Researcher/grower | Perennial Green Manures project, Ecodyfi
innovating systems in horticulture and agriculture to mitigate climate change and increase biodiversity.
I have been researching a system of providing nitrogen to crops by use of trees and shrubs grown in 'bioservice areas'. The bioservice areas increase farm resilience and productivity by providing ecosystem services such as shelter and habitat, but they also produce nitrogen-rich foliage which is applied to cropland. We hope this could have benefits over fertiliser nitrogen and traditional organic methods in reducing greenhouse gases, increasing carbon sequestration and biodiversity and helping farmers benefit economically from tree planting. I have experimented with this technique for my PhD at Bangor University, and subsequently in trials with horticulturalists in mid Wales. Prior to working on Perennial Green Manures i worked as a horticulturalist, specialising in fruit growing and perennial systems, and teaching and writing on sustainable horticulture, at the Centre for Alternative Technology and Garden Organic.
Manager | Nidderdale National Landscape
Changing policy and practice in land management and farming to reduce GHG emissions, increase resilience and enhance biodiversity
I manage the Nidderdale National Landscape team. Our role is to conserve and enhance the Nidderdale National Landscape in partnership with farmers, landowners and a wide range of partner organisations.
Retired academic
Issues concerning sustainable food systems
Just completed the masters course in Sustainable Food Systems at Leeds University. Have PhD from University of Aston on a shift from animal to plant based agriculture in England and Wales (from 1979). Food sci and Biochem BSc. (Leeds). Working life in biological and chemistry based science companies. Mostly concerned with risk management and regulatory compliance. Brought up on a farm. Widely travelled. Now have primary school links as a school governor.
Director | Strategic Innovation Limited
We are embarking on an exciting Knowledge Transfer Partnership with the University of Nottingham and Innovate UK, where we hope to deliver data-driven insights for food system transformation through our Think Better World concept. Think Better World is an alliance uniting food stakeholders through Big Data analytics to drive transformational change towards a sustainable food production system. Using cutting edge narrative analytics, we can better understand consumer awareness and attitudes to food system topics, such as soil health, food waste and ultra-processing. We envision that democratising access to consumer insights can pave the way for WHOLE food system innovation to address, and answer key food system sustainability questions. In becoming a member of the AFN Network+ we hope to work directly with the Network, join important discussions, request feedback and data and find members to join our alliance.
We are an innovation consultancy with a passion for sustainability. With a technical focus and a passion for sustainability, our expertise covers multiple sectors, with a particular emphasis on the food, beverage and FMCG industries. We believe these sectors offer the biggest potential to address the world’s most pressing problems of environmental degradation and poor nutrition, whilst delivering economic success. And for this we need innovation at every system’s level.
Assoc. Professor in Behavioural Decision Making | University of Leeds
reducing food waste, promoting food safety behaviours, and implementation of novel food technologies into the food system
My research is on behavioural decision making with a special interest in designing risk (benefit) communications and behaviour change interventions for consumers and businesses in the areas of food waste, food safety, healthy eating, and novel food technologies. I have led and been involved in numerous externally- (both UK and international) and internally-funded research projects. Currently, I'm a Co-I in WP6 of the H3 project. I am also an expert member of the European Consumer Food Waste Forum and FAO Working Group on Leveraging Behavioural Science.
Researcher in Food Systems Transformation | University of Oxford
Food systems, foresight, transformation, and narratives of change
Saher is a Researcher at the Food Systems Transformation Programme with the University of Oxford's Environmental Change Institute and an Environmental Change Research Fellow with Reuben College. She is the Champion of Healthy and Sustainable Diets with the AFN Network. With the Environmental Change Institute, she works on an interdisciplinary portfolio of projects focused on food systems and foresight analysis. She is also the Education Coordinator for Oxford with the Interdisciplinary Food Systems Teaching and Learning (IFSTAL) programme. Previously, she has worked as the Research and Community of Practice Coordinator for the Foresight4Food Initiative.
