We need to eat differently – for the planet and our own health too. This much is becoming increasingly clear as report after report shows that cutting emissions from the agri-food system hinges on dietary change. But what determines our food choices, and what are the lessons for policy makers, health, education, food companies, retail, and the wider food system? Prof Charlotte Hardman, Psychologist of Eating Behaviour in the Department of Psychology, Institute of Population Health, at the University of Liverpool, sheds some light on this important topic.

Charlotte covers;

• Setting the scene – mapping UK dietary inequalities, health and food insecurity
• The psychology determinants of healthy and sustainable food choices
• The role of poverty, inequality and the cost-of-living in our food choices
• Why UK poverty and high living costs are barriers to achieving net zero in agri-food
• Learnings from schools, food banks and other lived experiences
• Lessons for policy makers, retail, food brands, health and education professionals

About Charlotte:

Prof Charlotte Hardman is a Professor of Psychology of Eating Behaviour in the Department of Psychology, Institute of Population Health, at the University of Liverpool. She leads a programme of research focused on appetite and obesity, and the psychological determinants of healthy and sustainable food choices. She is passionate about tackling dietary inequalities, and her current research is focused on urban food growing and its potential to create a healthy, sustainable and equitable food system. She is a founding member of the Liverpool Food Growers Network and a trustee of Feeding Liverpool. She receives competitive research funding from major funders including UKRI and the European Commission, and has published more than 85 peer-reviewed articles in international scientific journals. She has held post-doctoral research positions at Bangor University and the University of Bristol.

About the webinar series:

This webinar is part of a monthly series run by AFN Network+ which explores net zero in the UK agri-food system with leading movers and shakers. Expect deep and varied insight from across the sector, including farmers, scientists, policy analysts, community leaders, retailers, politicians, businesses and health professionals. The series is put together by Jez Fredenburgh, our Knowledge Exchange Fellow, and Prof Neil Ward, AFN Co-lead and professor of rural geography at the University of East Anglia.