Healthy soil, Healthy food, Healthy people (H3)

Lead Research Organisation: University of Sheffield
Department Name: Geography

Abstract

Bringing together world-class researchers from Sheffield, Leeds, Bristol, Cambridge and City Universities, this proposal seeks to transform the UK food system 'from the ground up' via an integrated programme of interdisciplinary research on healthy soil, healthy food and healthy people (H3). The H3 Consortium addresses the links between food production and consumption and takes a whole systems approach to identify workable paths towards a transformed UK food system, delivered via a series of interventions: on farm, in food manufacturing, distribution and retail, and in terms of the health implications and inequalities associated with food consumption in UK homes and communities.

The proposed research addresses all of the UK government policy drivers outlined in the Call text from diet-related ill health to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, from biodiversity to soil health and water quality, rebuilding trust in the food system, promoting clean growth and supporting the translation of scientific research and new technologies for the benefit of the UK economy and society.

Our approach is thoroughly interdisciplinary, combining world-class soil and plant scientists, health researchers, economists and social scientists The research team have many years' experience of working together, leading interdisciplinary research centres, co-supervising PhD students and collaborating on numerous research projects including the N8 agri-food programme.

We take an integrated approach to the agri-food system, recognizing its inherent complexity and addressing the governance challenges that arise from the rapidly changing regulatory landscape.

Our proposed research involves six interconnected work-packages. The first advances novel growing technologies via fundamental research into agricultural practices that have the potential to transform the quality of food we grow while minimising its environmental impact. The second aims to combine hydroponic and conventional soil-based agriculture, creating a linked network of hybrid demonstrator farms in peri-urban areas to encourage improvements in dietary health and environmental sustainability. The third extends these ideas to the landscape scale, evaluating the benefits of regenerative agriculture in terms of reduced fertiliser and pesticide use and increased food quality. The fourth addresses the key public health challenges of micro-nutrient deficiency through the application of state of the art methods of biofortification, enhancing the nutritional value of foods that are already part of established UK diets. The fifth seeks to increase the consumption of fibre with its attendant health and sustainability benefits, based on lessons learnt from the Danish wholegrain partnership; while the sixth seeks to increase food system resilience to economic, health and environmental shocks through collaborative research with retailers and consumers. Three cross-cutting themes (CCTs) provide further integration across the work-packages. The first focuses on the application of integrative methods such as LCA and scenario-building approaches to assess the environmental, social and economic impact of different interventions and policy options. The second focuses on issues of consumer demand, public acceptability and affordability; while the third ensures that stakeholder involvement features consistently throughout the programme, with a strong emphasis on knowledge exchange and impact within and beyond the five-year funding period.

The H3 Consortium is led by Professors Peter Jackson and Duncan Cameron who co-direct the Institute for Sustainable Food at the University of Sheffield. They are joined by a core team, comprising the work-package and CCT leaders, a wider group of co-investigators and PDRAs, and an experienced business development manager, focused on maximising the impact of our research in government, business and civil society.

Publications

10 25 50
 
Title An introduction to the H3 project 
Description An eight minute film to introduce the scope and rationale for the Healthy Soil, Healthy Food and Healthy People research project. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2021 
Impact So far in March 2022 318 people have watched the film. By March 2022 more than 600 people have watched the film 
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4q26FkaVjtY
 
Title Authentic Corpse 
Description As part of the Festival of the Mind in Sheffield in September 2022 a 10 day exhibition at the Millennium Gallery in Sheffield 
Type Of Art Artistic/Creative Exhibition 
Year Produced 2022 
Impact Engaged the general public in discussions around food. 
URL https://player.sheffield.ac.uk/events/authentic-corpse
 
Title Food future in flux 
Description A short film produced for the Citizen Food Futures conference. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2021 
Impact The film has been watched 77 times in March 2022. 
URL https://vimeo.com/640374021
 
Title H3 project update film 
Description An 8 minute films which shares the initial findings of the Healthy Soil, Healthy Food, Healthy People project. 
Type Of Art Film/Video/Animation 
Year Produced 2023 
Impact So far we have had more than 300 views and some very positive feedback from those who have watched it as well as requests for additional information. 
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRVZqmlQzZ0
 
Description While our work is still at a relatively early stage, there are some encouraging early findings to report:
? Our lab-based studies have demonstrated the potential use of polyurethane foams as a replacement for rockwool in hydroponic growing systems. These are novel foams can be recycled, reducing environmentally damaging waste. The use of synthetic microbial communities in hydroponics also has the potential to reduce pesticide reliance, contributing to reduced agro-chemical residues in crop products and waste streams.
? Early findings for our on-farm environmental monitoring provide evidence of the benefits of regenerative agriculture in terms of both biodiversity and soil health.
? Collaboration with our Danish colleagues has established the potential for transferring experience from the Danish Wholegrain Partnership to the UK and some of the barriers to increasing fibre consumption among low-income consumers. This work is being progressed in partnership with the Food and Drink Federation. Some reformulated high fibre foods have been successfully trialled in school breakfast settings, this work is ongoing.
Our low input hydroponic horticulture also shows promising early results with leafy green production.
Exploitation Route We are developing ideas for 'rolling out' and 'scaling up' the findings of our initial research one their proof of concept has been established.
Sectors Agriculture

Food and Drink

Environment

Healthcare

Retail

URL http://www.h3.ac.uk
 
Description Our research is having an impact on various sectors including government, business and civil society. Some of these impacts are at a relatively early stage and will continue until our project ends in December 2025. ? Regenerative farming approaches are being co-designed and delivered with farmers at landscape scale. These will be assessed for their effects in terms of crop quality and environment impacts as well as their cost effectiveness for businesses. Baseline measures have been taken from which subsequent impacts can be monitored. Longer-term, our research will contribute to the wider adoption of regenerative farming practices with beneficial environmental impacts being delivered in an economically sustainable way. To date regenerative agriculture practices can be seen to contribute to improved soil health and biodiversity, we have shared this information with a farming cluster. ? Farmers are also involved in trialling new low cost, low carbon hydroponic growing systems on exemplar crops using synthetic microbial communities and novel substrates to grow crops on urban and peri-urban farms. In the longer term, the hydroponic approach could be combined with the use of regenerative approaches on hybrid farms to offer a more financially and environmentally approach to sustainable farming. ? We have been working with local authorities such as Leeds and Sheffield City Councils, providing policy briefs to support the development of local food plans. ? Evidence has been submitted to government enquiries including the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Inquiry into Food Security. ? We have worked with Fareshare and other food charities to evaluate the nutritional quality of food donations. ? We have used the Synergy Fund to map civil society organisations who seek to influence UK food policy. ? We have undertaken a review of dietary interventions to help understand 'what works' at a national and international scale.
First Year Of Impact 2023
Sector Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice
Impact Types Economic

