Newsletter: December 2023

Have you recently published work on a food-related theme, completed a project, or been awarded a grant? Are you planning an event that colleagues should know about, or have you heard of such events elsewhere? Are you aware of opportunities or resources that might be of interest to other network members? Please email Exeter Food for inclusion in the next Exeter Food newsletter.

Contents:

NEWS | EVENTS | OPPORTUNITIES | RESOURCES 

NEWS

Devon Food Partnership wins Sustainable Food award 

The Devon Food Partnership has been honoured with a prestigious national award, acknowledging its efforts in championing healthy, sustainable, and locally sourced food. The Bronze Award from Sustainable Food Places recognises the Partnership's positive influence since its inception in 2021, responding to the surge in demand for local food during the pandemic. There’s more information on the award and the partnership on their news page. 

New book: Food Policy and Practice in Early Years Education and Care, by Dr Francesca Vaghi 

Dr Francesca Vaghi is an associate member of the Exeter Food Network and the Centre for Rural Policy Research. Francesca's latest book delves into the vital intersection of food, policy, and early childhood education. More information can be found on the Routledge website. 

Research Communications survey

Research Services are calling on colleagues interested or involved in research communications to complete their short survey, part of a project that looks at how individuals and teams can be supported to get the most of social media. You'll be contributing to recommendations for resources and strategies that can potentially improve and amplify communications about our incredible research. The survey closes on Friday 12 January. 

EVENTS

Exeter Food Colloquium- The importance of science-industry collaboration in changing the way we eat 

Friday 2nd February 2024 1:30- 4:30pm in Building One- Constantine Leventis Teaching Room and online.  

This colloquium explores collaboration between university researchers and food industry leaders, focusing on the successful partnership with Quorn. Representatives from Quorn and the University of Exeter will share insights, concluding with a discussion on applying lessons to future science-industry projects, potentially continuing collaboration with Quorn. 

• Part 1 Food Systems and the Quorn Story - Tim Finnigan, Professor of Sustainable Nutrition, University of Northumbria; and formerly Chief Scientific Adviser to Quorn Foods 

• Part 2: Translating Evidence into Action - Tess Kelly, Head of External Engagement, Quorn) 

• Part 3: Where do we go from here? - Prof Benjamin Wall, University of Exeter. The event will reflect on lessons learned from Quorn and our colleagues’ experience of partnering with them. We will discuss colleagues’ future research goals and industry partnerships. 

Please complete this sign up form to register to attend. 

Exeter Food talk: Jake Fiennes- Making space for Nature: Balancing food security and self-sufficiency for a better environment 

Thursday 22 February from 6:30pm in the Alumni Auditorium, Streatham Campus, EX4 4PT 

With so many demands on our rural landscapes, how do we balance the needs of ourselves with those of the natural environment. 70% of the country is in some form of agriculture, some productive, some less so. Change is paramount, but can we afford to wait? Will we be able to overcome the cultural and social aspects of land use change for the benefit of future generations? 

Jake is Director of Conservation at the Holkham Estate, Norfolk and author of Land Healer: How farming can save Britain's countryside. 

Please register here to attend. The talk will also be accessible via Zoom for those unable to attend in person.   

Prior to the talk, there will be a food market on Forum Street featuring a range of local food producers. More information to follow. 

Bridging the Gap: The future of food hubs and ethical supply chains

Tuesday 23rd January 11am-12pm online. 

This online talk is part of Sustain's Bridging the Gap series and will explore the challenges and opportunities in making organic, health-friendly, and planet-friendly food accessible to all, regardless of income. The focus is on food hubs, wholesalers, and ethical supply chains as key components to create shorter, farmer-focused, and resilient supply chains. These alternatives can ensure fair returns for farmers, promote climate and nature-friendly farming, and provide long-term security.  

The talk aims to discuss policy commitments needed to support food hubs and ethical supply chains, fostering a dialogue on making sustainable food options available to everyone. Registration is open via the Bridging the Gap website. 

