Impact and Knowledge Exchange
Take a Bite Out of Climate Change
An iniative that began with an Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition. Now provides learning resources for teachers, and home schooling. |
Impact Activities
See below for a list of SFN impact activities, including learning events, parliamentary briefings, and exhibitions |
|
SFN Impact Activities and Media Articles
Highlights
- Review on 21st Century Abattoirs for the Food Standards Agency - Report
- EFRA-commissioned report on the Impact of Covid-19 on Beef and Dairy Supply Chains - Report
- The Future of Agri-Tech - Parliamentary Briefing
- Take a Bite Out of Climate Change at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition
SFN Agrifood Innovations Webinars - From March 2021
The SFN Agri-food Innovations Series hihglights the application of STFC capabilities in the food system and showcases the work of STFC Food Network+ Scoping Projects. All of these webinars are available on our YouTube channel here.
EFRA-commissioned report on the Impact of Covid-19 on Beef and Dairy Supply Chains - May 2020
SFN was invited by EFRA to provide a written evidence on Covid 19 impact on the UK food supply chains. SFN conducted a quick response research on the Impact of C19 on Beef and Dairy Supply Chains and produced a report for EFRA. This research was led by Dr Sonal Choudhary and co-led by other SFN liaisons: Dr Raymond Obayi (SFN Liaison for Food Policy Analysis), Rakesh Nayak (SFN Liaison for Manufacturing Industries), Dr Seyed Ebrahimi (SFN Liaison for Resilient Supply Chains), Dr Panayiota J Alevizou (SFN Member), Dr Graeme Heron (SFN Member). This report was reviewed by Mr Geoff McBride - Theme Leader for Global Food Security, Agri-Tech & Water at STFC.
The report is available here: https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/5487/pdf/
SFN was invited by EFRA to provide a written evidence on Covid 19 impact on the UK food supply chains. SFN conducted a quick response research on the Impact of C19 on Beef and Dairy Supply Chains and produced a report for EFRA. This research was led by Dr Sonal Choudhary and co-led by other SFN liaisons: Dr Raymond Obayi (SFN Liaison for Food Policy Analysis), Rakesh Nayak (SFN Liaison for Manufacturing Industries), Dr Seyed Ebrahimi (SFN Liaison for Resilient Supply Chains), Dr Panayiota J Alevizou (SFN Member), Dr Graeme Heron (SFN Member). This report was reviewed by Mr Geoff McBride - Theme Leader for Global Food Security, Agri-Tech & Water at STFC.
The report is available here: https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/5487/pdf/
Review on 21st Century Abattoirs for the Food Standards Agency (FSA) - October 2019
SFN led a Review on 21st Century Abattoirs which resulted in a £250K MoU between STFC & FSA for running sandpit in Oct 2019 and funding projects worth £20K-£70K. The review was led by Dr Sonal Choudhary and co-led by other SFN liaisons: Dr Raymond Obayi (SFN Liaison for Food Policy Analysis), Rakesh Nayak (SFN Liaison for Manufacturing Industries), Dr Seyed Ebrahimi (SFN Liaison for Resilient Supply Chains), and Dr Panayiota J Alevizou (SFN Member).
SFN led a Review on 21st Century Abattoirs which resulted in a £250K MoU between STFC & FSA for running sandpit in Oct 2019 and funding projects worth £20K-£70K. The review was led by Dr Sonal Choudhary and co-led by other SFN liaisons: Dr Raymond Obayi (SFN Liaison for Food Policy Analysis), Rakesh Nayak (SFN Liaison for Manufacturing Industries), Dr Seyed Ebrahimi (SFN Liaison for Resilient Supply Chains), and Dr Panayiota J Alevizou (SFN Member).
Seminars
SFN PI Sarah Bridle recently gave a Schuster Colloquium in Manchester to promote the work of the SFN and to encourage interactions between the STFC and Agri-Food Communities - this went out to a packed house with over 50 people attending and lots of new sign-ups to the SFN mailing list .