Policy & public services

 
Description BBSRC Biodiversity Expert Working Group
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
 
Description Best practice publication through the IGD Healthy and Sustainable Food partnership
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to new or improved professional practice
Impact Retail sector changing approach to interventions to improve the health and sustainability of consumer diets.
URL https://www.igd.com/social-impact/health
 
Description Best practice publication through the IGD Healthy and Sustainable Food partnership
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to new or improved professional practice
Impact Retail sector changing approach to interventions to improve the health and sustainability of consumer diets.
URL https://www.igd.com/Social-Impact/Health/Reports/Healthy-sustainable-diets-Driving-change-April-2023...
 
Description Bhavani Shankar is the Team Leader of the High Level Panel of Experts drafting report on Reducing Inequalities for Food Security and Nutrition to be launched in July 2023
Geographic Reach Multiple continents/international 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
URL https://www.fao.org/cfs/cfs-hlpe/insights/news-insights/news-detail/New-HLPE-FSN-project-team-inequa...
 
Description Closed parliamentary briefing on food insecurity and children's health
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://post.parliament.uk/event-summary-food-insecurity-and-childrens-health/
 
Description Contributed to TUKFS Written Evidence to the EFRA Committee on Food Security published 25th Jan 2023
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
URL https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/111947/pdf/
 
Description David Evans and Jonathan Beacham supported Bristol Good Food 2030 Plan
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
URL https://bristolgoodfood.org/
 
Description Defra Science Advisory Council Member
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
URL https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/8567...
 
Description Environmental Audit Committee Inquiry into Environmental Change and Food Security
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/114274/pdf/
 
Description Evidence submitted to Environment-food-and-rural-affairs-committee Soil Health Inquiry on the importance of maintaining soil stocks and soil health- and advise on how to assess and monitor soil health
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
 
Description Evidence to House of Lords Science and Technology Committee Inquiry on Nature-based solutions for climate change
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
 
Description Evidence to parliamentary committee
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/e8bb3ee7-a727-4b80-970f-2ac6fcaaebac
 
Description Evidence to the UK House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee: Inquiry on insect decline and UK food security
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://committees.parliament.uk/work/7381/insect-decline-and-uk-food-security/
 
Description Fairness in the food supply chain. Written Evidence - Dr Christian Reynolds. Submitted 28/7/2023
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
URL https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/122942/pdf/
 
Description Feeding Bristol Food Equality Strategy Action Plan
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to new or improved professional practice
URL https://democracy.bristol.gov.uk/documents/s70264/11b%20-%20One%20City%20Food%20Equality%20Strategy....
 
Description Fibre content of donated food (Fareshare)
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
 
Description Jonathan Leake training farmers on soil health monitoring
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
Impact Training of farmers in the West Cambridgeshire Hundreds farming cluster on how to measure and monitor changes in soil health, included presentations and practical demonstrations to enable future self monitoring.
 
Description Louise Dye contributes to the Leeds Food Strategy Steering Group
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
URL https://www.leeds.gov.uk/plans-and-strategies/leeds-food-strategy
 
Description Member of Environmental Labelling Consult Group for development of UK cross-sector carbon eco-label led by IGD
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
 
Description Member of Environmental Labelling Consult Group for development of UK cross-sector carbon eco-label led by IGD
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to new or improved professional practice
Impact Research report shared with Defra Food Data Transparency Partnership
URL https://www.igd.com/Social-Impact/Sustainability/Reports/Environmental-labelling-for-the-UK-food-ind...
 
Description Nordic Nutritional Recommendations Social and Economic Dimensions of Sustainability
Geographic Reach Europe 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://www.helsedirektoratet.no/horinger/nordic-nutrition-recommendations-2022-nnr2022
 
Description Oral Evidence Environmental Audit Committee enquiry on Environmental Change and Food Security
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
URL https://committees.parliament.uk/event/18560/formal-meeting-oral-evidence-session/
 
Description Oral Evidence House of Lords Horticulture Select Committee enquiry into the horticultural sector
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
URL https://committees.parliament.uk/event/17575/formal-meeting-oral-evidence-session/
 
Description Provided Written Evidence to "UK trade policy: food and agriculture" call Dr Christian Reynolds
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
URL https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/122932/pdf/
 
Description Publication of Evidence submitted to the Parliamentary Inquiry into soil health
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5804/cmselect/cmenvfru/245/summary.html
 
Description Steering committee and working groups for Sheffield's Food Partnership
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
URL https://sheffood.org.uk/about/
 
Description Submitted evidence to Fairness in the food supply chain enquiry by UK Parliament's Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA)
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://committees.parliament.uk/work/7682/
 
Description Sue Hartley was an author on Report on Regenerative Agriculture for the European Commission
Geographic Reach Europe 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to new or improved professional practice
Impact Informed the debate on sustainable agriculture in Europe
URL https://easac.eu/publications/details/regenerative-agriculture-in-europe
 
Description Written evidence to EFRA enquiry on greenspaces
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/125809/html/
 
Description Co-Centre for Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems
Amount £30,000,000 (GBP)
Organisation United Kingdom Research and Innovation 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2024 
End 12/2029
 
Description Global Engagement Partnership Development Fund
Amount £2,000 (GBP)
Organisation University of Sheffield 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2022 
End 12/2022
 
Description HEIF KE Food Systems and Food Practices Event
Amount £11,544 (GBP)
Organisation University of Sheffield 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2023 
End 07/2023
 
Description Health and Sustainability Diets Project
Amount £208,126 (GBP)
Organisation Institute of Grocery Distribution 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2024 
End 07/2025
 
