Newsletter: November 2024

Welcome to the latest Exeter Food Research Network newsletter!

Have you recently published food-related work, completed a project, or received a grant? Are you planning an event or know of relevant opportunities or resources?

Please email us at Exeter Food or follow us on LinkedIn tag us in your posts for resharing!

Contents:

NEWS | EVENTS | OPPORTUNITIES | RESOURCES 

NEWS

Project Awarded to Improve Community Involvement in Seaweed Farming

Congratulations to Dr. Tomas Chaigneau (Environment & Sustainability Institute, Penryn), Ruth Klückers and Kerry Holbrook (The Seaweed Institute) who have received funding from the University of Exeter's Engaged & Participatory Research Funding Scheme. This project aims to improve how licensing and regulatory bodies in Cornwall involve local communities in planning prospective seaweed farms. The group will collaborate with licensing and regulatory organisation, seaweed farmers, and community groups across three coastal locations in Cornwall over the next eight months. The initiative seeks to ensure community voices are integral to sustainable development in this growing industry.

Starting a new project or applying for funding? Tag Exeter Food in Worktribe

Tagging the Exeter Food Research Network in your projects on Worktribe highlights the value of the Network, supports its growth and capacity to provide more support to members. If the Exeter Food Network has contributed to your project, you or your team as members can tag it to showcase that support. Examples include receiving seed funding, discovering funding opportunities via network communications, forming collaborations through the network, or using the network for engagement activities.

Recognising network contributions not only strengthens your project but also enhances the visibility and impact of the networks themselves. Tagging Networks is very simple to do and will enable them to track the bids and projects which may arise directly or indirectly as a result of network membership. Very brief guidance is available here.

Giulia Nicolini Awarded Wenner-Gren Grant for Research 

Exeter Food member Giulia Nicolini has been awarded a Dissertation Fieldwork Grant by the Wenner-Gren Foundation, for her project on 'Shaping seaweed as a food in southwest England'. Her research explores how demand and taste for seaweed are changing in the South West. It uses cultural intermediaries like chefs or marketers as a way to study how production and consumption influence each other. It also examines how human-caused environmental changes affect these shifts, shaping seaweed both as a material product and as a symbol of a specific kind of "food." Congratulations Giulia! Please contact her if you would like to hear more gn290@exeter.ac.uk

Exeter Food Network Food Market- Devon Food producers

On Tuesday 26^th November from 12pm there will be a food market of Devon food makers on Forum Street, within the Forum Building on the Streatham Campus. You’ll be able to sample and buy some of the great food and drink Devon has to offer and learn more about the work of the Exeter Food Research Network and other local food networks and initiatives.

• Naturally Bread- savoury and sweet vegan baked products
• Find & Fosters Fine Ciders- fine and mulled cider
• Bar Buoy- ready made and bottled cocktails
• Curious Kombucha- Bottled kombucha and gift packs
• Sharpham Cheese- cheese crackers and chutney
• Piper’s Farm
• Quickes Cheese- cheese and hampers
• Barbers bean to bar- chocolate bars, hot chocolate and cocoa husk tea
• Ticklemore Cheese- blue cheeses include Devon Blue, Beenleigh Blue and Harbourne Blue

Immediately following the market is a public lecture by Michael Caines, globally renowned Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur in the Alumni Auditorium. See more information below.

EVENTS

Exeter Food presents: Michael Caines MBE- Transforming the Menu

Exeter Food Research Network are pleased to invite you to a public lecture with Michael Caines on Tuesday 26^th November at 7pm in the Alumni Auditorium, Streatham Campus.

In his talk, chef Michael Caines addresses critical challenges in today’s food system, including biodiversity loss and food waste. Drawing on his extensive culinary experience, he emphasises the importance of diversifying and rebalancing our diets by understanding local food sources, utilising seasonal ingredients, and reintroducing neglected foods into contemporary cuisine. Caines advocates for a more sustainable and secure food system through these approaches, highlighting the rich culinary potential of Southwest England.

For those unable to attend in person, the talk will be accessible via Zoom (please sign up below to receive the link), ensuring a wide audience can engage with these vital discussions about the future of food.

Tickets are selling fast, so don’t forget to book yours via EventBrite and share the link with your colleagues and contacts.

Exeter Food Research Fair: Building Collaborative Futures in Food Innovation

Thursday 16th January 2025 9:30-13:30 at the Positive Light Projects, 184-187 Sidwell Street, Exeter EX46RD

The purpose of this Exeter Food Research Fair is to bring together academics and non-academics with an interest in food to explore possibilities for collaborative projects. Potential partners are being drawn from a wide range of areas including food businesses, policymaking, third sector and community organisations and cultural institutions. Emphasis will be placed on entities working in the SW of England. Researchers will include those from a wide range of disciplines, including the humanities and social sciences, business, engineering, and the life sciences.

Various possible forms of collaboration and ways in which collaborations might be funded will be discussed at the event, including student placements; Masters or PhD research projects; Knowledge Exchange Partnerships; research projects funded by UKRI, government departments, or industry partners; etc. Examples will be presented on the day.