SFN PI Sarah Bridle recently gave a Schuster Colloquium in Manchester to promote the work of the SFN and to encourage interactions between the STFC and Agri-Food Communities - this went out to a packed house with over 50 people attending and lots of new sign-ups to the SFN mailing list .
Digital Innovation in Livestock
Along with N8 Agrifood and CIEL the SFN are co- hosting this event in September to explore the latest in precision farming for enhanced performance, health and welfare of livestock. Unfortunately all of the academic places for this have now been taken up but if you have an industry background and would like to attend please contact Malou Lindholm for more information.
A full report will be available after the event.
Along with N8 Agrifood and CIEL the SFN are co- hosting this event in September to explore the latest in precision farming for enhanced performance, health and welfare of livestock. Unfortunately all of the academic places for this have now been taken up but if you have an industry background and would like to attend please contact Malou Lindholm for more information.
A full report will be available after the event.
| matthews_scd-foodnetwork.pdf |
| hollinshead_stfc_update_sept_2017_food.pdf |
| rogers_food_meeting_ser.pdf |
| pizzey_food_research_at_diamond.pdf |
Survey Results
The SFN recently ran a launch survey in order to find out how much STFC and agri-food researchers know about each other’s work and skills, and to gauge interest in the SFN.
Some of the headline results from this:
The SFN recently ran a launch survey in order to find out how much STFC and agri-food researchers know about each other’s work and skills, and to gauge interest in the SFN.
Some of the headline results from this:
- We had over 640 responses
- 75% of respondents were from STFC research or facilities
- 285 people said ‘I would like to join the SFN mailing list to receive updates every few weeks’
- 82 people said ‘I am considering attending the SFN launch meeting on 28/29 June in Manchester
SFN Scoping award winner Dr Niamh Forde to speak at the Department for International Trade - Game Changing Technologies in Agriculture event 2018
We are delighted to confirm that SFN Scoping Award winner Niamh Forde has been selected to speak about her scoping project 'Combining IR and pattern recognition to enhance pregnancy success in cattle: Sensing well done steak' at this event on the 11th October . The SFN will also have a stand at this event focusing on innovative technologies being developed and applied in agriculture.
We are delighted to confirm that SFN Scoping Award winner Niamh Forde has been selected to speak about her scoping project 'Combining IR and pattern recognition to enhance pregnancy success in cattle: Sensing well done steak' at this event on the 11th October . The SFN will also have a stand at this event focusing on innovative technologies being developed and applied in agriculture.
Commercial UAV Conference - 14th and 15th November 2018
The SFN attendeded this event investigating new applications and opportunities for UAVs at the Excel in London from 14-15 November 2018. We are pleased to announce that we have two of our scoping award winners speaking at the conference:
Come and visit STFC and the STFC Food Network+ at the Commercial UAV Conference – Stand No. 100. You can find out more and register to attend here
The SFN attendeded this event investigating new applications and opportunities for UAVs at the Excel in London from 14-15 November 2018. We are pleased to announce that we have two of our scoping award winners speaking at the conference:
- Dr Anthony M. Brown, Assistant Professor, Head of the Airborne Instrumentation Group at Durham University & airborne researcher with STFC Food Network+. His talk is on the subject of “STFC & UAVs: From Astronomy to Agritech”;
Come and visit STFC and the STFC Food Network+ at the Commercial UAV Conference – Stand No. 100. You can find out more and register to attend here
STFC B4I Roadshow for Agri/Food/Drink Sector
STFC are holding this event to target people interested in these themes at Harper Adams University on the 14th November. The event offers companies who need to overcome problems that restrict their productivity and competitiveness, an opportunity to discuss their issues with world leading experts and learn how to access some of the £8M in funding available to this programme. STFC funds and operates a number of large science facilities offering research and development access to commercial users and can provide access to advanced experimental and computational tools to address challenges in all aspects of the food production and packaging supply chain.
