The AFN Network+ is excited to introduce our six new Champions for 2024. The Champions bring a wealth of expertise spanning the agri-food system, from hands-on farming to wider industry, academia and the public sector. Each Champion will lead one of six research themes, identified by our members during The Big Tent 2023, our annual general meeting.
Leaders in their respective fields, the Champions bring a diverse range of experience. From hospitality to innovative agri-businesses, communications, third sector organisations and food systems research, their backgrounds encompass the food system from farm to fork. Our Champions play a key role in supporting our mission of identifying key research gaps that may be holding the UK food system back from transitioning towards a net zero UK by 2050. Drawing on their expertise and knowledge, the Champions will build their own networks, centred around their respective theme. They will run engagement activities with the aim of seeking and synthesising ideas and thinking around the drive towards achieving net zero by 2050. Crucially, they will map the research and innovation landscape, within their theme as well as across others, identifying critical knowledge and activity gaps that need addressing. Stefan Kepinski, Champions Coordinator said: “We’re thrilled to welcome our exceptional new Champions. They bring with them unique insight into the agri-food sector, which is crucial if we want to advance real change in the food system as the UK transitions to net zero. We eagerly anticipate the valuable contribution they’ll make to the Network.” Achieving net zero in the agri-food system requires understanding the whole system, including production, supply chains, consumption, waste, land use, governance, economics, trade, and more. Over two workshops, a conceptual model diagram has been developed that represents the shared understanding of the structure of the complex UK agrifood system. The conceptual model can be used to help understand the integrated system, and as the basis for more quantitative systems dynamics modelling and research going forward.
A third in-person workshop will update and simplify the conceptual model, develop a preliminary systems dynamics model, and discuss research going forward. The workshop will take place on 19 January 2024, from 10:30am to 4:30pm, at Room 301, One Pool Street, UCL East (1 Pool St, London E20 2AF). The AFN Network+ has launched a consultation on the Research and Policy Priorities for the UK agri-food system. The AFN Network+ was established in 2022 to help inform the work of the UK research councils. This consultation document has been produced after the Network’s first year of activities, and research priorities were explored at an expert workshop in November 2023. It sets out the suggested priorities for research and policy under six themes. (These themes were generated from previous discussions among Network+ members and at our ‘Big Tent’ event in Leeds in May 2023). We also propose policy options. The six themes are not strictly discrete and bounded and the proposed research and policy options often straddle them. We have added a final section considering system-wide and cross-cutting issues. You can download the consultation document below. This consultation is now closed, but if you do have comments on the consultation document, please email contact@agrifood4netzero.net
COP28 in Dubai was hailed as historic for many reasons - but what was achieved, if anything, in terms of the food system? We've put together this quick-read briefing based on a Chatham House webinar held on 14 December with the Environment and Society team. Not everyone who wanted to go was able to attend, so here are the main overall points, with a run-down from Prof Tim Benton, based at Chatham House, and also our Co-Lead. Read the briefing here.
This project, led by Toritseju Begho at SRUC, was one of 16 scoping studies to receive funding from the AFN Network+. Here Toritseju explains how the project will test the willingness of consumers to replace meat with alternative proteins in their diet.
We know that we need to make the food system in the UK better for the environment. Our project will focus on meat, and the potential willingness of consumers to integrate alternative proteins into their diet. Currently the way we produce meat has a negative impact on the planet. Even if we improve production methods, there will still be a significant environmental impact. Recent research indicates that to effectively meet climate goals, we need to reduce meat consumption. Different kinds of proteins which have less impact on the environment such as legumes, edible mushrooms, insects, ‘meat’ made in labs or meat analogues (e.g., manufactured using protein extracted from plants) could be an alternative. The big question is are people in the UK ready to introduce these alternative proteins into their diets? |
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UK Research has funded this Network+ with the support of these 4 councils:
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Privacy Policy |