Description QR Policy Support Fund
Amount £21,500 (GBP)
Organisation University of Sheffield 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2022 
End 03/2022
 
Description QR Policy Support Fund - Using Collaborative Public Procurement to leverage healthy and sustainable food supplier
Amount £49,762 (GBP)
Funding ID 185703 
Organisation University of Sheffield 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 04/2024 
End 04/2025
 
Description QR Policy Support Fund/HEIF Edible Insects and the UK Novel Food Regulations
Amount £10,971 (GBP)
Organisation University of Sheffield 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 12/2022 
End 05/2023
 
Description TUKFS Flexibility Fund Slow Cook Project
Amount £10,000 (GBP)
Organisation United Kingdom Research and Innovation 
Department Strategic Priorities Fund
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 11/2022 
End 03/2023
 
Description TUKFS KE Mini Project Hard to Reach Groups
Amount £10,000 (GBP)
Organisation United Kingdom Research and Innovation 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2022 
End 03/2023
 
Description UKRI BBSRC Seeding Awards for novel crops for UK arable farming
Amount £100,000 (GBP)
Organisation Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2022 
End 02/2023
 
Description Advisory Board School Meals Service Project 
Organisation University College London
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Peter Jackson is on the Advisory Board for this project
Collaborator Contribution Advice
Impact Not yet
Start Year 2023
 
Description Building the Food Systems Transformation Solution-Bank Synergy fund 
Organisation University of Cambridge
Department Cambridge Neuroscience
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The Transforming UK Food Systems Programme's Annual Project Synergy Fund aims to support cross-project activities to add value to the funded portfolio, foster cross-project collaboration, drive programme-level impact, build capacity and encourage partnerships with related investments. We joined a collaboration for a Synergy fund collaboration. I have engaged in workshops and developing food systems solutions, and food waste soltutions.
Collaborator Contribution There is considerable interest in making changes to transform the UK 'food system' to improve the health of people and the planet. Our food system is complex, and can be described as the interconnected system of everything and everybody that influences the activities involved in bringing food from farm to fork. Many researchers, policymakers, and practitioners, including businesses and charities, are exploring and testing ways to intervene in the system, to make it more environmentally sustainable and promote population health. There is a wealth of ideas on solutions, but these are spread across many different sources, making it difficult to get a clear picture of what is possible. Even within the Transforming UK Food Systems Programme, there are multiple projects looking to identify, list, taxonomise and test possible solutions to changing parts of the system. Our proposed Food System Transformation Solution Bank will bring a range of sources together to make it easier for researchers and decision-makers to identify potential changes which can be made and tested, to reduce inefficiency and transform the UK food system.
Impact na
Start Year 2023
 
Description Co-operative Food partnership on climate change and disrupted supply chains 
Organisation The Co-operative Group Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Went through a selection process including an interview to be selected research partner for UKRI Healthier food, healthier planet: transforming food systems programme.
Collaborator Contribution Supported successful funding application UKRI Healthy soil, Healthy food, Healthy people (H3)
Impact Funded grant UKRI Healthy soil, Healthy food, Healthy people (H3)
Start Year 2020
 
Description Collaborative Work with Premier Foods on higher fibre foods 
Organisation Premier Foods Group Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Research into uptake of higher fibre foods.
Collaborator Contribution Higher fibre foods.
Impact None as yet
Start Year 2023
 
Description Collaborative work with Regather Cooperative on peri urban hydroponic horticulture 
Organisation Regather Co-Operative Ltd.
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Knowledge exchange for potential future sustainability of the project work. Growers from the organic farm Regather have supported our work during the winter months and through this have learnt how to grow using these systems, and we have similarly benefitted from their experience.
Collaborator Contribution Our partners have also contributed their knowledge and understanding of growing in protected horticulture low input systems.
Impact We have successfully grown crops throughout a full calendar year. There is potential for economic, and societal impacts.
Start Year 2023
 
Description Food System Transformation: concepts, theories of change and operationalisation 
Organisation University of Oxford
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Attended online meetings and in person
Collaborator Contribution As above
Impact Not sure sorry
Start Year 2023
 
Description IGD Health and Sustainability Diets Project 
Organisation Institute of Grocery Distribution
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Gained funding from IGD for project potentially for 5 years for interventions at UK supermarkets on Health and Sustainability Diets of consumers
Collaborator Contribution Funded project and brought together UK supermarkets and research design
Impact Funded project starting 2021
Start Year 2020
 
Description ISEAL Alliance partnership on climate change and disrupted supply chains 
Organisation Iseal Alliance
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Went through a selection process including an interview to be selected research partner for UKRI Healthier food, healthier planet: transforming food systems programme.
Collaborator Contribution Supported successful funding application Healthy soil, Healthy food, Healthy people (H3)
Impact Successful UKRI Healthy soil, Healthy food, Healthy people (H3) grant award
Start Year 2020
 
Description Invitation to join the Yorkshire Agricultural Society Farmer-Scientist Network, and subsequent appointment as vice-chair of the network, following invited application in 2023. 
Organisation Yorkshire Agricultural Society (YAS)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution I have contributed to knowledge exchange with farmers involved in, or interested in regenerative agriculture, both at the Great Yorkshire Show in June 2022 in which I presented posters, demonstrated soil quality improvement by ley using soil slices, and presented a 100 slide rolling loop presentation of key policy and practice implications of the research findings on leys from the consortium research projects I have led on leys. this was followed-up by the invitation to be guest scientist speaker at the regenerative agriculture-focused farm walk and talk in November 2022. Through these events I have made new contacts with farmers interested in trialing herbal leys and grass-clover leys.
Collaborator Contribution The Yorkshire Agricultural Society (YAS) funded the Regenerative Agriculture tent at the Great Yorkshire Show in 2022. The YAS also funded the farm walk in November, to which I was invited as the guest scientist speaker. The Yorkshire Agricultural Society has recently increased the hours of the employee who coordinates the Farmer-Scientist network, and the stand for the Farmer-Scientist Network at the Great Yorkshire Show in 2023 will be larger than in previous years, and include invited speakers with the logistical and financial support provided by the Society.
Impact The Yorkshire Agricultural Society (YAS) funded the Regenerative Agriculture tent at the Great Yorkshire Show in 2022. The YAS also funded the farm walk in November, to which I was invited as the guest scientist speaker. The Yorkshire Agricultural Society has recently increased the hours of the employee who coordinates the Farmer-Scientist network, and the stand for the Farmer-Scientist Network at the Great Yorkshire Show in 2023 will be larger than in previous years, and include invited speakers with the logistical and financial support provided by the Society.
Start Year 2022
 
