To mark World Food Day the AFN Network+ (UKRI Agri-food for Net Zero Network+) is proud to announce funding of more than £500,000 for 15 innovative projects which aim to support the UK agri-food sector through the transition to a net zero UK by 2050.
News and Announcements
Here you’ll find the latest news from the AFN Network+ including:
- Announcements of forthcoming funding opportunities, events, and more
- Blogs giving some colour and insight into our work
- Information on our latest reports and publications
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Announcing our new Member Directory and Resource Hub
We’re excited to announce the launch of our new AFN Network+ website, containing key features which will help the Network fulfil its aims of fostering collaboration between members and sharing key insights and expert knowledge between those working towards net zero in agri-food.
8 key messages from Chris Stark on how to progress land-use change
We need to reframe land-use change in the UK, move away from net zero as the central goal, and talk to farmers more about their livelihoods. These are some of the key messages from Chris Stark, one of the country’s best known and most senior civil servants working on climate policy. Chris was chief executive […]
AFN Network+ scenarios live at Glastonbury
The AFN Network+ scenarios made it to the Glastonbury Festival , as part of the UKRI research project, TRAnsforming the DEbate about livestock systems (TRADE). Their stand at Glastonbury extended its focus to encompass broader aspects of food sustainability under the banner of ‘Feeding the Future.’ Visitors delved into various dimensions of food systems and sustainability, such as […]
We are recruiting our next round of Champions for the AFN Network+
Are you committed to driving progress towards achieving net zero through the agri-food system by 2050? Do you have expert practice, knowledge and know-how in agri-food? We are looking for six Champions to bring their expertise from industry, academia and the public sector and from any point in the agri-food system to lead a series […]
AFN Network+ Groundswell 2024
Thanks to everyone who came to visit our stand at Groundswell 2024. It was a fantastic chance to chat to people about the work of the AFN Network+ and our funding opportunities and it was great to see one of our co-leads, Professor Tim Benton, talk about our scenarios work in his Big Top session: […]
What role can agroforestry play in a net zero UK?
Trees – what role could they play in helping reduce emissions in our food system? Prof Heiko Balzter (University of Leicester) and one our Champions last year, has synthesised research on agroforestry in this report – Agroforestry as a tool for net zero in the UK. Key report conclusions; Agroforestry can provide multiple benefits to agriculture: Even […]
Diversity in decision making – Navaratnam Partheeban
If you missed our annual Network gathering a while back, you will have missed Navaratnam Patheeban OBE’s insightful presentation on the importance of diversity in decision making. You can watch his presentation here, along with other key speakers, including Judith Batchelar OBE on retailer mindset and Sue Pritchard on why we need to grab the opportunity this year for food system change. Navaratnam Partheeban is a farm […]
Judith Batchelar: Supermarket & food chain insights
If you missed our annual network gathering last month, you can now watch the key presentations on YouTube, by clicking the names of our three distinguished and very thought-provoking speakers below. Judith Batchelar OBE is deputy chair of the Environment Agency and former brand director for Sainsbury’s. Navaratnam Partheeban OBE is a farm vet and founder of the British Veterinary Ethnicity & […]
Designing a new model of insurance for farmers experimenting with climate friendly practices
Collective insurance products are uncommon and to support farmers in experimenting and taking risks as a group, our project explores the design of a new model of collective insurance for farmers trying new climate-smart practices as a cohort, across a catchment.
Sue Pritchard – “This year is an auspicious moment for food system change”
If you missed our annual network gathering last month, you can now watch the key presentations on YouTube, by clicking the names of our three distinguished and very thought-provoking speakers below: Sue Pritchard is a farmer and chief executive of the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission. Judith Batchelar OBE is deputy chair of the Environment Agency and […]
Is the UK on track to achieve net zero within the dairy food chain?
This project was one of 16 scoping studies to receive funding from the AFN Network+ in 2023. In this blog, project lead Maria Traka and Laura Bardon from Quadram Institute Bioscience describe why they’re developing a sustainability data map for the UK dairy food chain. Our food system produces a third (34%) of global greenhouse gas emissions. […]