CRPR Seminar - Cyborg Cooks: Digitalising domestic cooking in Germany 

Wednesday 31st January 10:45- 12:15 via Teams- Katharina Graf - University of Frankfurt 

This talk questions the futuristic idea of smart kitchens in Germany, focusing on the digitalisation of domestic cooking. Exploring the anthropological perspective through the concept of the cyborg cook, Katharina will challenge the one-sided view of technology rescuing busy or inexperienced cooks. Using examples like the digital kitchen robot Thermomix, she suggests that smart kitchens are already a reality, with mothers as early adopters. This challenges assumptions about women, even from cultural or class minorities, being tech-averse marginal users. The Teams link to join is here  Meeting ID: 361 052 856 595 Passcode: XoMbMv. 

Royal Academy of Engineering Frontiers Symposium - Expressions of Interest  

7th- 9th February 2024- Amman Jordan 

The Royal Academy of Engineering is inviting expressions of interest for its Frontiers Symposium. The symposium will discuss challenges at the intersection of water, energy, food, and the environment, particularly in the context of extreme weather and vulnerable populations, including refugees. The symposium aims to connect and empower early-mid career researchers, innovators, and practitioners worldwide to foster innovative solutions to local and global challenges. Emphasising collaboration and interdisciplinary thinking, the event seeks to identify creative solutions for a sustainable and inclusive global society. Successful collaborations developed during the symposium will be eligible for seed funding grants of £20,000 over one year. More information can be found on the Frontiers Programme website. 

CRPR Seminar - Between Scales, Subjectivities and Species: Towards a political ecological theory of futurity in agri-food systems

This seminar explores the various meanings of scale in agriculture, covering farm size, technology adoption, and envisioned changes. Using a critical geographical approach, it analyses how scale is produced in the spatial and temporal reality of agricultural systems. Drawing on empirical material from doctoral fieldwork with food producers, the presentation complicates discussions on scale by comparing visits to a large-scale arable business and a regenerative horticultural farm. The analysis shows how labour dynamics and interactions with the environment challenge ideas of desirable agricultural scale and technology use. It raises questions about farm viability, economic power, and farmers' capacity for transformative agricultural change, focusing on their perspectives on the future of their farms and agriculture. The Teams link to join is here  Meeting ID: 376 710 272 301 Passcode: WzMzkf. 

OPPORTUNITIES

Exeter Food is keen to support members in the development of research proposals. If you have an idea that you would like to explore in a “sandpit” with colleagues and potential partners, or a draft proposal on which you would like feedback from colleagues, please contact the network lead, Harry G West. 

Research resources sought for the Behavioural and Cultural Insights Hub website

The BCI Hub, a collaboration between the University of Exeter and WHO Europe, aims to provide a platform for sharing evidence and good practice related to the barriers and drivers of healthy practices. Areas of focus include health literacy, environment and health, and antimicrobial resistance.  

The Hub are looking for resources such as journal articles, reports, and research papers, as well as podcasts, videos, and case studies to showcase on their BCI Hub website. Please email WHO-BCI-hub@exeter.ac.uk if you are interested or to find out more.  

BBSRC: Fuelling the future of bioscience with your big ideas

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) are inviting researchers, scientists, and innovators to contribute ideas to shape the future of bioscience. They emphasise the importance of innovation in driving bioscience advancements and encourage individuals to submit big ideas that challenge conventions, foster creativity, and address global challenges.  

The call for ideas is open until January 12, 2024, and they welcome submissions across various themes, disciplines, and scales. The submitted ideas will be considered by a panel to identify key concepts and themes. The BBSRC aims to use these visionary ideas as a catalyst for meaningful change and to create a more innovative future for bioscience. For more information and to apply visit the BBSRC Big Ideas website. 

Pre-announcement for interdisciplinary research funding to address epidemic threats 

UKRI offers a new grant opportunity with £1 million in funding (max award: £100,000) to seed interdisciplinary teams for research on epidemic diseases in humans, animals, and plants. The application deadline is 27th February 2024. More details are accessible from the UKRI website, including requirements and the application process. 

