Introduction
The Temperton Fellowship was established in 1989 to commemorate the late Dr Harold Temperton. The Fellowship is administered under the aegis of the Harper Adams University College and involves an annual presentation and written report by an invited contributor. The reports cover a wide range of topics that are intended to be of strategic value to the UK Poultry Industry. Dr Temperton obtained his doctorate from the University of Durham for his work on vitamin A and became Head of the National Institute of Poultry Husbandry in 1952, a position he retained until his retirement in 1974. Following his death in 1984, the Temperton Fellowship was launched in 1989 to commemorate his considerable contribution to the Industry. The Fellowship is financed by a trust and administered by a board of trustees that includes the Principal of the College. It benefits from being able to utilise the staff resources and facilities that exist at the College.
Each invited fellow is expected to pursue a course of study that leads to the presentation of a report at the Farmers’ Club in London. The presentations are made annually and copies of the written reports are lodged in the Houses of Parliament and other key institutions. In each case, the copyright is owned by the College, from which copies can be obtained. The first report was presented in 1992.
Coverage of the reports
The reports deal with a wide range of topics and are intended to be of strategic value to the UK Poultry Industry, as it continues to evolve in the face of ever-increasing scientific, technical and socio-economic developments. This is achieved by highlighting particular aspects of poultry science or industry practices that are likely to have an important bearing on the future success of the Industry. The contributors are drawn from a variety of backgrounds and include research scientists, government specialists, independent poultry veterinarians and senior technical and management personnel from the Industry itself. All of them are authorities in their own fields and they make their presentations to an invited audience comprising government officials, members of the Industry and representatives of trade bodies from the food sector as a whole.
Previous contributions can be broadly classified in three categories: those dealing mainly with the present and future position of the Industry in the overall food chain, the nature of the Industry's responses to a variety of scientific and political factors, and the potential impact of research and development in ensuring continued commercial success. There is, however, an inevitable overlap. In relation to the food chain, for example, it is suggested that new technologies will need to be adopted to reach the highest standards of product quality and innovation, and elimination of waste (Report 13). In practice, the impact of research and development is being felt in many different areas and those covered so far include breeding, genetics and disease control on the one hand and carcass utilisation and educational strategies on the other (Reports 3, 9, 11, 12, 15, 16 and 17). Among the scientific and political factors discussed are environmental concerns, animal welfare and food-safety requirements, consumer demands and the continuing financial burden of developing legislation (Reports 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8).
Where there are problems, such as avian influenza, there are not always simple solutions, but all the reports clearly illustrate the nature and breadth of the issues involved and challenge any existing misconceptions and prejudices. In doing so, they aim to give both a national and international perspective that should be of value to those responsible for planning the Industry's future. The Trustees are very conscious of the fact that there is no shortage of topics to discuss or potential contributors and further presentations are already planned for the years ahead.
Previous reports
1. GOSLING, D. (1992) A review of the effects of UK and EC legislation on the comparative competitive position of the UK and continental EC poultry meat industries in the approach to the single market on 1.1.93.
2. DAY, P. (1993) Poultry industry costs of compliance with legislation administered by local authorities.
3. BULFIELD, G. (1994) Biotechnology and the poultry industry.
4. SWARBRICK, O. (1995) A practical evaluation of some effects of human and animal welfare policies and trends on the ‘competitiveness’ of the UK egg industry.
5. CHARLES, D. (1996) The poultry industry, the environment and the rural economy.
6. JONES, W. and PARROTT, P. (1997) Consumer perceptions of the UK poultry industry.
7. MEAD, G. (1998) The safety of poultry products: present trends and future developments.
8. COOKE, B. (1999) Hazards, risks and benefits of poultry production with particular reference to animal feedingstuffs.
9. PARSONS, J. (2000) Education, training and accreditation for the poultry industry.
10. HOLROYD, P. (2001) Future trends of poultry science and practice.
11. SCOTT, G. (2003) The learning revolution, distance learning and its application to a global poultry industry (a UK perspective).
12. FOXCROFT, P. and WOODGATE, S. (2004) Full utilisation of the poultry carcass.
13. CAMPBELL, T. (2005) The United Kingdom poultry industry as part of the international food chain.
14. CHALLANDS, P., JORET, A. AND TROMANS, D. (2006) The future challenges facing the UK egg industry.
15. LAUGHLIN, K. (2007) The evolution of genetics, breeding and production.
16. HALL, J. (2008) Living through avian influenza H5NI.
17. MACLEOD, M. (2009) The importance of research and development in supporting a future UK role in an expanding global poultry industry.
18. BIRD, R. (2010) The world of waterfowl.
19. HUTCHINSON, R. (2011) The challenge of supplying high-protein turkey meat as part of the global demand for food.
