Working on innovation in consumer health & decision making with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from food
Context
Aims and Objectives
Combining understanding of different aspects of the food system, such as expertise in greenhouse gas emission calculations, nutrition, crop diseases, and data handling, the Take a bite out of climate change (Takeabitecc) initiative aim to communicate to school students, families and the general public a coherent message which:
a) increases awareness of the environmental impact of food system
b) educates on the relative emissions caused by different foods and
c) promotes sustainable food consumption behaviours
d) empowers consumers with accessible knowledge to make informed decisions
e) increases consumer acceptance of interventions to help reduce food emissions
f) generates interest from influencers to find out more through our wider material.
In addition, it is an opportunity for individuals to engage with researchers while conveying the message that individual choices can make a difference to tackle climate change
The Takeabitecc team is an interdisciplinary group of researchers from various Universities of the UK, including members of the University of York, such as:
Prof Sarah Bridle, Environment and Geography,
Prof Katherine Denby, Department of Biology,
Belinda Morris, School for Business and Society
Anthonia James, School for Business and Society.
Principal Investigator
Prof Sarah Bridle, Environment and Geography
Co-Investigators
Helen Downie, University of Manchester
Alison Fletcher, University of Manchester
Dr Alana Kluczkovski, University of York
Dr Ximena Schmidt, Brunel University London
Dr Christian Reynolds, City University/ University of Sheffield/ University of South Australia
Professor Katherine Denby, University of York
Dr Ali Birkett, Lancaster University
Professor John Mclaughlin, University of Manchester
Dr Helen Downie, University of Manchester
Professor Jason Halford, University of Leeds
Joanne Cook, University of York
Jade Ajagun-Brauns, University of Manchester
Dr Rosie Green, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Dr Angelina Frankowska, University of Manchester
Dr Emma Nichols, University of Manchester
Francesca Harris, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Dr Flora Hetherington, Global Food Security programme (GFS)
Dr Laurence Stamford, University of Manchester
Beckie Lait, University of York
Dr Carla Adriano Martins, The University of Manchester/ University of São Paulo
Jacqueline Silva, University of Manchester
Professor Pete Smith FRS, FRSE, FNA, FRSB, University of Aberdeen, Scottish Climate Change Centre of Expertise
Lucy Yates, University of Oxford
This research and public engagement activity was funded through multiple research grants.
N8 Agrifood funded projects “Greenhouse Gas and Dietary choices Open-source Toolkit (GGDOT) hacknights” and, with the University of Manchester, funded the development of the climate food flashcards.
Additional funding was provided by the HEFCE Catalyst-funded N8 AgriFood Resilience Programme and matched funding from the N8 group of Universities, and the STFC Food Network+.
Development of the “Take a Bite out of Climate Change” stand and the “Climate Food Challenge” video game, as well as attendance at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition and the Bluedot Festival in July of 2019, was supported by funding from STFC Food Network+ and the HEFCE Catalyst-funded N8 AgriFood Resilience Programme, matched funding from the N8 group of Universities and additional funding from the University of Manchester.
This project arose from the N8 AgriFood-funded project “Greenhouse Gas and Dietary choices Open-source Toolkit (GGDOT) hacknights.’
Part of this work was supported by the Wellcome Institutional Strategic Support Fund award [204796/Z/16/Z].
We are grateful for the funding from the Wellcome Trust Manchester Institutional Strategic Support Fund, the STFC Food Network+, N8 Agrifood and the University of Manchester.
During the organisation of this research, the running of the events and the writing of this paper, Sarah Bridle and Christian Reynolds were supported in-part though the STFC GCRF funded project “Trends in greenhouse gas emissions from Brazilian foods using GGDOT” (ST/S003320/1).
Christian Reynolds received additional funding from NERC to support an Innovation Placement at the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) (Grant Ref: NE/R007160/1).
Alana Kluczkovski was supported through a University of Manchester GCRF Fellowship funded through the University of Manchester internal Research England GCRF QR Fund.
The 'Pre-COP26 School Food and Climate Summit' project was funded by N8-AgriFood Policy Hub.
The 'Lowering Impacts on the Climate by Engaging with Wales Local Residents' project was funded by UKRI NERC Environmental Science Collaborative Research Project(s) and Cardiff University.
Dr Andrew Markwick at Strangely Retro Games
Livestock, Environment and People (LEAP) project
The artist Rachael Hand
Hartland Design
Ken Boyd Design
Global Food Security Programme, Met Office, Scottish Climate Change Centre of Expertise (ClimateXChange), Society for the Environment, industry, and Universities across the UK.
Takeabitecc website (access to events, activities, at home project, Wales project and resources)
Kluczkovski, A. 2022. York Open Research Awards 2022. Take a bite out of climate change project.
Kluczkovski et al., 2020. Interacting with Members of the Public to Discuss the Impact of Food Choices on Climate Change—Experiences from Two UK Public Engagement Events.
Kluczkovski et al., 2021. Learning in lockdown: Using the COVID-19 crisis to teach children about food and climate change.