Background
On behalf of Defra, CRD manages a substantial Research and Development programme in support of Government policy on pesticide use. This programme spends around £3.7 million each year on two main areas of research.
The first supports our regulatory work and includes developing better ways to assess and manage risks arising from pesticide use. Approvals Home
The second supports Government policy on the sustainable use of pesticides. This research covers environmentally friendly crop protection practices and ways to protect biodiversity. It includes alternative technologies and integrated crop management systems that reduce reliance on chemical pesticides. Reducing Environmental Impact
R&D Management
CRD has a small co-ordination team who are supported by CRD specialists in a number of activities to identify topic areas of interest, manage studies and provide feedback on policy implications arising from research projects both during their life and after final reports have been received. In addition CRD has 3 external programme advisors who help in the peer review process, oversee project progress and identify new research areas.
R&D Governance
There is a Pesticides Research Programme Steering Group (PRPSG) that has an overview of the pesticides research programme and meets twice a year. This has representatives from Defra, CRD senior specialists, programme advisors and the devolved administrations with the CRD R&D team forming the secretariat.
Research Projects
Details on the research projects managed by CRD are available on the Defra website including final reports on completed projects.
CRD commissioned research
All Defra research projects
CRD has also funded the production of reports on the incidence of pests, weeds and diseases in a broad range of cropping situations. These are available on this website:
Pest, Disease and Weed Incidence reports
CRD Research Newsletter
CRD publishes an e-newsletter twice a year, RADAR. This provides information about pesticide related research including details of the research projects managed by CRD that have been recently commissioned or recently published.
Links to previous issues are provided below. If you would like to receive this newsletter via email on a regular basis, please subscribe by sending your name and email details to: sally.wood@hse.gsi.gov.uk . Please quote 'RADAR Newsletter subscription' in your email.
May 2012 Issue
June 2011 Issue
December 2010 Issue
July 2010 Issue
December 2009 Issue
June 2009 Issue
December 2008 Issue
June 2008 Issue
Defra Evidence Investment Strategy
Defra's updated Evidence Investment Strategy published in 2011 revisited the 2010 Defra Evidence Investment Strategy (EIS) in the light of the changing policitcal landscape, Defra's Business Plan and the 2010 Spending Review. The Coalition Government priorities resulted in a realignment of Defra's objectives, with the most significant change being to ensure that the Department plans and manages the transition to a green economy. Although there have been chages in government and policy priorities, the ethos of "evidence-based policy" is unchanged, with the use of high quality evidence using an interdisciplinary approach and excellence in the management and communication of science. Further details are available on the Defra website.
CRD Pesticides Research and Development Strategy
CRD Pesticides Research and Development Strategy encompasses the principles of the EIS and sets out the overarching pesticides R&D strategy for the period covered by the Coalition Government's Spending review (financial years 2011/12 to 2014/15).
Advisory Groups
The Defra Expert Committee on Pesticide Residues in Food (PRiF), the Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP) and the stakeholder Pesticides Forum may identify areas where research would help underpin their advice. The results are used to improve the regulatory system and the delivery of policy.
ACP Home Page
PRiF Home Page
Pesticides Forum Home Page
Contacts
Julie Howarth is CRD's R&D coordinator and can be contacted on:
julie.howarth@hse.gsi.gov.uk
Telephone: (0044) (0)1904 455737
Chemicals Regulation Directorate,
HSE, Room 214, Mallard House,
Kings Pool, 3 Peasholme Green,
York, YO1 7PX, UK