Description Leeds City Council 
Organisation Leeds City Council
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Support to Leeds City Council. Neil Boyle secured Research England funding to be seconded 50% to the City Council in June to November 2023 - see secondments. Working with Climate, Energy and Green spaces team Neil helped to develop projects to encourage sustainable food choices within City Council venues and schools. Work also supported the development of the food strategy - see policy section. Now the team are helping to develop, distribute and evaluate school breakfast provision, in order to map and inform future provision.
Collaborator Contribution Existing tools and data, and conducting data collection.
Impact Food strategy - see policy section. H3 are working with Leeds City Council to develop, distribute and analyse a survey to then map school breakfast provision across the City. This will inform future activities and provision.
Start Year 2023
 
Description SNEAK-i synergy application for Transforming UK Food Systems SPF 
Organisation University of Bristol
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The Transforming UK Food Systems Programme's Annual Project Synergy Fund aims to support cross-project activities to add value to the funded portfolio, foster cross-project collaboration, drive programme-level impact, build capacity and encourage partnerships with related investments. We joined a collaboration for a Synergy fund collaboration. Reynolds will contribute expertise on sustainable diets, the development of sustainable recipes, and culinary history. He will connect the current synergy project as well as planned follow-on work with a range of academic and non-academic stakeholder partners including BBC Good Food, the Guild of Food Writers, the Sustainable Restaurant Association, Menus for Change, and the University of West London Culinary Arts Management Course.
Collaborator Contribution Alex Sim (University of Bristol Catering Operations, Development Chef) - Considerable expertise in meal development, sustainable menus, and large-scale catering operations. Sim will form part of the assessment panel in our cooking competition. TUKFS project partner contributions: Hardman will contribute expertise of working with schools, communities and retailers to instigate food-system change and with disadvantaged communities to understand the drivers of healthy, sustainable consumption. She will connect the project with her extensive networks of academic and stakeholder partners, both during its lifetime and the subsequent follow-on work. At the beginning of the project we will invite all TUKFS projects and consortia (including the CDT) to nominate a chef or meal provider to participate in our cooking competition. Here, we will strongly encourage broad representation from different sectors, incorporating schools, universities, hospitals, and community-based initiatives. We will also invite TUKFS teams who are developing novel and sustainable foods (e.g., Pasture to Plate (P2P), Raising the Pulse (RTP), UK Sustainable King Prawn Project, BeanMeals) to supply their ingredients for use in our cooking competition. In addition, we will draw on the expertise of Matt Tebbit (University of Reading, Head of Bars and Dining) who delivered a workshop on transforming catering for health and sustainability at the last annual meeting of the TUKFS network. Tebbit also works closely with Menus of Change - an international consortium of University development chefs which is an obvious partner to facilitate future roll-out of our approach at scale. Dr Simon Blyth (University of Bristol) - Extensive knowledge of food marketing, brand activism, and consumer science, with a longstanding interest in design innovation for large commercial food producers. Blyth will advise the team on next steps for wider translation and application of our findings.
Impact NA
Start Year 2024
 
Description Waitrose/Food Bank work 
Organisation Waitrose Limited
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Waitrose/Food Bank work (a local store, not nationally) - allowing leaflet handouts, in-store nudging and pre-packed bags trial at 1 store. We've been liaising with a local Waitrose branch and the food bank they supply to develop and test interventions to influence quality and appropriateness (in particular fibre content) of donations to local food bank. Plan initial leafleting intervention. Hopefully move to on-shelf nudging and development of recipe bags.
Collaborator Contribution Waitrose and the food bank have allowed researchers to analyse existing donations and develop mechanisms to improve the quality and appropriateness of donations.
Impact Understanding of existing donations.
Start Year 2023
 
Description What does 'co-production' look like for food system transformation? mapping the evidence across TUKFS projects 
Organisation University of Plymouth
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Neil Boyle represented the H3 team in this synergy funded collaboration. He also elicited details from others in the team, e.g. our regen ag work with farmers. Shared experiences of working in partnership with community groups around increasing fibre consumption/dietary change. We developed a poster, contributed photos and case study material for a website. Additional outputs in the form of a publication and toolkit are also being developed.
Collaborator Contribution Hosted meetings to share experiences across the projects and developed collaborative tools including games to shape discussions.
Impact Game Poster web page toolkit - see link above
Start Year 2023
 
Description (U3A) invited speaker: Regenerative agriculture- how to harness the power of nature to restore soil health from intensive arable farming. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact 13 November 2023 University of the 3rd Age Sheffield (U3A) invited speaker "Regenerative agriculture- how to harness the power of nature to restore soil health from intensive arable farming". Attendance ~50. About 95% stayed awake (apparently a record!).
Subsequently invited to speak again next year at Millhouses Probus Club based on recommendation of one of the participants at the U3A talk I gave.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description . ReSAS Scotttish Government, invited talk: Low-cost innovative hydroponic systems for fresh vegetable production. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Professor Jonathan Leake was invited to do a presentation to the RESAS team in May 2023.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Advisory Group Member - Food, Mobility and Housing in the sustainable transition of everyday life 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Peter Jackson is on the advisory group for this project in Denmark.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022,2023,2024
URL https://www.en.build.aau.dk/web/fomoho
 
Description Article published in "The Conversation" online newsletter, on "UK food shortages: how growing more fruit and veg in cities could reduce the impact of empty supermarket shelves". 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact The article explains the potential contribution of urban and per-urban horticulture including hydroponics towards reducing the over-reliance of the UK horticulture sector on imports and how this has threatened food security in recent months. The article highlights to work on urban own-growing by Dr Jill Edmondson, and work on sustainable peri-urban horticulture using hydroponics conducted in the H3 research project, in the workpackage 2, led by Prof. Leake.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://theconversation.com/uk-food-shortages-how-growing-more-fruit-and-veg-in-cities-could-reduce-...
 
