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Academics, policy makers and industry leaders gather in York

Academics, policy makers and industry leaders gather in York to explore how scientific innovation could transform UK food systems

Posted on 8 January 2025

Leading academics, policy makers and industry leaders from across the country gathered at the University of York for the Transforming UK Food Systems conference.

Minister of State for Defra, Daniel Zeichner, speaking at the conference. Image credit: Alex Holland, University of York

Hosted by the University of York-based FixOurFood research project, delegates attending the two-day conference looked at the implications and opportunities of the recently published UK Food Security Report, and heard keynote speeches from leading voices from across the sector.

Sessions examined the future of food security and how science can help policy to adapt and prepare in the face of risks to our food systems such as climate change and global instability.

The discussions looked to create a blueprint that will contribute to the development of the government's new UK food strategy.

Attendees included representatives from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS).

Embrace innovation

Keynote speakers included Daniel Zeichner, Minister of State for Defra and Labour MP for Cambridge, who announced an £7 million investment in five new food security projects, and a speech by business man and cookery writer, Henry Dimbleby.

Mr Zeichner said: “The (Food Security 2024) report shows that we need to increase food production to meet the demands of an increasing global population. We know that's a challenge right across the world and, in doing that, it will help us to provide greater food security in the UK. But one of the key points is that we can't just rely on taking more land to achieve greater food security, and that means we are going to have to increase productivity and most essentially, we're going to have to embrace innovation.

“I see in my own constituency, and I see in universities and academic institutions around the country, that we are making huge strides and there are huge possibilities, both to boost farming practices by increasing yields and making crops more resilient to climate change, and I will be seeing some of those programmes (at the University of York) later this morning.

“As a government we are taking food security seriously. We have set a path to develop a food strategy and deliver clear, long-term outcomes to create a healthier, fairer and more resilient food system.”

Key areas

The Minister and delegation toured the Defra-funded Oilseed crop genetic improvement network (GIN) in the University’s Department of Biology. They also discussed other ongoing work by the FixOurFood research group, which was one of four projects funded by Defra’s £47.5M Transforming the UK Food System for Healthy People and a Healthy Environment Programme.

The FixOurFood project works in three key areas: With schools, with farmers and supporting agrifood businesses in Yorkshire. Recent projects include a pilot scheme to provide an additional 20,000 children from England’s poorest households with free school meals and how the need for transformation could change UK dinner plates by the 2050s.

Bridging the gap

Professor Bob Doherty, Director of FixOurFood from the School for Business and Society at the University of York, said: "This conference has provided an invaluable platform for academics and policymakers to address critical issues in food security, health and the environment. Such events are essential for bridging the gap between science and policy.

“As we look to the future of UK food security, it’s crucial to explore how scientific advancements and innovation can inform and shape policies to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world.

“At York - with our strong track record of developing effective interventions to improve food systems and working with diverse partners across academic disciplines - we are well placed to make a significant contribution to this work.”

Yorkshire farmers

Conference delegates attended a meal on the evening of 6 January with locally sourced food from Yorkshire farmers and food businesses who partner with FixOurFood on regenerative farming and yield improvement projects.

On the morning of 7 January, a round table discussion was attended by the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith. The discussion included the unique capabilities of York and North Yorkshire as a largely rural area and how science and innovation, powered by research intensive universities like York, can drive regional economic growth.

Industry leaders, including Nigel Murray, MD of Booths Supermarket; Allison Kane, MD of Deliciously Yorkshire Food Business Network and Yorkshire Grain Alliance; Angus Gowthorpe, Farmer and head of Green Farm Collective and Emma Mosey, Chair of Farm Retail Association, also attended the conference.