SFN Funded Proof of Concept Projects

2021 Funded Projects

The inaugural SFN Call for Proof of Concept projects was held in late 2021 and we were delighted to fund the four projects below (click on the + to learn more about each project).

We plan to fund up to 12 Proof of Concept projects in 2022 so keep an eye our for the call!

Integrating environmental, spatial, and social data to assign food supply chain functions across urban space
​

PI - Daniel Evans (Cranfield University)

Currently, urban food growing takes place in disconnected spaces, and many essential parts of the food supply chain (e.g., collecting waste for composting, forming soil) are displaced to locations beyond the city. There is an increasing demand to grow nutritious food using sustainable and resilient land-use practices which enhance agricultural productivity, support secure and equal
access to land, improve land and soil quality, safeguard natural resources, reduce food losses along the supply chain, and decrease waste generation. This requires a new urban food growing system: one which can identify and connect under-utilized urban spaces into a cluster, with each space within the cluster optimized to carry out a specific role in the food supply chain. This project aims to
develop a new decision-making dashboard for urban food growers and land-use planners. The dashboard will be used to identify suitable under-utilized spaces in a city, assess these spaces with respect to environmental, spatial, and social data, and suggest which spaces would be best for
specific food supply chain functions. To prove this concept, we will collect environmental, spatial, and social data from a cluster of spaces within the London Borough of Islington. STFC-based data science capabilities (and 2x DISCUS PhD students) will then integrate these data into a model to
produce optimized suggestions of how each space could be used within the cluster. STFC will also lead the production of the prototype dashboard, which will be user-tested by our large, diverse, non-academic team including local food growers/vendors in the Borough (Octopus Communities) as well as policymakers on Islington’s Borough Council. This proof-of-concept project is the first part of a
five-phase programme, with future phases including design and construction of the world’s first urban agriculture cluster in London, commercializing the dashboard, and upscaling across Porto, Portugal.

STFC Side Co-I: Pete Hurley (University of Sussex)

From nutrition to flavour: novel food and food ingredients from microalgae

PI - Yixing Sui (University of Greenwich)

Food production with its associated nutritional quality and environmental impact pose major concerns to our
society. Microalgae can be a sustainable food source with high nutritional quality, yet its use in food products on
the food market are still underexploited. Microalga Dunaliella salina has proven to deliver high value biomass in terms of protein and carotenoids, depending on the cultivation conditions. From a sensory point of view, D.
salina biomass also presents a unique taste and odour profile: a sweet taste and floral odour and lacks the more
usual umami taste and fishy odour of other algae. Combining its nutritional and taste profiles and ease of
processing, it is expected that D. salina biomass will be a beneficial novel ingredient in food products.
This proof-of-concept project aims to assess the effect of different food processing methods on the
degradation/conversion/formation of nutritional and taste markers in D. salina, and to achieve the most suitable
food product with the right processing condition. The University of Greenwich, The Open University and Minerva
will integrate their expertise in microalgal biotechnology, analytical development, and market and communication skills, respectively, to contribute to bringing food ingredients from novel sources into the market and to help develop a positive perception amongst consumers for algae products.

STFC Side Co-Is: Geraint Morgan (Open University), Sonia Garcia Alcega (Open University)
Food Side Co-Is: Patricia J Harvey (University of Greenwich), Parag Acharya ​(University of Greenwich), Yanan Xu ​(University of Greenwich),

The potential of brown rice for improving health: Investigating the bioaccessibility of its key constituents, and barriers and drivers to consumption

PI - Dr Manoj Menon (University of Sheffield)

​Rice is the staple for more than half of the world’s population, providing up to 70% of the energy requirements of many. Over 85% of consumed rice is white rice, nutritionally inferior to brown rice (whole grain or unpolished). Despite the potential of brown rice for improving micronutrient status and blood sugar control, its uptake is generally low. Some brown rice types may also contain inorganic arsenic (iAs), a group 1 carcinogen. To confirm these benefits and risks, we need to evaluate the bioaccessibility (the amount available for assimilation) of micronutrients and iAs from brown rice types as there have been no previous studies. Concurrently, identifying barriers and drivers to brown rice consumption is essential for informing public health strategies. The objectives of this project are the following:

Measure bioaccessibility of micronutrients and iAs and the impact of phytic acid on nutrient bioaccessibility in brown rice using an in vitro simulated human digestion model.
Determine rice type preferences, perceptions, barriers and drivers to consumption amongst adult type 2 diabetes patients living in Chennai, India 
Quantify the risks and benefits of consuming brown rice using the data obtained from the above two objectives.
Co-create new research proposals, publications and disseminate findings to patients, the public and academia. 

The project team involves academics from the UK (University of Sheffield, Diamond Light Source) and two non-academic partners from India (SAMARTH-NGO and MDRF-Madras Diabetic Research Foundation).  

STFC Side Co-Is: Dr Tina Geraki (STFC Diamond Light Source)
Food Side Co-Is: Dr Viren Ranawana (University of Sheffield)

​Monitoring tropical pollinators in conventional and organic fruit orchards year-round in central Thailand

PI - Dr Alyssa Stewart (Mahidol University Thailand)

Most plants depend on animals to pollinate their flowers, including many agricultural crops. The most well-known pollinators are honey bees, but many other insects pollinate flowers as well, including carpenter bees, sweat bees, stingless bees, wasps, butterflies, and flower flies. However, insect pollinators are currently experiencing many threats, including the widespread use of chemical pesticides. Our research aims to compare pollinator communities in conventional and organic fruit orchards in central Thailand. Moreover, data will be collected across different seasons (rainy and dry), as both pollinator composition and the impact of pesticides on pollinators may vary seasonally. To do so, we will use time-lapse photography and computer vision to automatically detect and identify native pollinators in conventional and organic guava farms. These data will enable us to quickly and efficiently assess how orchard management impacts pollinator diversity and abundance. Moreover, the results of this project will be valuable at multiple scales, from demonstrating the benefits of organic farming practices to local farmers, to providing data that can guide nation-wide and international policy and conservation efforts.

STFC Side Co-Is: Dr Jens Jensen (STFC)
Food Side Co-Is: Dr. Maria Anastasiadi (Cranfield University)

​