The UK’s Global Food Security programme is funding £4.9 million of research hoping to increase resilience and sustainability of the UK food system.
Five projects have been awarded funding with the hope to ensure greater resilience of the UK’s food supply from global shocks, environmental and demographic changes, and threats posed by pests and diseases.
The projects bring together researchers and food producers, manufacturers and retailers working in several areas; from understanding the role of phosphorus as a key nutrient in crop and livestock production to better understanding of how different landscapes affect crop pollinating insects.
Other research topics seek to understand the complex links between dairy production, animal health, and the natural ecosystems upon which they depend.
The resilience of beef and sheep production in remote, upland regions of Northern England and Scotland will also be looked at, and sustainable economic and ecological grazing, along with the effectiveness of innovative farm management.
Future security
The UK’s Global Food Security programme awarded £7.2 million worth of research in August 2016 with projects including research into protecting crops from pests and increasing tolerance to adverse weather conditions.
Science Minister Jo Johnson said: “The Global Food Security programme is an excellent example of interdisciplinary research, bringing together a range of expertise across the biological, environmental and social sciences to address the many uncertainties facing the UK’s food system.
“Research is a vital part of our Industrial Strategy, and by increasing funding in this area we are helping ensure the future security of the UK food sector, while reinforcing our position as a world leader in science and innovation.”
The research programme was driven forward by the UK’s Global Food Security programme, with funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and Scottish government.
Funded projects
• The role of Phosphorus in the resilience and sustainability of the UK food system
Lead PI: Professor Paul Withers, Bangor University, £1.51 million
• Modelling Landscapes for Resilient Pollination Services in the UK
Lead PI: Professor Simon Potts, University of Reading, £592,000
• Resilient dairy: socio-technical innovation for dairy resilience and sustainability
Lead PI: Professor Mark Reed, Newcastle University, £1.49 million
• Sustainable economic and ecological grazing systems – learning from innovative practitioners
Lead PI: Dr Lisa Norton, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, £621,000
• The role of livestock in food system resilience in remote, upland regions
Lead PI: Dr Ann Bruce, The University of Edinburgh, £686,000