If you work for or with industry then please come along to:
Find out more and register to attend here
STFC are holding this event to target people interested in these themes at Harper Adams University on the 14th November. The event offers companies who need to overcome problems that restrict their productivity and competitiveness, an opportunity to discuss their issues with world leading experts and learn how to access some of the £8M in funding available to this programme. STFC funds and operates a number of large science facilities offering research and development access to commercial users and can provide access to advanced experimental and computational tools to address challenges in all aspects of the food production and packaging supply chain.
If you work for or with industry then please come along to:
- Learn about funding opportunities
- Talk to the coordinators of the B4I funding scheme
- Discus your challenge with world leading scientists
- Identify potential projects with STFC experts
- Understand how to access leading edge research infrastructure
- Partake in the facility tour at Harper Adams University, including the Dairy Crest Innovation Centre, Poultry and crop and environment research centres.
- Network with other agri-food companies
Find out more and register to attend here
Digital Innovation in Livestock
The SFN are supporting a Digital Innovation in Livestock Meeting that is being organised by N8 AgriFood in conjunction with the Centre of Digital Innovation Applied to Livestock (CIEL) - If you are interested in attending this event please contact us
The SFN are supporting a Digital Innovation in Livestock Meeting that is being organised by N8 AgriFood in conjunction with the Centre of Digital Innovation Applied to Livestock (CIEL) - If you are interested in attending this event please contact us
SFN at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition
The STFC Food Network+, N8 Agrifood and the University of Manchester are delighted to be taking our exhibit ‘Take a bite out of climate change’ to the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 1-7th July 2019.
The Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition is the UK's annual display of its most cutting edge science and technology, with the week-long event featuring 22 exhibits of hands on demonstrations, thought-provoking talks and jaw-dropping demonstrations.
Our exhibit will focus on how primary food production, food processing and consumer food choices contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. We will highlight some key examples of innovations to improve sustainability in these areas. The content will be pitched for science enthusiasts with an interest in food and climate change.
Within our exhibit we’re delighted to be able to showcase innovation in food production by the National Centre of Food Manufacturing at the University of Lincoln, Entocycle, LettUs Grow and Hodmedod’s with underpinning research from the Universities of Lancaster, Sheffield, Manchester and others.
We are supported in this by an Advisory Board comprised of key stakeholders from this research area and we have engaged a fantastic group of Expert Communicators who will bring to life our key messages for visitors to the exhibit over the week. You will soon be able to find out more about all of our collaborators on our upcoming website.
Using drones to save coffee plants from disease
Oliver Windram has been leading this SFN scoping project looking into how drone technology and, specifically, multispectral imaging could help protect coffee plants from coffee rust, a fungal disease that can wipe out entire plantations, and testing it out in the coffee growing areas of Thailand. You can find out more in this post from the STFC media team and it was featured on the BBC World Service on the 29th March (at 11:23am in case you want to listen again) with comments from our SFN Co-Investigator and Co-I on the project Katherine Denby.
Using space know-how to 'sniff' out salad quality
SFN Scoping Project PI Hilary Rogers is working with colleagues to develop new technology which will be able to ‘smell’ when fruit or vegetables are going off – potentially saving tonnes of waste.
New Blog Post - Turning up the heat: an interdisciplinary solution to improve pregnancy success in cattle
Visit out blog page to find out how SFN Scoping Project PI Niamh Forde and colleagues are working on this novel project combining drone technology, space science and reproductive biology to detect when cows are ready to be inseminated.
New Blog Post - Digitising agri-food supply chains in China
Visit out blog page to find out how SFN Scoping Project PI Wantao Yu and colleagues are working to address a critical knowledge gap challenge in the agricultural sector so that data-driven approaches can be used to enhance agricultural sustainability and productivity in China.
