found, the fund is likely to provide only $20 million for research in the first year – a far cry from the $85m to $100m promised by Helen Clark.

National recognises the search for a science-based solution to agriculture climate change challenges is a critical goal. We are aware from scientific literature that solutions to mitigate emissions from ruminant animals are challenging, but we consider that New Zealand, with the largest number of scientists anywhere in the world looking at this question, is the best place for this research to be led.

We are also aware the challenge must be to seek effective sustainable reduction of all on-farm greenhouse gas emissions.

National is cognisant that agriculture is the backbone of our economy and that scientific research around it is vital for our future productivity and innovation. We will announce investment in both pastoral and food initiatives that will invite partnering with leading industry players.

It is important to remember Labour’s track record. A former Labour Prime Minister stated ‘agriculture is a sunset industry’. Despite the strong recommendations of the Knowledge Wave Trust in 2001-02, Labour overrode those recommendations with other massive spending priorities.

In the Speech from the Throne after the 2005 election, it was stated ‘My government believes that science and innovation are critical to driving our prosperity’. However, in the 2006 budget, of the new spending over $2.5b per year was committed to areas that some would argue will only lead to intergenerational welfare dependency. In stark contrast, a meagre $19.4m of new money was invested in Science Research and Technology (RS&T).

Public investment in R&D as a percentage of GDP has fallen over the last eight years to 0.5% of GDP (average OECD 0.67%). Business expenditure on R&D is one third of the OECD average.

The recent open letter from 460 of New Zealand’s leading scientists and academics stated ‘we’re falling behind, it’s a slow bureaucracy catastrophe’. The Fast Forward Fund will do little for basic research.

Not only has investment in science fallen, but evidence suggests there has been significant outcome and management problems in recent years.

An appraisal of the Crown Research Institutions 1992-2002 showed an increase in shareholder equity of 105.6% (from $156m to $320m). However, recent figures show negligible increase in equity in the last five years (from $320m to only $339m). Labour’s poor succession planning leaves 23 positions to be filled in the year’s round for directors of the nine CRIs.

National is deeply committed to our pastoral and food innovation sectors. We will unveil our plans for a real step change in investment in Science, Technology, Research and Development in the coming months.

Dr Paul Hutchison is National’s spokesman for Science R&D, Tertiary Education.