The R & D Committee of the BGS is chaired by Prof David Leaver and consists of 9 members of the Society and its meetings are also attended by Kath Bainbridge of Defra. Its functions are:

• to formulate and advise Council, Presidential team and Society Director on BGS R & D policy
• to promote to R & D funders the importance of grassland R & D
• to influence R & D funders towards BGS priority areas
• to respond to Government consultations and reflect the views and concerns of members
• to participate in Government and industry reviews of research programmes
• to make recommendations to Council on the improvement of knowledge transfer
• to manage the vacational studentship and travel award schemes

BGS priorities for grassland R & D are regularly reviewed. The current priorities document for 2009-12 can be viewed here.

Comments are invited and should be addressed to the BGS Office.