Description BBC Radio 3 - Arts and Ideas, Green thinking: food podcast 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Peter Jackson participated in a podcast ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 26) to discuss 'how can we make food and farming more sustainable?'.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p09pxxlg
 
Description Biofortification presentation to Sheffield Uni Nutrition Group 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact On 13th March the WP4 Biofortification team presented their work and results so far to the Sheffield Uni nutrition group which comprises staff (some of whom are also practitioners) and post graduate students from across the University, (including international students).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description British Academy Co author of a report on science, trust and policy for the Council on Science and Technology 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Co author of a report as outlined above.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/projects/science-trust-and-policy/#:~:text=In%20spring%202022%2C...
 
Description Co-convened a session at Royal Geographical Society Conference on Geographies of Dietary Change 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Jonny Beacham and Peter Jackson co-convened a session at the conference, presenting and discussing work on global initiatives for dietary change.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description DHSC Webinar Not Just Dinners! Food in a School Setting 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Professor Louise Dye made a presentation 'The effect of breakfast on cognitive, mental health and attainment; implications of food insecurity and the cost of living crisis' as part of 'Not Just Dinners, Food in a School setting' webinar for the Yorkshire and Humber Region Public Health Network, which comprises all regional Directors of Public Health. The network brings together ideas, evidence and expertise to improve health.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://yhphnetwork.co.uk/links-and-resources/coi/healthier-resilient-food-systems/webinars/webinar-...
 
Description Defra Environmental Land Management Ecology and Ecosystem Services expert panel 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Lynn Dicks appointed as a Member of Defra Environmental Land Management Ecology and Ecosystem Services expert panel, to inform the design and development of the Environmental Land Management schemes.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022,2023
 
Description Engagement meetings with colleagues from the Coop 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact We have responded to requests to organise three meetings with staff from the Coop supermarket. These have included briefings on overall project outlines, and specific presentations and discussions regarding regenerative agriculture.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description Engagement with Defra 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Ongoing dialogue with Defra
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description Evidence to parliamentary committee for Nature Based Solutions and climate change 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Lynn Dicks gave evidence to a Parliamentary Committee on 7th September 2021.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/e8bb3ee7-a727-4b80-970f-2ac6fcaaebac
 
Description Farm 'walk and talk' to explore regenerative approaches to farming run by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society Farmer-Scientist Network 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Over 30 people, mainly farmers, attended this event showcasing regenerative farming methods using clover-rich and herbal leys in the Vale of York, and I gave a 1 hour lunchtime overview of the policy context, environmental and economic benefits of reintroducing leys into arable farming systems, and the savings of fertilizer possible using legume-rich leys for soil health and fertility-building. I was invited to join the Farmer-Scientist Network of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society following my contribution to the Great Yorkshire Show Regenerative Agriculture tent, and subsequently applied and was appointed vice-chair of the Farmer-Scientist Network in 2023. I am part of the organizing group for the Great Yorkshire Show Farmer-Scientist Network marquee focused on agri-tech and regenerative agriculture in 2023.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group Meeting on Regenerative Agriculture- Talk: Transitioning to Regenerative Agriculture: Effects on Soil Health 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Feb 2024 FWAG meeting 1 hour presentation, Cambridgeshire. Transitioning to Regenerative Agriculture: Effects on Soil Health
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Festival of the Mind Exhibition, podcast and talk in Sheffield with artist Anthony Bennett. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Professor Peter Jackson, Institute for Sustainable Foods and artist Anthony Bennet discuss their collaboration on Authentic Corpse - a podcast, exhibition and talks in September 2022 which took place in the Millenium Gallery, Sheffield.

The project was based on research and interest in the cultural meanings of food. The installation using 4 film pieces was inspired by the parlour game, Exquisite Corpse, where a distorted body emerges from a series of separate drawings of head, body, legs and feet
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://player.sheffield.ac.uk/events/authentic-corpse
 
Description Flood Plain Meadows Conference, Oxford. Invited plenary speaker: Biological regeneration of soil health- the role of plants, roots, fungi and earthworms in grasslands. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact May 2023 Flood Plain Meadows Conference, Oxford. Invited plenary speaker: Biological regeneration of soil health- the role of plants, roots, fungi and earthworms in grasslands. Attendance ~250
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Food Farming and Countryside Commission Food Conversation Steering Group 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Peter Jackson is on the steering group for the FFCC Food Conversations steering group
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://ffcc.co.uk/conversations
 
Description Food Future in flux film for Citizen Food Futures 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact 3 minute film made by Professor David Evans and Dr Jonathan Beacham from CCT2 for the Citizen Food Futures event in November 2021. In March 2022 recorded 76 views on Vimeo. The film suggests that future diets are linked to our activities today, that whilst globalisation of meat and dairy rich 'Western diets' have ecological and public health consequences, current mainstreaming of previously niche plant based alternatives in the UK, may prompt more widespread change.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021,2022
URL https://vimeo.com/640374021
 
Description Food Policy Roundtable 15th February 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Third sector organisations
Results and Impact Peter Jackson participates regularly in a Food Policy Roundtable with Tim Lang, Sue Davies and others. The Group are aiming to determine a common agenda to influence Government Food Policy amongst key third sector organisations.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Food and Drink Federation Fibre February Webinar 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The FDF convened a webinar for Fibre February 'Bridging the Fibre Gap with innovation and communication from concept to launch'. The panel included industry and academia including Professor Louise Dye the lead of WP5. Oliver Morrison at Food Navigator referred to Louise inputs in his follow up reporting on 4th March and asked to be kept informed about future work and findings. The link to his article is here:
https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2022/03/04/The-fibre-dilemma-If-we-build-it-will-they-come#
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.fdf.org.uk/fdf/resources/webinar-listing/2022/fibre-february-webinar/
 
Description Green Impact talk 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact Peter Jackson presented H3 to a group of approximately 25 students. A follow up discussion/questions related to interdisciplinarity, education for sustainable development, volunteering.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description H3 Academic Advisory Board 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The academic advisory board involves world renowned academics whose research complements that of H3. It aims to ensure that our research has global relevance, and widen our potential impact. It is anticipated that members will also support our ECRs with mentoring and career development.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022,2023,2024
 
