How do we respond effectively to challenges including a rapidly growing population, changing consumption trends, finite land use, resource constraints, changing climate, globalised markets, and black swan events such as COVID-19 all of which impact on food and farming system security and supply chain resilience?

Background

We need research to develop a world-leading resilient food and farming system which enables the sector to grow and be more productive sustainably. Research and innovation will help champion trade of British food, produced to the highest environmental and animal welfare standards, in global markets. It will also maintain food safety, providing consumers with healthy, sustainable and affordable food choices.

Next steps

Get in touch with ari.comment@go-science.gov.uk

Source

This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:

DEFRA Research and innovation interests GOVUK

Related UKRI funded projects

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    This project aims to develop a resilient food system by investigating the nature of resilience and how it can be promoted in different components of the food system, which directly addresses the challenges mentioned in the question.

  • Resilience of the UK Food System in a global context - Programme Coordination

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    Lead research organisation: University of Oxford

  • Co-Centre for SUstainable and REsilient FOOD systems (SUREFOOD-I)

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    The project addresses the challenges of food security, climate impact, and sustainable food production, providing innovative solutions.

  • Resilience of the UK food system to Global Shocks (RUGS)

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    Funded by: BBSRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Edinburgh

    Why might this be relevant?

    This project investigates the resilience of the UK food system to global shocks, which partially addresses the challenges mentioned in the question.

  • The local as a site of food security resilience in the times of pandemic: opportunities, challenges and ways forward.

    The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted on the UK's food systems, and disruptions are likely to continue. There is emerging evidence that the local food sector (local food producers and their supply chains) can ...

    Funded by: COVID

    Lead research organisation: University of Sheffield

  • Sustainable Food Production System

    The United Kingdom aims to reach its carbon neutral target by 2050, and all sectors have started planning and implementing strategies to achieve this goal. The food production industry is responsible for approximately 26...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: BRITS ENERGY LIMITED

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    The United Kingdom aims to reach carbon neutral target by 2050, and all sectors have started planning and implementing strategies to achieve this goal. The food production industry is responsible for approximately 26% of...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: BRITS ENERGY LIMITED

  • Flexifarm - Improving the Resilience of the Food System

    FlexiFarm is a project aiming to increase the resilience of the important first link in the global food chain, primary growers. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need through empty shelves, shortages of food item...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: DIOMETER LIMITED

  • Food Quality and Health - Sustaining the Future

    Demand for food is changing because of population growth, changing diets and increasing affluence. Food production is under increasing pressure as water and other natural resources become scarcer and competition for the ...

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  • Hybrid Advanced Research Vertical-Farming Environment Systems and Technology (HARVEST)

    The recent COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the fragility of global food supply chains. Countries urgently seek a healthy, base level of food security and self-sufficiency at a time when agricultural land is depleted, t...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: LARCH FOUNDRY LIMITED

Similar ARIs from other organisations

Adapting to the food and feed system of the future What are the risks and opportunities presented by shifts and disruptions in the food system, including new and emerging technologies, and how should we regulate food in the future?  Food Standards Agency, 2020
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Assuring food and feed safety and standards What are the differences in food production systems and food standards globally and how does this impact on trade and the food available to UK consumers?   Food Standards Agency, 2020
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