Fresh fields for AgResearch CEO

Andy West has regularly championed the value of science in agriculture, and leaves his position as chief executive of AgResearch with some business unfinished.

Dr West caught most people by surprise last week by announcing his resignation from a position he has held for six years, saying it was time for him to have a fresh challenge and for the crown research institute (CRI) to have a new leader to revitalise itself.

During his tenure, Dr West used his position to remind the country of the importance of agriculture and science, and in an interview after announcing his resignation outlined three specific challenges for his successor.

The first was to ensure AgResearch took the opportunity to be a major player in the Government and industry initiative, the Primary Growth Partnership, designed to invest in significant programmes of research and innovation to boost the economic growth and sustainability of New Zealand's primary, forestry and food sectors.

Dr West also reiterated his plea to ensure scientists' pay was equal to other professions in New Zealand, saying too few young people were embarking on PhDs, meaning CRIs had to rely on and compete for scientists from overseas.

Equally, investment was needed in laboratories and equipment to underpin New Zealand science.

His other hobbyhorse was the lack of money being invested in science, which at 1.2% of GDP, was the same today as in 1988.

Australia invested 1.2% of its GDP in science in 1988, but that had now grown to 2%.

"We have to improve our rate of investment and it needs to form part of a deeper economic strategy."

Underlying those concerns was the requirement to develop technology to feed a growing population, while also dealing with the impacts of accelerating climate change.

As an example, Dr West said the impact of an average 4degC warming of the planet would be most severe in the grain-growing regions of the world, pushing temperatures at key stages of plant growth over 30degC, potentially collapsing yields.

"AgResearch and research and development organisations around the world will have a very important role to play," he said.

At the time of his appointment as AgResearch chief executive, the organisation had been pursuing a policy of focusing on life sciences.

In line with board policy, he redirecting the CRI to once again focus on primary production, and to develop closer relationships with the dairy sector.

During his tenure Dr West closed Wallaceville research centre near Wellington and oversaw the development of both the Christie Centre at Invermay, which specialises in reproduction genomics, and the Hopkirk Centre at Palmerston North.

AgResearch also bought Canesis to extend research into proteins, material science, textiles and wool.

Dr West said his resignation took effect from June 30 after which he would look for science and technology opportunities in the private and public sectors.