To reserve a place, please complete the following form https://forms.office.com/e/JSzED77N49 by 16:00 on Friday 6th December. Participants are being asked in advance to outline their interests to facilitate the process of creating working groups for the event.

Book Launch Announcement: Capitalist Colonial by Matan Kaminer

Join Dr. Katie Natanel and Dr. Geoffrey Hughes on Wednesday, November 27th at 5pm in Lecture Theatre One at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies for the launch of Capitalist Colonial: Thai Migrant Workers in Israeli Agriculture (Stanford University Press, 2024). Author Matan Kaminer will be joined by discussants Dr. Katie Natanel and Dr. Geoffrey Hughes to delve into this insightful ethnographic work. The book examines the intersection of migrant labour, colonialism, and capitalism in Israel, shedding light on the lived experiences of Thai agricultural workers and offering critical perspectives on global labour systems. All are welcome for an engaging discussion and event.

LandAlive: Sustainable Food & Farming Conference for the South West

Taking place on 22nd and 23rd November, at the Bath & West Showground, LandAlive is a conference dedicated to advancing a localised, regenerative farming and food system in the South West and beyond.
Discover how regenerative farming can mitigate climate risks, restore nature, boost local economies, make nutritious food more accessible, and enhance food system resilience. The conference brings together thought-leaders and practitioners to shape a fair and secure food future. For more information and to register visit the LandAlive website.

Future of Food Competition 2024

The Future of Food competition is a not-for-profit, fully inclusive event and it is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging entrepreneurial minds to devise solutions for tomorrow’s food challenges. In the face of significant global changes and rapidly evolving megatrends, they seek to emphasise the opportunities and issues within the food industry. 

This free event is scheduled for Tuesday 26^th November 2024 at the Royal Geographical Society in London from 12-5pm. Visit www.futureoffood.org.uk to register your attendance. 

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. 

PhD Position in Human Dimensions of Climate Smart Agricultural Practices

The University of Georgia's Social Sustainability of Agriculture and Food Systems Lab is seeking a PhD student to explore the complexities of adopting "climate-smart" agricultural practices in the U.S. Under the guidance of Dr. Jennifer Jo Thompson, the student will engage in mixed-methods social science research to uncover barriers faced by commodity producers, with a focus on Idaho. Funded by the USDA through the Innovative Agriculture and Marketing Partnership, this position offers the opportunity to conduct fieldwork and collaborate with local communities, including Tribal partners and producer cooperatives.

The ideal candidate will have a Master’s degree in a relevant field and a strong interest in human dimensions of agriculture and sustainability. Proficiency in qualitative research methods is preferred. Applications are due by 20^th December 2024. Interested candidates should send a CV, statement of interest, unofficial transcripts, and an academic writing sample to Dr Thompson (jjthomp@uga.edu) and Dr Seigerman (cydneykate@uga.edu).

Postdoc Opportunities in Philosophy of Food – University of Milan

The University of Milan’s Department of Philosophy is hiring two Postdoctoral Researchers (30 months each) for the Horizon Europe-funded project Re-framing European Gastronomy Legacy through Innovation, Sustainability, and Heritage (RELISH). Led by Prof. Andrea Borghini (Culinary Mind), RELISH aims to explore European culinary heritage and its preservation through innovative and sustainable approaches.

Key Details:

• Application Period: Opens early/mid-December 2024, closing 30 days later
• Start Date: 1st February 2025
• Specialisations: Philosophy of food, food studies, analytic philosophy (e.g., metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of science)

Responsibilities: Collaborating with Prof. Borghini, postdocs will coordinate theoretical aspects of RELISH, conduct high-level research, and contribute to interdisciplinary engagement and knowledge-sharing.

Requirements: Candidates should hold (or be near completion of) a PhD in Philosophy or related fields, with a focus on food culture and theory. Experience in project management or digital/public humanities is beneficial. Please visit the Culinary Minds website for more information.

Postdoctoral Opportunity in Food Ontology – University of Milan

The University of Milan’s Department of Philosophy invites applications for an 18-month Postdoctoral Researcher position in Food Ontology. Part of an international research collaboration led by Prof. Andrea Borghini (Culinary Mind), this project explores the philosophical foundations of the digital food transformation (DFT).

Key Details:

• Application Period: Opens early/mid-December 2024, closing 30 days later
• Start Date: 1st February 2025
• Specialisations: Philosophy of food, analytic metaphysics, ontology, formal semantics, logic, formal epistemology

Responsibilities: Collaborating with Prof. Borghini, the postdoc will conduct high-level research, coordinate interdisciplinary efforts in food ontology, and devise strategies to enhance interoperability in digital food systems.

Requirements: Candidates should hold (or be near completion of) a PhD in Philosophy or Computer Science, with experience in theoretical food studies, project management, or event planning. Please visit the Culinary Minds website for more information.

