OverseerFM has appointed Dr Jacquie Harper as its first chief scientist.
Overseer is an independent industry-good company owned by AgResearch Limited and the Fertiliser Association of New Zealand in collaboration with the Ministry for Primary Industries. OverseerFM connects farmers to science to support sustainable farm businesses that reduce costs and protect the environment.
Overseer chief executive Dr Caroline Read said the appointment of a chief scientist reflects Overseer’s commitment to transparent and scientifically robust development of the tool.
“We want to work across the science sector to ensure the credibility of the science behind OverseerFM and to support the 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 New Zealand farmers to achieve the environmental outcomes asked of them.”
Dr Harper is leading Overseer’s science strategy and will be focused on embedding a robust, evidence-based science framework that integrates agricultural and environment science and innovation into OverseerFM’s model development pipeline.
She will also strengthen engagement with science and industry.
Dr Harper brings extensive expertise in science strategy, evaluation and translation to the role. She has led science and science evaluation across a range of disciplines, including biomedicine, chemistry and engineering and is a current member of the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee.
“The science in this area is rapidly evolving and we need to ensure the continuous improvement of the OverseerFM tool is supported by a transparent and scientifically rigorous process for translating,” Dr Harper says.
“The science in this area is rapidly evolving and we need to ensure the continuous improvement of the OverseerFM tool is supported by a transparent and scientifically rigorous process for translating science into practice.” She says.
“Proactive two-way science and industry engagement is vital to ensure the agricultural and environmental sectors can have confidence in OverseerFM.
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