Scientific Research may complete policies and serve people better
— An interview with Prof. David Norse, UK

Past and current China-UK collaboration on agricultural and environmental sustainability has tended to be piecemeal, and focused on science and technological questions rather than on the formulation of policy responses. Consequently, the Business Plan puts forward an innovative institutional mechanism for China-UK collaboration focused on areas of major policy importance to them and the international community. The new institutional mechanism is the China-UK Sustainable Agriculture Innovation Network (SAIN).　　　　　　　　　　　　
During 2008 Yangling International Agri-Science Forum, Prof. David Norse, consultant to the development of SAIN and professor of UCL, as one of the “hosts” of the new “China-UK Sustainable Agriculture Innovation Network”, visited Northwest A & F University again, which he was quite familiar with and fond of. Prof. David Norse spoke on the theme of “Circular Agriculture-Technologies and Policies: the same tendency of thoughts and policy between China and UK” in the afternoon of November, 5. After that, he accepted the interview from our reporter.

Reporter: You took part in the drawing up and revision of the “China-UK Sustainable Agriculture Innovation Network” business plan. Could you talk about the original intention of the establishment of “China-UK Sustainable Agriculture Innovation Network” Why did the main secretariat office settle in Northwest A& F University.

Prof. David Norse: I worked at Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) before. “21st century agenda” was published after 1992 Global summit conference in Rio de Janeiro Brazil. To avoid the detour that other countries have made on the way of sustainable development, China established China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED). I was a member of them. After that, we cooperated with many countries to do research in the source pollution of agriculture in China, which was the foundation of the collaboration between Northwest A&F University and Rothamsted Research. British government approved the China-UK collaboration project “Improving livelihoods for farmers by reducing non-point source pollution through improved nutrient management” under the framework of sustainable development senior dialog in May, 2004. In the functioning process of the project, China and UK had the thought of setting up “China-UK Sustainable Agriculture Innovation Network”, that is the background of the SAIN.
         

Reporter: You have witnessed the start-up and development of the China-UK collaboration on sustainable agriculture, based on which the “China-UK Sustainable Agriculture Innovation Network” is founded, so what’s your anticipation of the SAIN?

Professor Davie Norse: I have three hopes; the first is that under the framework of SAIN, we could run a variety of research projects, and the SAIN could connect the outcomes of researches, making comprehensive use of these results. My second wish is that make a better combination between science and policies through the SAIN, which will benefit the whole community. And my third hope would be that the establishment of the SAIN would provide the chances for China and UK to learn advanced technologies and reasonable policies from each other. With the cooperation continuing, advanced production methods and technologies in UK could be introduced to China much easier than before, which could help China make a big step in promoting agriculture-scientific innovation, phasing in modern technology and training high-quality talents. Similarly, British scientists could learn more from the Chinese scientist, because China is doing great in some certain areas, such as straw degradation etc. Through cooperation and communication, we can definitely learn from each other and get improved from the collaboration.

Reporter: You have been to North A&F University for many times, and as an old friend of the university, what’s your impression of it? Please give some advice on senior education reform to our university combining the UK educational systems.

Professor David Norse: Yes, I have been here many times, I like this beautiful university very much. The university has beautiful campus as well as advanced laboratory facilities. Some old colleagues from UCL (Prof. David Norse just retired from UCL, now as Emeritus Professor in UCL), wish they would have the same research conditions.

Reporter: With the establishment of the SAIN, what’s your prospect of the China-UK sustainable agricultural development?

Professor David Norse: For a long time, China-UK collaboration of sustainable development of agriculture and environment is piecemeal, and focused on science and technological questions rather than on the formulation of policy responses. SAIN will support the aims of the current Sustainable Development Dialogue, with the intention of forming a flexible and largely self-sustaining platform for long-term China-UK collaboration in this area. The central aim is to contribute to the achievement of a resource efficient, low carbon economy and an environmentally friendly society. We believe that cooperation between two countries will surely achieve the anticipated results, not only making our homestead better, but also servicing the world. Meanwhile, I am confident that the friendship between us two countries will be more persistent and cheerful.