Description H3 Responses to the National Food Strategy 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact H3 responded to the publication of the National Food Strategy with a series of 3 articles on the H3 website which we also shared via social media, these related to 'Prospects for more sustainable food production', 'Confronting consumer demand', and 'School meals and increasing fibre'.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.h3.ac.uk/news/
 
Description H3 Stakeholder Advisory Board 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact The H3 Stakeholder advisory board members are drawn from industry, third sector, and policy makers. Members meet annually, are kep updated through our website and have had numerous contacts in between. For example as a result of the first meeting, follow up meetings have been held with AHDB in relation to the Farmbench tool and regenerative agriculture, with the Coop re Regen Ag, and the Food and Drink Federation re Fibre initiatives.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021,2022,2023,2024
 
Description H3 Update film November 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Our update film presents some of the findings related to the H3 project - including improved biodiversity in regen ag landscapes, impressive tomato crops in semi commercial trials using synthetic communities of microbes, successful mechanisms to increase fibre consumption.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023,2024
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRVZqmlQzZ0&t=9s
 
Description H3 electronic newsletter 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The H3 newsletter is compiled and distributed via a mailchimp e-newsletter format every six months to project stakeholders, participants, other programme participants and those who self subscribe through our website. We provide updates on project progress, events, staffing, and outputs.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021,2022,2023,2024
 
Description H3 film 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact H3 produced an 8 minute film which introduces the scope of the H3 project to a general audience. The film was made with stakeholders and the project team, and helped us to identify future potential research partners. It was uploaded to youtube in November 2021, in March 2022 it has experienced 316 views through that channel. In March 2024 we have now recorded 896 views of the film.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021,2022,2023,2024
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4q26FkaVjtY
 
Description H3 presentations to farm cluster meeting February 2024 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact H3 was invited to present results (social science, soil health, and biodiversity) to a full meeting of the Eastern farm cluster, which included both those farmers participating in the H3 research and importantly cluster farmers who are not involved. This provided an opportunity to share and discuss findings on the transition to regen ag as well as our future work plan. The organisers told us that it was the best attended cluster meeting ever held, and included lively discussion and KE, including refinement of our future plans.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description H3 project engagement event September 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact H3 convened a 2 day workshop in Sheffield at the project mid point to share our findings, and discuss these through a series of panel discussions with our stakeholders. The workshop was shaped around growing/producing food, consumption and diets and food businesses.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description H3 project website 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact H3 website was established to provide an overview and introduction to the project, staff and partners. Users can link to our social media twitter and be added to the mailchimp newsletter mailing list. We also added the H3 film (which is also on you tube in November 2021).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021,2022
URL https://www.h3.ac.uk/
 
Description H3 twitter channel 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact the H3 twitter channel was established in August 2021. In March 2022 we have 178 followers. We share project updates, programme wide and project recruitment opportunities, news items such as upcoming events, responses to the National Food Strategy etc.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021,2022,2023,2024
URL https://twitter.com/healthyfood_h3
 
Description Herbal leys in arable rotations: effects of leys on sheep, soil health, fertilizer use, weeds, crop yields, and the environment. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact I led this one day workshop hosted at NIAB Innovation Farm by Co-Investigator Dr Lydia Smith, at which the main findings of the SARIC project "Restoring soil health by reintegration of leys and sheep into arable rotations" were presented. I gave the opening plenary talk, provided a short section on soil carbon sequestration, and the policy-and-practice overview at the end relating to potential opportunities for fertiklizer cosrt savings, soil quality gains and Environmental Land Management Scheme payments.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://twitter.com/niabgroup/status/1615656352768004096
 
Description Invited by Defra to speak on behalf of the Sustainable Soils Alliance, at the First International Plant Health Conference. Gave a talk entitled Healthy Soil for Healthy Crops: A Role for Regenerative Agriculture in Assembling Disease-Suppressive Soils 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Was an invited speaker and invited panel member for a session on soil health at the first International Conference on Plant Health, at Westminster, London, September 2022. The session was well attended with about 100 participants, and my presentation showed how leys introduced into arable rotations build disease-suppressive soils, based on the findings of the MycoRhizaSoil and follow-up work from the SoilBioHedge project with a Sheffield-based PhD student Nancy Muringai. This generated considerable interest in the audience, and I played a leading role in the panel discussion part of the session as a result of the audience interest in the issues raised and the findings we reported. There was strong engagement and interest from farmers and also from members of Defra.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Invited speaker on "Food, Health and Sustainability" at the Nutrition Society Annual Conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Invited speaker, to think of impacts of food beyond nutrition. Paper published later in the Proceedings of the Nutrition Society.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Launch of University of Sheffield Institute for Sustainable Food at the Royal Society 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The launch of the Institute for Sustainable Food at the Royal Society on Monday 14th March 2022 included a series of talks and presentations. These outlined the work of the Healthy Soil, Healthy Food and Healthy People (H3) research project and included a screening of the H3 film. The audience included senior academic colleagues, policy makers, industry and practitioners.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Meetings with Callum Etches, Sustainable Food Places 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Third sector organisations
Results and Impact Peter Jackson met and discussed H3 with Callum Etches of Sustainable Food Places on 7th Feb 2023. This has sparked an ongoing dialogue and an invitation to the Sustainable Food Places Conference in Oxford in March.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Meetings with the Danish Wholegrain Partnership in Denmark and Sheffield 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact H3 staff were hosted by the Danish Wholegrain Partnership (DWP) in Copenhagen in June where they met with policy makers and industry to discuss product reformulation. A follow up 3 day visit to Sheffield took place 3-5th October, including H3, the Food and Drink Federation and 3 staff from DWP. The workshops discussed shared experiences, the research being undertaken and the preparation of a joint paper.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Member of Bristol Food Resilience Strategy Group 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Third sector organisations
Results and Impact Led by Feeding Bristol an NGO who aim to bring about food justice, and partly funded by Bristol City Council, the group aims to improve food resilience - just started so no impacts as yet.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Member of advisory group for Defra food security reporting 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Ongoing member of Defra advisory group for food security reporting
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023,2024
URL https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/united-kingdom-food-security-report
 