SFN Showcase 2019
In January we had an excellent two days at STFC Harwell finding out about the fascinating progress our Scoping Projects have been making and discussing what their next steps might be - You can now access a full write-up of the event (with thanks to our blog writer Caroline Wood) through our blog page and you can also see the presentations made by our PI’s and our fantastic invited speakers including Grahame Blair (STFC Executive Director, Programmes Directorate), Tim Benton (University of Leeds and Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House) and Guy Poppy (Chief Scientific Advisor to the FSA) here
New SFN Lead for Impact and Industry
We’re delighted to announce that our SFN Champion for Resilient Food Supply Chains Sonal Choudhary has now taken on a new role for us within the Network as ‘lead for Impact and Industry’. Sonal’s new responsibilities will include creating and maintaining connections between the SFN and industry, helping to maximise the impacts of our funded projects and deputising for the SFN PI at relevant events. You can find out more about Sonal on our SFN People Page
Media attention for ammonia monitoring scoping project
We're really pleased to have seen some well deserved media attention for the 'Continued Ammonia Monitoring for Agriculture' scoping project lead by STFC's Brian Ellison. You can hear Brian on the BBC Farming Today programme here and find out more about the project success here
UK scientists and engineers working to reduce food waste in developing countries
The Scoping Project lead by SFN Champion Sonal Choudhary using cryogenics to help improve the food supply chain is receiving widespread attention thanks to this update post from the STFC media team
STFC Food Network+ Showcase
16th and 17th January 2019
Earlier this year we awarded funding for >20 collaborative scoping projects involving direct partnerships between researchers in the STFC Physics and AgriFood communities. One of the main reasons we funded these projects is because we believe they have great potential to use the innovative new connections to make an impact. We are holding a 2 day meeting at the STFC Harwell Campus with expert speakers and potential funders to showcase these projects and provide space to brainstorm potential new project ideas using STFC capabilities. This meeting will take place on the 16th and 17th January 2019 at the Harwell Visitors Centre - you can see our agenda here. Registration for this event has now closed.
Shocks in Food Products - Review
One of our scoping award projects has completed a review of the work they have undertaken exploring novel techniques to assess food price shocks. Aled Jones from Anglia Ruskin University and Valeria Shumaylova from the University of Cambridge discuss how food systems represent a significant risk to financial and political
stability in a number of regions around the world in this paper which has also been written up as a blog for the Global Food Security website here
The STFC Food Network+, N8 Agrifood and the University of Manchester are delighted to be taking our exhibit ‘Take a bite out of climate change’ to the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 1-7th July 2019.
The Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition is the UK's annual display of its most cutting edge science and technology, with the week-long event featuring 22 exhibits of hands on demonstrations, thought-provoking talks and jaw-dropping demonstrations.
Our exhibit will focus on how primary food production, food processing and consumer food choices contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. We will highlight some key examples of innovations to improve sustainability in these areas. The content will be pitched for science enthusiasts with an interest in food and climate change.
Within our exhibit we’re delighted to be able to showcase innovation in food production by the National Centre of Food Manufacturing at the University of Lincoln, Entocycle, LettUs Grow and Hodmedod’s with underpinning research from the Universities of Lancaster, Sheffield, Manchester and others.
We are supported in this by an Advisory Board comprised of key stakeholders from this research area and we have engaged a fantastic group of Expert Communicators who will bring to life our key messages for visitors to the exhibit over the week. You will soon be able to find out more about all of our collaborators on our upcoming website.
Using drones to save coffee plants from disease
Oliver Windram has been leading this SFN scoping project looking into how drone technology and, specifically, multispectral imaging could help protect coffee plants from coffee rust, a fungal disease that can wipe out entire plantations, and testing it out in the coffee growing areas of Thailand. You can find out more in this post from the STFC media team and it was featured on the BBC World Service on the 29th March (at 11:23am in case you want to listen again) with comments from our SFN Co-Investigator and Co-I on the project Katherine Denby.
Using space know-how to 'sniff' out salad quality
SFN Scoping Project PI Hilary Rogers is working with colleagues to develop new technology which will be able to ‘smell’ when fruit or vegetables are going off – potentially saving tonnes of waste.
