Chair: Patrick Mitton, Bayer CropScience Ltd

Technical Secretary: Dr. Chris Knight

The Agri-Food Panel provides a unique forum for members with an interest in the safety and quality of primary agricultural products. Members, who are active in plant breeding, agriculture, horticulture, agrochemical supplies, produce marketing, food manufacturing, distribution and retailing, share a common interest in the influence of agricultural practices on the food chain.

The panel maintains a close interest in and is kept fully informed about factors influencing the supply and quality of primary agricultural products, notably developing pesticide legislation.

Detailed work is undertaken in four supporting working parties. The Vegetable Variety Working Party, which oversees variety trials, makes an important contribution to the definition of both technical and commercial requirements for raw materials used for the fresh and processing markets.

The Crop Protection Working Party is involved in pesticide issues, integrated crop management, organic production methods, and genetic modification in crop plants. It takes a particular interest in issues relating to the use of plant protection products.

The Cereal Variety Working Party provides a forum for discussion between members of all areas of the grain chain from plant breeders through to retailers. It has paid particular attention to cereal properties for baked products, animal feeds, and alternative end uses, organic trials and supply problems arising from the poor growing conditions.

An Organic Working Party focuses on this important area and is valued as a meeting place for primary procedures, manufacturers and retailers. It has taken a particular interest in food safety and quality issues, welcoming the publication of Organic agriculture and food production: a review of current developments (CCFRA Review No. 40).