Description Northern Briefing of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Harrogate. 1st March. Jonathan Leake was an invited speaker. Why and how to regenerate soil health. Attendance ~180.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Northern Briefing of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers. Harrogate. Invited speaker. Why and how to regenerate soil health. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact 1st March 2024 Northern Briefing of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers. Harrogate. 1st March. Invited speaker. Why and how to regenerate soil health. Attendance ~180.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Panel discussion making the case for a UK fibre partnership 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact An online panel discussion was jointly convened by H3 and Cereal Partners Worldwide on International Wholegrains Day (16th September 2021). Chaired by Stephen Hammond MP and also including the Food and Drink Federation, Professor Louise Dye, Professor Bernard Corfe and Dr Sam Caton from H3, and the Danish Wholegrain Partnership. The importance of fibre in the diet, existing low levels of consumption and strategies to increase fibre intake were discussed. Some of these will be trialled through WP5 of the H3 project. All participants were supportive of the formation of a UK fibre partnership.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description Parliamentary briefing on food insecurity and children's health. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Professor Louise Dye spoke at a closed Parliamentary Briefing on Food Insecurity and Children's Health on 15th September 2021. Included the importance of breakfast.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://post.parliament.uk/event-summary-food-insecurity-and-childrens-health/
 
Description Peter Jackson hosted and in conversation with George Monbiot re launch of his Regenesis Book 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Peter Jackson hosted George Monbiot in Sheffield as part of the Festival of Debate to discuss his Regenesis book. More than 700 people attended and a lively Q and A session was included.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Presentation and poster / table stand at Farming For the Future - Novel Crops and Fresh Thinking. AgriTech East Hosted Meeting, in Colchester, February 2023. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Gave a presentation on Regenerative farming with herbal leys in arable rotations, and novel legume crops for UK arable farming. Presented a poster based on the SARIC project "Restoring soil quality through reintegration of leys and sheep into arable rotations".
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://twitter.com/Agri_Tech_E/status/1628773948295901184
 
Description Presentation on Food, health and sustainability to local Greenhill Community Group. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Peter Jackson have a talk on food and sustainability and the work of the H3 project as part of Big Green Week in Greenhill, Sheffield. The talk prompted half an hour of discussion, a lively debate in the pub afterwards, a stronger relationships between researchers and the local community and stakeholders where our work is taking place.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Presentation to Edible Insects Association 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Peter Jackson presented the H3 project work to a meeting of the Edible Insects Association in Sheffield as an example of the work being conducted by the Institute for Sustainable Food in February 2024.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Presentation to Scottish Government Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact A talk presented to an online lunchtime seminar. Title: Regenerative agriculture: the future of sustainable farming or a new brand of greenwash? Prof Dicks was subsequently invited to present a similar talk to the Civil Service Climate and Environment Network later that year.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Presentation to Thatchers Cider Management Team 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact The Bristol based H3 team members presented the H3 project to Thatchers Cider Management team within the context of executive education work on corporate strategy and the future of the food system.
The presentation prompted a discussion and desire to repeat the exercise with a wider audience.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Regenerative Agriculture marquee at the Great Yorkshire Show July 2022 . Showcasing the effect of leys in arable rotations- including SoilBioHedge and MycoRhizaSoil project findings-over all 4 days of the show. Stand funded by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presented posters, gave talks, and had soil profile slices from SoilBioHedge to illustrate soil quality improvement by 3 year grass-clover leys introduced into arable rotations by the SoilBiohedge project, the MycoRhizaSoil Project and the BBSRC "Restoring soil quality by reintroduction of leys into arable rotations". All the publications arising from the projects were printed and displayed and used to explain the key findings of the effects of leys on recovery of earthworm populations, and the effects of the leys on soil structure, carbon sequestration and soil hydrological functioning. Spend 4 days on the stand meeting farmers, agronomists, local and regional counselors, and explaining our key findings. Over 100 people visited the stand including some school groups.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Regenerative Agriculture research processes with farmers and stakeholders 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The working processes in work package three - (regenerative agriculture at a landscape scale) include routine stakeholder engagement and co-creation, including: regular fortnightly meetings with farmer cluster leads, and other key stakeholders (Soil Association, AHDB); presentations and training with farmers - on soil health measures in West Cambridgeshire Hundreds (WCH) cluster (15 farmers and film crew 3rd March 2022), social science methods with WCH (11th Feb 2022) and Allenford (10th March 2022) farming clusters; Soil Association Innovative farmers workshop 1st March 2022 Staffordshire.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021,2022
 
Description Regenerative Farming stand in the Innovation Zone at the Great Yorkshire Show 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact July 2023. Great Yorkshire Show. Invited by the Yorkshire Agriculture Society to co-lead (with collaborators at the University of Leeds) the Regenerative Farming stand in the Innovation Zone at the Great Yorkshire Show (11-15 July, with the marquee, power, tables and infrastructure and free entry tickets to the sell-out event, provided by YAS). Four full days of attendance plus a half-day setting up the stand with posters and 120 slide continuously rolling presentation I have created on our research related to regenerative farming practices. This was accompanied by banner posters and a soil monolith demonstration.
I served as one of the judges of the Innovation Zone Award, (1 half day of judging duties, plus preparation).
I co-ran a soil health clinic for farmers, which was highly successful and have been invited to repeat this in 2024.
I gave an invited talk in the Innovation Zone: Biological regeneration of soil health and fertility using leys, to farmers and land managers.
Met with Adam Henson from Countryfile - and was able to demonstrate our soil health metric and the effects of leys on soil structure.
Considerable follow-up interest from farmers and will be contributing in a similar way to the Great Yorkshire Show 2024, by inviation.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Regenerative farming with diversified rotations using herbal leys and legume cropping- 2 day Workshop hosted by the University of Sheffield, funded by UKRI BBSRC Seeding Awards for novel crops for UK arable farming 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The two day meeting aimed at knowledge exchange and building new collaborations with UK farmers involved in arable cropping and mixed farming who are interested in growing leys and novel legume crops. At the meeting farmers explained their experiences with growing legumes including soya (with limited success) and showed interest in some of the other legume crops that are starting to be grown for human consumption in the UK. The research teams at Sheffield showcased our work on novel arable rotations with herbal leys and no-till cropping, and the potential benefits of reduced stomatal density in soya to improve drought resistance.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Save Our Wild Isles: Hungry for Change documentary 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Inspired by Wild Isles, the iconic BBC nature documentary series, WWF, the RSPB, the National Trust and Silverback Films produced four films for businesses and organisations across the UK.
Hungry for Change reveals the impact of the food system on nature in the UK and explores what actions businesses, employees, and farmers can take to reduce their impact. It includes interviews from leaders in the food and farming community, including Henry Dimbleby MBE (Author of the National Food Strategy) Tony Juniper CBE (Chair, Natural England), Ken Murphy (Group Chief Executive, Tesco), Dame Sharon White (Chairman, John Lewis Partnership), nature-friendly farmers like Patrick and David Barker (Lodge Farm) and Neil Heseltine (Hill Top Farm) and Professor Lynn Dicks form the University of Cambridge, on how businesses can help solve critical issues in the food system and put nature at the heart of their decision-making.

