The AFN Network+ is excited to introduce our new Year Three Champions. The Champions bring a wealth of expertise from across the agri-food sector, with an emphasis on policy, technology & innovation, agricultural economy and nutrition.

What does the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget mean for farming, nature, land use and net zero? Emily Norton, our new Policy Champion for Land, Agriculture and Carbon, gives her analysis. 

What does the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget mean for food, farming, health, and land use? Ali Morpeth, our Policy Champion on Food Systems, Health & Nutrition, ties it all together for us. 

What does the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget mean for food and health? Ali Morpeth, our Policy Champion on Food Systems, Health & Nutrition, gives her analysis. 

To mark World Food Day the AFN Network+ (UKRI Agri-food for Net Zero Network+) is proud to announce funding of more than £500,000 for 15 innovative projects which aim to support the UK agri-food sector through the transition to a net zero UK by 2050. 

We’re excited to announce the launch of our new AFN Network+ website, containing key features which will help the Network fulfil its aims of fostering collaboration between members and sharing key insights and expert knowledge between those working towards net zero in agri-food.

We need to reframe land-use change in the UK, move away from net zero as the central goal, and talk to farmers more about their livelihoods. These are some of the key messages from Chris Stark, one of the country’s best known and most senior civil servants working on climate policy.

The AFN Network+ scenarios made it to the Glastonbury Festival , as part of the UKRI research project, TRAnsforming the DEbate about livestock systems (TRADE). Their stand at Glastonbury extended its focus to encompass broader aspects of food sustainability under the banner of ‘Feeding the Future.’

We are looking for six Champions to bring their expertise from industry, academia and the public sector and from any point in the agri-food system to lead a series of activities and support the mission of the AFN Network+.

Thanks to everyone who came to visit our stand at Groundswell 2024. It was a fantastic chance to chat to people about the work of the AFN Network+ and our funding opportunities.

Trees – what role could they play in helping reduce emissions in our food system? Prof Heiko Balzter (University of Leicester) and one our Champions last year, has synthesised research on agroforestry in this report – Agroforestry as a tool for net zero in the UK.

Navaratnam Partheeban is a farm vet and founder of the British Veterinary Ethnicity & Diversity Society. Read the key points or watch the video of his insightful presentation on the importance of diversity in decision making.