New Blog Post - Turning up the heat: an interdisciplinary solution to improve pregnancy success in cattle
Visit out blog page to find out how SFN Scoping Project PI Niamh Forde and colleagues are working on this novel project combining drone technology, space science and reproductive biology to detect when cows are ready to be inseminated.
New Blog Post - Digitising agri-food supply chains in China
Visit out blog page to find out how SFN Scoping Project PI Wantao Yu and colleagues are working to address a critical knowledge gap challenge in the agricultural sector so that data-driven approaches can be used to enhance agricultural sustainability and productivity in China.
SFN Showcase 2019
In January we had an excellent two days at STFC Harwell finding out about the fascinating progress our Scoping Projects have been making and discussing what their next steps might be - You can now access a full write-up of the event (with thanks to our blog writer Caroline Wood) through our blog page and you can also see the presentations made by our PI’s and our fantastic invited speakers including Grahame Blair (STFC Executive Director, Programmes Directorate), Tim Benton (University of Leeds and Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House) and Guy Poppy (Chief Scientific Advisor to the FSA) here
New SFN Lead for Impact and Industry
We’re delighted to announce that our SFN Champion for Resilient Food Supply Chains Sonal Choudhary has now taken on a new role for us within the Network as ‘lead for Impact and Industry’. Sonal’s new responsibilities will include creating and maintaining connections between the SFN and industry, helping to maximise the impacts of our funded projects and deputising for the SFN PI at relevant events. You can find out more about Sonal on our SFN People Page
Media attention for ammonia monitoring scoping project
We're really pleased to have seen some well deserved media attention for the 'Continued Ammonia Monitoring for Agriculture' scoping project lead by STFC's Brian Ellison. You can hear Brian on the BBC Farming Today programme here and find out more about the project success here
UK scientists and engineers working to reduce food waste in developing countries
The Scoping Project lead by SFN Champion Sonal Choudhary using cryogenics to help improve the food supply chain is receiving widespread attention thanks to this update post from the STFC media team
STFC Food Network+ Showcase
16th and 17th January 2019
Earlier this year we awarded funding for >20 collaborative scoping projects involving direct partnerships between researchers in the STFC Physics and AgriFood communities. One of the main reasons we funded these projects is because we believe they have great potential to use the innovative new connections to make an impact. We are holding a 2 day meeting at the STFC Harwell Campus with expert speakers and potential funders to showcase these projects and provide space to brainstorm potential new project ideas using STFC capabilities. This meeting will take place on the 16th and 17th January 2019 at the Harwell Visitors Centre - you can see our agenda here. Registration for this event has now closed.
Shocks in Food Products - Review
One of our scoping award projects has completed a review of the work they have undertaken exploring novel techniques to assess food price shocks. Aled Jones from Anglia Ruskin University and Valeria Shumaylova from the University of Cambridge discuss how food systems represent a significant risk to financial and political
stability in a number of regions around the world in this paper which has also been written up as a blog for the Global Food Security website here
The Future of Agri-Tech - Parliamentary Briefing
We were delighted to jointly host this briefing with the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology in May. Several of our colleagues spoke and MPs and Peers were there to discuss the challenge of developing safe, sustainable food systems and the contribution interdisciplinary research and innovation can make from farm to fork. Our PI Sarah Bridle spoke along with two of our Scoping Project PI's - Dr Niamh Forde (University of Leeds) and Dr Geraint (Taff) Morgan (Open University) together with our SFN Champion for Sustainable Food Production Professor Simon Pearson from the University of Lincoln and various other colleagues from Defra, STFC and the FSA. You can access a full write up of the event here
UKRI Delivery Plans
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI )have published their 2019 delivery plans outlining how they will work with their partners to ensure that world-leading research and innovation continues to flourish in the UK. The 2019-20 Delivery Plans highlight the areas of focus and key activities of UKRI’s nine constituent councils and its cross-cutting themes. The plans have been developed with input from across UKRI’s research and innovation communities and build upon the Strategic Prospectus, published in May 2018, which outlined UKRI’s vision, mission and values. Find out more here
Scientists sniff out rotten avocados
