Overseer's first chief scientist Jacquie Harper likes turning science into effective action so her new role suits her down to the ground.
Harper will lead Overseer’s science strategy and will focus on embedding a robust, evidence-based science framework that integrates agricultural and environmental science along with innovation into OverseerFM.
She will look to strengthen engagement between science and the industry so Overseer is the best possible modelling tool for New Zealand’s primary sector.
Chief executive Caroline Read says Harper’s appointment reflects Overseer’s commitment to transparent and scientifically robust development of the tool.
“We want to work across the science sector to ensure credibility of the science behind OverseerFM and to support ongoing capture of new science innovation into the software.
“It is important that we strike the right balance between ensuring scientific rigour and incorporating new innovation to support NZ farmers to achieve the environmental outcomes asked of them.”
Harper, who has been at Overseer for about four months, has extensive experience in science strategy, evaluation and how it translates to industry.
She has led science and science evaluation projects across a range of disciplines including biomedicine, chemistry and engineering and is a member of the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee.
A large chunk of her 18 years’ involvement with the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research – 15 years as an employee and the final three as a contractor – involved working on a range of multidisciplinary projects.
That allowed her to develop expertise across a variety of industries and skill sets.
A lot of the work was based around how science can add value to industry, delivering science that’s useful and fit for purpose.
Harper’s no stranger to the primary sector having been involved with mastitis studies for AgResearch, identifying potential markets for what were once considered beef and lamb waste products and examining the anti-inflammatory properties of Comvita products.
She also spent time at Plant and Food Research, where she investigated the health and wellbeing qualities of berryfruit and how they could be translated into new income streams.
In her latest role Harper says proactive, two-way science and industry engagement are vital to ensure the agricultural and environmental sectors can have confidence in OverseerFM.
Initially, her focus will be on a strategy to foster co-development of necessary science, concentrating on engagement, science uptake and evaluation to deliver the right balance.
“We will also be establishing a regular review process that will provide independent science oversight to support the robust development of the science model that underpins OverseerFM.”
Harper has always leaned towards jobs that involve turning science into action so the Overseer position is exactly the sort of role she was looking for.
“It’s a way of taking science and delivering it nationally to help people make a real difference so that it’s good for farmers and good for the environment.
“I really enjoy seeing science translate into action, to making a difference at a national level.
“It’s nice to know that industry is going to pick it up.”
She’s recently been talking to scientists who are doing the work on the ground, like those at Crown research institutes, to make sure Overseer has a visible science focus and is open for science collaboration.
That’s included attending the recent Farmed Landscapes Research Centre workshop in Palmerston North, which was a good chance to present the strategy to those at the research coalface.
A key function of her role is ensuring science is part of discussions Overseer has with the industry, bringing scientists closer to industry partners.
That includes working out how to manage expectations of industry and scientists, such as how and when the science is delivered, which will help provide clarity across the board, not only asking farmers if it is what they want but also explaining why changes have been made.
Critical to that is identifying an industry need then talking to the scientific community about how to fill those gaps in information. It could also involve going back to the industry for comment around proposals to ensure the science can be translated into usable practice.
She says Overseer already has a focus on engagement but she wants to ensure there are processes in place around what science is done and what is delivered in practice.
For that to happen it’s fundamental farmers see value in Overseer, what it can bring to the farm and how it can help their decision-making.
Harper says she has huge respect for the rural sector and it’s important farmers have confidence in what Overseer can do for them and that it’s underpinned by good science.
Part of the job involves managing people’s expectations so everyone involved understands not only the needs around what’s driving the work but also setting realistic time frames because though something might be wanted tomorrow, that’s not always possible.
On the flip side scientists need to understand they can’t always just do what they want so they need to respond to industry demand.
For the next couple of years Harper plans to build on open collaboration between the industry and science as a way of delivering positive impacts in intended areas.
“We want to bring through the best tool we can to help farmers make decisions and to make sure people can see there is strong science coming through to support that.
“It’s about helping farmers make positive changes on their farms.”a