Anthropology of Food Network – Student Paper Award 

The European Association of Social Anthropologists (EASA) is inviting submissions for the Student Paper Awards in the Anthropology of Food. These awards were established by the EASA Anthropology of Food network to encourage emerging scholars in conducting anthropological research on food. Masters and early doctoral students in anthropology and related fields who study food are encouraged to submit their papers for consideration. 

The deadline for submission is 1st February, 2024. For more information about eligibility rules and judging criteria, please see here. 

RESOURCES

Recordings and resources from recent Exeter Food Network events 

Exeter Food have hosted a wide range of interesting seminars, talks and events this term. If you missed the live events, don’t worry – we’ve recorded everything and collated the resources shared and they are available for Exeter Food members, see more information below. If you are unable to access these links please email researchnetworks@exeter.ac.uk  

Paul Freedman talk - Why food matters 

Paul Freedman, Professor of History at Yale University presented on the topic of his recent book: Why Food Matters. A video of the event is available on YouTube. 

Exeter Food Pechakucha Seminars

Pechakucha events provide opportunities to familiarise ourselves with our colleagues research and seek to inspire future collaborations. November’s speakers and topics were: Natalia Lawrence on Training Emotional and Behavioural Responses to Food to Change Eating Behaviour, Hugh Williamson on Beastly Disruption or Responsible Transformation in Animal Agriculture? Stakeholder perceptions of digital livestock technologies. John Lidwell-Durnin on Explaining Famine: Subsistence crises and the production of agricultural data in eighteenth century Britain and Okechukwu Okorie on Digital Technologies Enabling a Circular Food Supply Chain: The blockchain technology example. The slides and recording are available from the Exeter Food members area. 

Sarah Berry talk - Personalised nutrition for metabolic health 

Sarah Berry, Reader in Nutritional Sciences at King’s College London and Chief Scientist at ZOE Ltd spoke about the shift from a generic nutritional approach to personalised nutrition. She shared information about the ZOE PREDICT programme and it’s pioneering effort in utilising AI to reveal significant variations in metabolic responses to meals and underscoring the impact of individual factors on nutritional outcomes. The recording is available from the Exeter Food members area. 

Collaborations between Food Researchers and the Arts: a creative appetiser 

In collaboration with the Arts & Culture, Creative Arc, and the Co-Production Oracle, we hosting a workshop for food researchers interested in collaborating with creative practitioners. The session included case studies, information on university resources and funding pathways and a practical workshop experience. The slides and recording are available from the Exeter Food members area. 

AFN+ Network report- What could the UK Agri-Food System look like in 2050? 

A new scenarios report explores potential future scenarios for the UK agri-food system, considering changes in geopolitics, economics, and demand patterns. The report envisions four scenarios and outlines pathways to achieve net zero in each. It highlights the importance of research to reach these goals and is the result of extensive workshops and input from contributors, including external experts. The report is available for download from the AFN+ Network website. 

Food industry priorities for a sustainable food system 2023 UKRI Innovate UK report 

The 20th Century UK food system met the demand for safe, affordable, and available food, but current challenges require solutions for a 21st Century food system. This report highlights the essential role of food manufacturing, emphasising its significance in achieving net zero, fostering growth, and attracting investment. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is important in supporting pre-competitive technologies and commercial innovations for industry growth. The Innovate UK report is available from the UKRI website and outlines priorities in Net Zero, Healthy Living & Agriculture, and Digital Technologies to create a sustainable food system meeting evolving consumer needs. 

“Food History: Printed and Manuscript Recipe Books, 1669-1990” Archives Unbound 

This Archives Unbound title is now available via the Exeter University library’s Gale Research Complete subscription here. The collection is from the Winterthur Museum and Library in Delaware and includes 328 cookbooks and domestic management books. Food History shows the types of foods that were being eaten, different cultural cuisines, and the diversity of foodways. The books and manuscripts in the collection range in date from 1669 to the early to mid-20th century, with the majority centred in the 18th and 19th century. 

Exeter Food is coordinated by Professor Harry West

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