Environmental Consultant | Nathan Nelson
I am dedicated to improving health, resilience, biodiversity and climate change mitigation through food systems transformation, nature recovery and engagement with the natural world. I have over 25 years of experience in project delivery, stakeholder engagement, facilitation and communications. I have supported a range of organisations in the UK and internationally, across the public, commercial, and third sectors, working in poverty alleviation, education, and disaster relief. I am particularly experienced in guiding organisations through periods of transition and acting as a bridge between technical and non-technical teams. I've led initiatives in internal communications and collaboration, helping teams work more effectively together. For the past ten years, I have focused on agriculture and ecology, with hands-on experience in farm management, including regenerative practices, organic conversion, and habitat restoration and enhancement. I am currently taking my learning further with a Master's degree in Food Studies. A passionate communicator, I enjoy engaging with the media, press, and public, bringing stories to life and making complex concepts accessible. I am also deeply interested in systems thinking and in managing liminality.
Business Innovation Manager | Biorenewables Development Centre
- Food and Agri-food waste valorisation - Biorefining agri-crop residues - Pre-treatment, processing and downstream processing of biomass materials - Developing value chains from biofibres crops such as hemp and flax - High carbon capture cropping options - cover crops, leys, bioenergy crops, annual fibres
Part of the Business Innovation Team at the Biorenewables Development Centre, near York. We have a team of biologists and chemists and business innovation advisers, all focused on growing the bioeconomy.
Expert Advisor | Kilimo Markets
Hi, I’m Daniel. I’m an entrepreneur and economist. I’m passionate about entrepreneurial solutions to tackle poverty, create impact, protecting diversity, and advocacy which promote equality. I’ve pioneered several projects, and worked for business, NGOs and public policy that promote more equitable societies and the potential of stakeholder capitalism.
Operations Manager | SilviBio Limited
peat-free growing media sourcing novel raw materials which could be used to grow plants exploring how we can create more localised and circular food production systems
Project Assistant | Farm Carbon Toolkit
Agroforestry projects
I love food and the environment. I ran a food rescue and community cafe project for a while and recently completed a Masters in Agroforestry and Food Security. I have a passion for sustainable agriculture both here and overseas. With others I've just set up a charity championing climate smart agriculture and education in rural (poor) Tanzania.
Professor Metabolic Nutrition | Robert Gordon University
Valorisation of by-products from the agri, food and drink sector for identification of high value/low yield bioactives for use as nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals or cosmeceutical
Professor Bermano is a Registered Nutritionist (Nutrition Science) with the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists (UKVRN), held by the Association for Nutrition. She obtained her degree (Laurea) in Food Science and Nutrition from the University of Milan, and her PhD in Molecular Nutrition from the Rowett Research Institute/University of Aberdeen. She joined Robert Gordon University in 2003 and, after 6 years (2009-2015) as Theme Leader for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health research within the multi-disciplinary Institute for Health & Wellbeing Research, she is now Professor in Metabolic Nutrition. She is also Director of the Centre for Obesity Research and Education (CORE) and Co-Director of the Centre for Natural Products in Health, which focuses on the identification of novel pharmaceutical and nutraceutical agents from plant, marine algal and food processing waste-derived sources. Professor Bermano's research focuses on identifying novel “nutraceuticals” for optimal nutrition and disease prevention and to assess their effects at molecular and cellular levels in in vitro and in vivo models of disease, or clinical studies. Her work in sustainable nutrition and nutraceuticals has led to collaborations with food and drink industries to develop methods for valorisation of by-products, isolation of high-value/low-volume chemicals, assessing their activities in biological systems and identification of mechanisms of action for use as nutraceuticals. She has ongoing partnerships with several food & drink businesses and have secured funding from Zero Waste Scotland (Circular Economy Development Grant), BBSRC-IBioIC and InnovateUK (KTP).
