Did you know that.....

• The STFC is a UK funding agency that funds research into astronomy, particle and nuclear physics
  
  
• The STFC runs major UK facilities such as the Diamond Light Source, Central Laser Facility, the ISIS neutron and muon source
  
  
• The STFC runs major computing facilities including the Scientific Computing Department and the Hartree Centre
  
  
• The research council umbrella body UKRI has been created
  
  
• Forecasts predict a >50% increase in demand for food globally over the next 30 years
  
  
• "Food security” means having access to affordable, safe and nutritious food, today and tomorrow
  
  
• Over 20% of greenhouse gas emissions come from food
  
  
• There is a 5 year plan for a cross-council Grand Challenges Fund, which provides more capital than any single research council, for national projects that align to key Government strategic priorities, including energy, health and wellbeing, and advanced materials
  
  
• The Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF; £1.5 billion over 5 years) has been created  to support cutting-edge research which address the problems faced by developing countries
  
  
• The annual UK consumer spend on food is around £200 billion

"We could land a probe on a comet but we haven’t yet addressed the issue of food security on our own planet. And that seems nuts. I’m not saying we should close down the space program. But I’m just saying if we applied that same level of intellectual rigour and that same level of funding and that same level of effort, its not beyond our ability to solve it. So we should.”  Professor Pete Smith