Together we are the AFN Network+, the UKRI Agri-food for Net Zero Network+

Bringing together key research leaders and stakeholders, their organisations and networks, our mission is to shape the next decade of research to support and drive the agrifood system’s progress towards net zero. As a Network+, we’re taking a co-development approach to engage scientists and stakeholders to progress and prioritise UKRI and other research. We’ve assembled – and continue to strengthen – a formidable team that combines systems-level expertise with comprehensive coverage of all key specialisms. 

​Our reach, like our expertise and coverage, is broad and deep. Stakeholders extend across government departments, devolved administrations and their agencies, NGOs, innovation bodies, the agrifood industry, and farming and fishery groups across the UK. 

We want you to join us. To play your vital part, by adding your voice, your specialist expertise.

Join our Network+

Through our strong, impactful Network+, we’re’ supporting the rapid, robust and trusted transformation of the agrifood sector to achieve net zero and sustainability. Ultimately bringing benefits for livelihoods, biodiversity and ecosystems.

Real change, three clear objectives

We’re building a foundation for transformative research and action, setting a clear direction for UKRI research and activities to follow. We’ve established three clear objectives that everyone across the Network+ is committed to and working towards.

Creating an active
Community of Practice

We’re establishing an open, diverse and inclusive Community of Practice based on four principles: trust, transparency, inclusivity and fun. One thriving community that strengthens existing relationships – and catalyses new ones – with agrifood stakeholders, from agri-tech and farming to retail and consumers.

Delivering a context-dependent roadmap

As a Network+, we’re enabling academics and stakeholders to co-create a shared understanding of the range of global contexts the UK agrifood system may face over the coming decades. We’re exploring plausible pathways for a variety of scenarios to reach net zero through a sustainable UK agrifood system. We’re also establishing a prioritised set of critical research questions that need to be tackled to maximise progress along the pathways.

Shaping the next decade of research

We’re kickstarting cross-discipline/cross-sector projects that capitalise on existing expertise across UKRI. We’re drawing on international insights to accelerate progress towards net zero, by running facilitated scoping-study competitions and supporting projects to maximise their impact and future funding.

Join our Network+

Principles in action

To make sure that we’re each able to give our best, and be our true selves within a community that values who we are and the time and energy we give, we have three guiding principles:

We’re inclusive

We make everyone feel welcome through our communications and in our meetings. We want to make it fun too. And we’ll actively seek diversity with respect to people, geography, subject area and career stage.

We think creatively

We are at our best when we work in co-production with stakeholders. We promote trans- and interdisciplinary working, with a solution-focus.

We prioritise

We focus on what matters most, delivers most. We embed research integrity and maximise transparency, including when managing conflicts of interest.