Published date: 6 September 2019

Awarded contract - This means that the contract has been awarded to a supplier.


Closing: 22 July 2019

Contract summary

Industry

  • Research services - 73110000

Location of contract

Any region

Value of contract

£165,000

Procurement reference

tender_210678/795061

Published date

6 September 2019

Closing date

22 July 2019

Contract start date

1 January 2020

Contract end date

31 December 2021

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Single tender action (below threshold)

A direct contract with a single supplier, without competition.

This procedure can be used for procurements below the relevant contract value threshold.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

No

Description

1. Background
1.1 Organic crop yields are significantly lower compared to conventional agriculture, due to the latter relying on mineral fertilisers, herbicides, pesticides and fungicides.
1.2 There is a need to reduce the use of inputs such as mineral fertilisers and pesticides, for both cost and environmental concerns e.g. the challenges posed by pesticide resistance in pests, diseases and weeds. Such change is a requirement of Defra's 25 Year Environment Plan and is a key objective in our Departmental Strategy.
1.3 Advancements in organic crop science aims to maximise yield by optimising ecological processes and the use of natural resources, therefore avoiding the need for inputs such as fertilisers and pesticides.
1.4 In the UK wheat is the most important arable crop in terms of acreage, however in 2018 organic wheat acreage was only 0.5% of the total, and is in decline despite a growing market demand for organic wheat. This is due to low and unreliable yield/quality, making organic wheat an unattractive proposition for farmers.
1.5 Whilst the AHDB runs a significant trials programme and compiles recommended lists of wheat varieties for conventional agriculture, no comparable system exists for organic growers. This lack of information compounds the problems cited above for organic growers.
1.6 Within their trials programme the AHDB identifies the genetic potential of varieties using plots untreated with fungicide and those with robust agrochemical input (fungicides, herbicides, insecticides and fertiliser to achieve the desired quality). However, to date this information has not been compiled and presented in a way that benefits organic producers.
1.7 Although some data is relevant to the organic sector, other key variables such as weed competition and performance in lower fertility rotations are not covered. There is a need for a more structured, integrated approach taking into account the following :
1.7.1 Varietal performance in organic farming does not correspond to varietal performance in conventional farming, therefore testing varieties in organic farming can give more accurate results for organic systems.
1.7.2 Organic cropping systems are characterised by greater variation than conventional systems, hence the varieties need to be tested across a range of environments.
1.7.3 Results generated through plot-scale trials are much less consistent with field-scale performance, hence greater emphasis on field-scale experimentation is required.
1.8 Testing and comparing varieties at a field scale in a network of farms can efficiently complement information on varietal 'genetic potential' with a systematic analysis of varieties 'actual performance' in real-farm conditions.
1.9 A network of organic farmers (Appendix 3) is already engaged in a field-scale variety trial started in 2017/18 within the framework of the "Liveseed" project. The second growing season of this project is currently ongoing with 10 farmers, and a third growing season

More information

Links

Additional text

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Award information

Awarded date

22 August 2019

Contract start date

1 January 2020

Contract end date

31 December 2021

Total value of contract

£165,000

This contract was awarded to 1 supplier.

THE ORGANIC RESEARCH CENTRE

Address

Elm Farm Hamstead Marshall, Newbury, Berkshire, RG20 0HR

Reference

Companies House number: 01513190

Supplier is SME?

No

Supplier is VCSE?

No

About the buyer

Contact name

DGC

Address

DEFRA
London
SW1P 3JR
England

Email

Network.Procurement@defra.gov.uk