SFN Scoping Project PI Marcin Glowacz has been working with Taff Morgan and colleagues to invent a type of portable sniffing device that can detect whether avocados are rotten without breaking the skin and damaging the fruit – ensuring customers do not buy fruit that is already past its best. Find out more in this UKRI blog post
We were delighted to jointly host this briefing with the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology in May. Several of our colleagues spoke and MPs and Peers were there to discuss the challenge of developing safe, sustainable food systems and the contribution interdisciplinary research and innovation can make from farm to fork. Our PI Sarah Bridle spoke along with two of our Scoping Project PI's - Dr Niamh Forde (University of Leeds) and Dr Geraint (Taff) Morgan (Open University) together with our SFN Champion for Sustainable Food Production Professor Simon Pearson from the University of Lincoln and various other colleagues from Defra, STFC and the FSA. You can access a full write up of the event here
UKRI Delivery Plans
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI )have published their 2019 delivery plans outlining how they will work with their partners to ensure that world-leading research and innovation continues to flourish in the UK. The 2019-20 Delivery Plans highlight the areas of focus and key activities of UKRI’s nine constituent councils and its cross-cutting themes. The plans have been developed with input from across UKRI’s research and innovation communities and build upon the Strategic Prospectus, published in May 2018, which outlined UKRI’s vision, mission and values. Find out more here
Scientists sniff out rotten avocados
SFN Scoping Project PI Marcin Glowacz has been working with Taff Morgan and colleagues to invent a type of portable sniffing device that can detect whether avocados are rotten without breaking the skin and damaging the fruit – ensuring customers do not buy fruit that is already past its best. Find out more in this UKRI blog post
Take a bite out of climate change at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition
The Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition is the UK’s annual display of its most cutting edge science and technology, Our exhibit focused on how primary food production, food processing and consumer food choices contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. We were highlighting some key examples of innovations to improve sustainability in these areas.
Visitors to our stand found out about different methods of sustainable farming and learned about the relationship between their dietary choices and greenhouse gases. They also had the chance to take the Climate Food Challenge; an interactive game testing knowledge of the varying levels of green house gas emissions produced by different foods. You can play the game yourself here.
Within our exhibit we were delighted to be able to showcase innovation in food production by N8 AgriFood, the University of Lincoln, Entocycle and LettUsGrow with underpinning research from the Universities of Lancaster, Sheffield, Manchester and others.
To coincide with the exhibition our team issued a press release, investigating the environmental impacts of a traditional bbq, and how you can reduce the green house gas emissions. This has since been picked up by the Telegraph, the sun and INews as well as generating an interview with Sarah on BBC Radio Wales and with our colleague Ximena Schmidt on ITN and a mention on BBC Breakfast!
Find out more about our exhibit on the Take A Bite website www.takeabite.info
The Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition is the UK’s annual display of its most cutting edge science and technology, Our exhibit focused on how primary food production, food processing and consumer food choices contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. We were highlighting some key examples of innovations to improve sustainability in these areas.
Visitors to our stand found out about different methods of sustainable farming and learned about the relationship between their dietary choices and greenhouse gases. They also had the chance to take the Climate Food Challenge; an interactive game testing knowledge of the varying levels of green house gas emissions produced by different foods. You can play the game yourself here.
Within our exhibit we were delighted to be able to showcase innovation in food production by N8 AgriFood, the University of Lincoln, Entocycle and LettUsGrow with underpinning research from the Universities of Lancaster, Sheffield, Manchester and others.
To coincide with the exhibition our team issued a press release, investigating the environmental impacts of a traditional bbq, and how you can reduce the green house gas emissions. This has since been picked up by the Telegraph, the sun and INews as well as generating an interview with Sarah on BBC Radio Wales and with our colleague Ximena Schmidt on ITN and a mention on BBC Breakfast!
Find out more about our exhibit on the Take A Bite website www.takeabite.info