Associate Professor Position – Food Studies, Taylor’s University, Malaysia

Taylor’s University School of Food Studies & Gastronomy is seeking an Associate Professor to join its team. The successful candidate will contribute to teaching, research, and administration in Food Studies. Responsibilities include designing and delivering postgraduate courses, supervising students, and supporting curriculum development. Teaching will focus on the social sciences, with an emphasis on food cultures and systems.

As a researcher, the candidate will join the "Food Studies" group of the Centre for Asian Modernisation Studies (CAMS) and work on projects such as the Asian Food Barometer. The role also includes securing research funding, publishing, and organising academic events.

Applicants must possess a Ph.D. in Social Sciences with seven years of university-level teaching or industry experience, a strong publication record, and demonstrated research excellence. The candidate should also have experience in securing research grants and building external partnerships. For more information, please visit the Taylor’s University website.

OpenAgri Open Call Launched – Apply Now!

The OpenAgri Open Call, seeks small consortia of two entities: an Agricultural Digital Solutions (ADS) provider (e.g., SME, university) and an end-user (e.g., farm or agrifood organisation). The aim is to co-create new Open Source ADSs, building on existing cloud solutions and testing both Edge and Cloud versions in areas with low connectivity.

The call will select nine new projects focused on countries, crops, and technologies not yet covered. The deadline for submission of proposals is 2^nd December at 5pm. For more details, visit the OpenAgri website.

Images of Research Display Opens at Streatham Campus

The Images of Research display, showcasing research images from Early Career Researchers, is now open in the Forum on the Streatham Campus. Hosted by the University’s Doctoral College, the competition invited researchers to creatively present their work to a general audience, judged on visual appeal and clarity of explanation. This year’s winners are:

• 1st Place - Blueberries for Osteoarthritis by Lauren Struszczak
• 2nd Place - The Real Guardians of Arrakis by Adam Porter
• 3rd Place - Josh at Stockwell Skatepark by Paul O'Connor

The exhibit runs until January 14^th 2025 with an online version available on the Doctoral College ECR Hub.

RESOURCES

British Nutrition Foundation Annual Conference: Health in Balance

The British Nutrition Foundation’s Annual Conference, Health in Balance: Innovations in Nutrition for Combating Obesity, Diet-Related Ill Health, and Health Disparities, took place on Thursday, 12th November.

Chaired by Prof. Giles Yeo (University of Cambridge), the event explored how innovations can transform the food system and improve public health while addressing inequalities. Highlights included the Annual Lecture by Prof. Sir Michael Marmot, winner of the 2023 BNF Prize.

The conference recording is now available on demand. Watch it here: LIVESTREAM - Annual Lecture | British Nutrition Foundation.

Highlights from the First Exeter Food Mezze Seminar 

The first Exeter Food Mezze Seminar was held online on 10th October. These seminars allow members of the network to share their work with one another, receive constructive feedback, and propose ideas for future collaboration. Short taster talks are each followed by Q&A. Presentations this time were given by Laura Colombo, Anni Vanhatalo, and Paul Cleave. Presenters’ slides can be found on the Exeter Food Members’ Area.

Save the date- the next seminar will be held on 13th February 2025 09:45- 11:15am. More information will be circulated shortly. 

Exploring Zero Budget Natural Farming: Dr. Sarah Duddigan’s Insights on Socio-Ecological Resilience in Andhra Pradesh 

Dr. Sarah Duddigan, Lecturer in Environmental Science at the University of Reading, presented to Exeter Food members on Wednesday 23rd October. Her talk, titled "Understanding the Biophysical Processes and Extension Mechanisms of Natural Farming," focused on Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) in Andhra Pradesh, India. ZBNF promotes synthetic chemical-free inputs and regenerative practices, aiming to boost socio-ecological resilience for smallholder farmers. Dr. Duddigan discussed how public messaging around ZBNF highlights soil transformations through increased microbial activity and nutrient availability, alongside societal benefits such as lower input costs, higher yields, and protection from debt and food insecurity. Her interdisciplinary study examined the accuracy of these claims and the motivations driving ZBNF adoption, which is expected to impact over six million farmers by 2024. Co-organized by the Global CFaH project, the talk was held on Streatham campus with a virtual link for remote attendees. The recording and slides are available from the Exeter Food Network Members Area. 

Ed Miliband Outlines Cross-Sectoral Land Use Framework

Since the government's 2022 commitment to a Land Use Framework, its publication has faced delays, most recently due to the change in administration. However, broad cross-party support remains for its implementation, especially as Labour pursues ambitious goals in housing, energy, and environmental restoration.

In a positive step, Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, confirmed in the Commons that the upcoming framework will address multiple sectors. He emphasised the importance of balancing food security, renewable energy, nature restoration, and farming.

Pilots like the Food Farming Countryside Commission (FFCC)'s Multifunctional Land Use Framework in Devon and Cambridgeshire have demonstrated how integrating local knowledge and cross-sector collaboration can break down siloes between housing, farming, and energy.

The FFCC is now gathering perspectives from local authorities and stakeholders to inform best practices, eagerly anticipating the government’s green paper and consultation later this year. Visit the FFCC website for more information.

Exeter Food is coordinated by Professor Harry West

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