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 [email protected]

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

  • IKnowFood: Integrating Knowledge for Food Systems Resilience

    In this project we will support individuals and organisations across the food system to develop their knowledge of resilience. Producers, processors, manufacturers, retailers, policy makers and consumers will all have to...

    Funded by: BBSRC

    Lead research organisation: University of York

    Why might this be relevant?

    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.

  • Backcasting to Achieve Food Resilience in the UK (BAFR-UK)

    Context Our food systems are optimised for efficiency rather than resilience, putting them at risk of actual or apparent failure, especially due to the impacts of increasing geopolitical instability and climate change. ...

    Funded by: BBSRC

    Lead research organisation: Anglia Ruskin University

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project specifically addresses the challenges of food system resilience and supply chain vulnerabilities in response to various factors including climate change and global markets.

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

    Recent years have seen a significant interest in global and UK food security in policy, science and business circles, and in the more general press. Heightened by the 2007/08 food price crisis this is further driven by g...

    Funded by: BBSRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Oxford

  • CoCentre for Sustainable Food Systems

    Our current food system does not meet the economic, social and environmental requirements needed to generate food security and nutrition for all. The food system faces urgent and complex challenges. This affects us local...

    Funded by: ISPF

    Lead research organisation: University of Sheffield

    Why might this be relevant?

    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)

    The ability of the global food systems to rebound from shocks and in particular the resilience of the UK food system is the focus of this project. Growing populations, changing diets (in response to income changes) and b...

    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

  • Vertical Farming to Improve UK Food System Resilience (VF-UKFSR)

    Our changing environment, political unrest and the threat of further pandemics all place risk on how we ensure continued access to high quality nutritious food. Vertical farming (VF) is a means of producing food in a tot...

    Funded by: BBSRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Surrey

  • 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

  • Sustainable Food Production System

    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

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project addresses the challenges of food production, sustainability, and energy integration in response to global events like COVID-19.

  • Enhancing transformative resilience of fruit and vegetable provision for UK citizens

    Fruit and vegetables (F&V) are essential components of a healthy diet, but the resilience of their provision to UK citizens over coming years is at high risk. We have a 'just-in-time' lean inventory and delivery syst...

    Funded by: BBSRC

    Lead research organisation: UNIVERSITY OF READING

Similar ARIs from other organisations

Delivering sustainable and regenerative agriculture and food systems What are vulnerabilities and strengths of Scotland’s food system, and how can Scotland's national resilience to future domestic or global shocks to our food system be improved, whilst aligning to the vision set out in the Good Food Nation Plan? Scottish Government Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, 2026
Full details