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. Key report conclusions; Agroforestry can provide multiple benefits to agriculture: Even […]
Diversity in decision making – Navaratnam Partheeban
If you missed our annual Network gathering a while back, you will have missed Navaratnam Patheeban OBE’s insightful presentation on the importance of diversity in decision making. You can watch his presentation here, along with other key speakers, including Judith Batchelar OBE on retailer mindset and Sue Pritchard on why we need to grab the opportunity this year for food system change. Navaratnam Partheeban is a farm […]
Judith Batchelar: Supermarket & food chain insights
If you missed our annual network gathering last month, you can now watch the key presentations on YouTube, by clicking the names of our three distinguished and very thought-provoking speakers below. Judith Batchelar OBE is deputy chair of the Environment Agency and former brand director for Sainsbury’s. Navaratnam Partheeban OBE is a farm vet and founder of the British Veterinary Ethnicity & […]
Designing a new model of insurance for farmers experimenting with climate friendly practices
Collective insurance products are uncommon and to support farmers in experimenting and taking risks as a group, our project explores the design of a new model of collective insurance for farmers trying new climate-smart practices as a cohort, across a catchment.
Sue Pritchard – “This year is an auspicious moment for food system change”
If you missed our annual network gathering last month, you can now watch the key presentations on YouTube, by clicking the names of our three distinguished and very thought-provoking speakers below: Sue Pritchard is a farmer and chief executive of the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission. Judith Batchelar OBE is deputy chair of the Environment Agency and […]
Is the UK on track to achieve net zero within the dairy food chain?
This project was one of 16 scoping studies to receive funding from the AFN Network+ in 2023. In this blog, project lead Maria Traka and Laura Bardon from Quadram Institute Bioscience describe why they’re developing a sustainability data map for the UK dairy food chain. Our food system produces a third (34%) of global greenhouse gas emissions. […]
Briefing: The ‘undeserving poor’- why food system transformation is middle class and why this needs to change
If you missed our webinar with Dominic Watters on ‘How food system transformation is middle class and why this needs to change’, you can now read a briefing of the key points and wider discussion. Dominic, also known as Single Dad SW, is a single dad living in poverty and food and fuel insecurity in London. His estate is a […]
Announcing our new Champions
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 […]
Workshop: Modelling the agri-food system
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 […]
Have your say on Research and Policy Priorities for the UK agri-food system
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 […]
What was achieved at COP28 for food and farming?
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, […]
What’s holding people back from replacing meat with other protein-rich foods?
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.