2015 was a good year; 2016 will continue to ride the good wave

Here, at the turn of the year, it is nice that we can look back on an eventful, productive and dynamic year and look forward to a period with more of the same good progress.

First of all, let’s take a look at the past year. All told, 2015 was a good year for AGRO, although we must admit that it has been hectic at times. We have never had so much activity. Among other things, the staff has seen a lot of changes in that we have hired 106 new employees, received 35 visiting scientists and said goodbye to 57 employees. The new faces are mostly PhD students and postdocs, but we have also hired other types of new employees. The large net inflow of employees bears witness to a dynamic department with a high and increasing level of activity.

The high level of activity is admirable but I can well understand that it can also mean harried workdays. I truly appreciate that AGRO’s employees contribute to our good navigation through the workdays and that you solve your tasks with talent and skill despite the high level of busyness.

World class policy support

The outside world has also noticed that we are good. We have been praised by the Minister for the Environment and Food of Denmark Eva Kjer Hansen in an article in Altinget (in Danish). At a conference about research-based policy support on 10 December 2015 with more than 100 delegates, including the Minister, Permanent Secretary Henrik Studsgaard characterized our efforts and input in connection with the preparation of the agricultural plan as being world class policy support. He also praised our ability to deliver the goods on time.  

The management of ST – including the Vice-Dean for knowledge exchange Kurt Nielsen and Dean Niels Chr. Nielsen – has praised us for our extraordinary efforts in relation to the Ministry’s acute need for a nitrogen investigation. I would also like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the many employees who have done an excellent job.  

We have a good contract with the Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark. It gives us a lot of freedom, but the increasing number of tasks and requirements for coordination between DCA and DCE sometimes places us under quite a bit of pressure. Unfortunately, this autumn has seen examples of divergent answers which were not coordinated properly. That is unacceptable. This confuses and raises doubts externally and stresses us internally. The management must therefore help to ensure that collaboration between DCA and DCE runs more smoothly. We do not all need to agree about everything all the time, but we must find a more appropriate way of dealing with and communicating potential differences of opinion.

New agricultural package means work for AGRO

On 21 December 2015 the government and its supporting parties adopted a new food and agricultural package. In the short term the nitrogen norm reduction will be phased out, which will have an impact on the environment, but in the long run the package comprises a paradigm shift for environmental regulation of agriculture. In the future, environmental regulation will be targeted and based on an evaluation of local needs. The aim is to make the food and agricultural industry better equipped to increase the basis for raw materials and export and to contribute to creating growth and jobs in all of Denmark in an interaction between nature and the environment.

Many of the items in the new package are particularly relevant to the areas in which we carry out research. This means that we will in all likelihood receive more tasks. It is therefore a great pleasure for us that DKK 161 mill. external funding have been set aside for research in food and agriculture, including targeted regulation. These are funds that we can and should apply for.

Strategic considerations and launching of flagships

In April 2015 we started working on developing a new strategy (in Danish), including research-oriented flagships. The section heads are to be praised for their efforts in the course of the process – a process that has taken up a lot of time and thoughts in the department.

I can well understand if many employees are fed up with all the talk of strategy and flagships and feel that now is the time to see some action. However, it has been very important to discuss the subjects thoroughly because when push comes to shove it will be the employees who have to carry out the strategy and support the flagships.

Before long the first of the flagships will be launched. How this will be carried out is an item that we will discuss at the department management meeting on 20 January 2016.

There will be much to do in the New Year in AGRO, but together we have created a good framework for the coming tasks. We must continue to deliver excellent policy support and education based on world class research. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all employees in AGRO a happy New Year. I look forward to tackling the many exciting tasks and challenges together.