Save Our Wild Isles: Hungry for Change is a 2023 winner of a Global Sustainability Film Award in the Greener Living category. By October 2023, the film had been seen by more than 17,000 employees at key businesses, including all Nestle staff.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.saveourwildisles.org.uk/business/food-and-farming
 
Description Series of recorded Massolit lectures on Food Security 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Peter Jackson was invited to prepare and present a series of recorded lectures which explain key topics relating to food security.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://massolit.io/courses/food-security
 
Description Social innovations for food system sustainability and resilience, engagement with Bluebell Community, Levenshulme, Manchester 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Steffen Hirth is engaging with the local community at Bluebell Community garden through the creation of an urban food forest in Levenshulme Manchester via his Fellowship project.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023,2024
 
Description Soil article in the Conversation 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Duncan Cameron authored an article in the Conversation related to soil degradation and regeneration. It was shared through Twitter and facebook and generated 27 comments.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://theconversation.com/why-the-fate-of-our-planets-environment-depends-on-the-state-of-its-soil...
 
Description Submission to the UK parliamentary Inquiry into soil health 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Our written evidence was published online: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/7139/soil-health/publications/written-evidence/?page=2
In this evidence we provided a clear statement and supporting evidence for the adoption of routine measurements of organic carbon in >2 mm water stable aggregates, and in the remaining soil mass as a key indicator of soil health- integrating biological, chemical and physical soil health variables in a single consistent and quantitative measure that is responsive to field management practices, and which directly reflects soil functionality (carbon, water and nutrient storage, drainage and functional biology (earthworm activities, mycorrhizal fungi etc.).
Our written evidence was cited in repeatedly in the first report of the committee, but the importance of the soil health metric we have shown to be invaluable and effective for soil health monitoring has received no comment, which is surprising given the committee was specifically requesting advice of effective soil health metrics. Many of the other points made in our submission were included in the report- so have potential to influence policy.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5804/cmselect/cmenvfru/245/summary.html
 
Description Talk given to the Civil Service Climate and Environment Network 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact A talk given online to the Civil Service Climate and Environment Network. Title: Regenerative agriculture: the future of sustainable farming or a new brand of greenwash?
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.civilserviceenvironmentnetwork.org/
 
Description Talk on fibre and WP5 to Campden BRI members 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Louise Dye made a presentation to Campden BRI regarding the work in WP 5 (increasing fibre consumption in low SES consumers) and the importance of fibre in the diet on 31st October 2023.
There was follow up interest, questions discussion around reformulation, interest in the Danish Wholegrain Partnership experience, and the wider H3 project.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Talk to Birkdale School Sheffield Morning Assembly 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact A talk for the all-school assembly at Birkdale School in Sheffield, to mark the start of their eco-fortnight. It was on food security and sustainability, attended by over 500 pupils, aged 11-18.

After the talk the school tweeted to say that they have initiated Meat Free Mondays.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Talks and Engagement with University of Sheffield Post Graduate Students 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Toby Evans presented hydroponics and controlled environment growing systems to Masters level students in Sheffield. A first talk led to a request for a second presentation, and ongoing discussions.

One of the students has decided to undertake a hydroponics research project with the H3 team.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description The Wildlife Trusts- Invited speaker- Future Farming webinar. The Importance of Healthy Soils 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Third sector organisations
Results and Impact Gave an invited plenary webinar lecture to staff from the Wildlife Trusts on "The importance of healthy soils". The talk showed how intensive arable cultivation and annual cropping has degraded soil organic matter, soil structural stability and hydrological functioning and depleted key functional groups of soil organisms. From our research on leys reintroduced into arable rotations (SoilBioHedge, MycoRhizaSoil and SARIC grants)- showed how these leys can regenerate soil health - and the biological mechanisms by which this regeneration occurs. We also presented the evidence that soil health can be monitored effectively by measurement of the organic carbon amounts in water-stable macroaggregates >2 mm compared to the organic matter content of the whole soil.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description UK food shortages: how growing more fruit and veg in cities could reduce the impact of empty supermarket shelves 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Article on the potential role of urban growing on UK food system resilinece.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://theconversation.com/uk-food-shortages-how-growing-more-fruit-and-veg-in-cities-could-reduce-...
 
Description Urban Agriculture Special Interest Group meeting 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Study participants or study members
Results and Impact The UK SPF Urban Agriculture Special Interest Group meeting was hosted at the University of Sheffield to facilitate knowledge exchange, support networking and identify synergies between projects in the Transforming food systems SPF Programme. Included presentations and field visits.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Urban Agriculture article in the Conversation 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This article promote urban horticulture as a means to reducing food insecurity, increase access to fruit and vegetables and reduce climate change impacts through more locally based production.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://theconversation.com/urban-health-wellbeing-and-food-supplies-are-all-under-threat-growing-mo...
 
Description Westfield School Science Club talk on hydroponics 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Toby Evans from the H3 project worked with Westfield School Science club to help develop assets to use in a film for BioFest. Toby introduced pupils to hydroponic systems and explained the role of controlled environment growing systems as a means of climate friendly food production.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/news/discover-wonders-life-november-biofest-2023
 
Description Workshop with Soil Association Board of Trustees 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact H3 hosted the Soil Association Board of Trustees in Sheffield and presented and discussed in workshops findings to date from the Regenerative Agriculture and hybrid hydroponic horticulture work within the project.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022