UK Food Safety Research Network
Lead Research Organisation:
QUADRAM INSTITUTE BIOSCIENCE
Department Name: Microbes in the Food Chain
Abstract
The UK has a strong commitment to food safety, with food manufacturers being entirely focused on making foods that are healthy and safe for their customers. With the assistance of government departments, there are many programmes in place to regulate how food is produced and to monitor for hazards that might contaminate foods. However, we also know from studies in the UK that it is common for people to visit their GP with food-associated illness and that about a quarter of the UK population have diarrhoea each year. The causes of these cases are rarely determined, and of the estimated £9B annual cost to the UK from these illnesses, £6B are from unknown causes. In studies that were able to look much closer at some cases, the cause of illness was often a microbial pathogen that carried over into food from the environment or from livestock or even from people. Therefore, some hazards such as bacteria are both a challenge to detect and are a challenge to control from entering the food chain. These challenges are only becoming more complex as the food chain evolves in response to new ways of producing foods, new food preferences by consumers, and climate changes that impact the ecology of food. In association with UKRI-BBSRC and the Food Standards Agency, Quadram Institute Bioscience in Norwich is proposing to establish over a 2-year period a new 'UK Food Safety Research Network'. Acting as a hub for scientific innovation and collaborative research to address these complex challenges, the Network will create a community between food industry, government departments, and scientists to create a shared vision and plan for research that can improve the safety of foods now and in the future.
To establish this functional community, the Network will progress through steps of:
Taking a broad view on the leaders who can impact food safety: the Network will identify the landscape of existing food networks and food safety stakeholders from industry, academia, and government sectors, and from therein, activate a critical mass of experts spanning multiple disciplines to form a Network for collaborative innovation and knowledge exchange activities. We will be inclusive of the 'One Health' disciplines that consider the sciences of the environment, animals, and human health.
Identifying areas of opportunity and need for food safety research: the members of the Network will bring their experience and perspectives to identify food safety challenges that can be translated to research and training priorities. We believe that members will be motivated to participate in this problem definition phase of the Network because research priorities will be set against routes to impact by virtue of participation from food system stakeholders at all stages.
Harnessing interdisciplinary talents to drive collaborative projects: the Network will pursue our research priorities with programmes that fund proof-of-concept and other similar projects that act under a 'culture of innovation' to draw upon the insights, data, and technologies from across the Network members' organisations, disciplines, and levels of seniority.
Enhancing the food safety community by implementing and developing skills from Network discoveries: the Network will extend the methods and knowledge developed in our collaborative research by hosting a series of different training events and by sponsoring the exchange of scientists and food industry employees between Network member sites. These programmes will actively support skill development on food safety and interoperability between Network partners.
Bringing forward the Network discoveries to shift the food safety field: the Network will be highly visible and have an active voice through web, audio, and video platforms to support Network engagement with policy makers and other funders. Network research and training outcomes will also be shared more broadly and publicly to further support food safety skill development.
To establish this functional community, the Network will progress through steps of:
Taking a broad view on the leaders who can impact food safety: the Network will identify the landscape of existing food networks and food safety stakeholders from industry, academia, and government sectors, and from therein, activate a critical mass of experts spanning multiple disciplines to form a Network for collaborative innovation and knowledge exchange activities. We will be inclusive of the 'One Health' disciplines that consider the sciences of the environment, animals, and human health.
Identifying areas of opportunity and need for food safety research: the members of the Network will bring their experience and perspectives to identify food safety challenges that can be translated to research and training priorities. We believe that members will be motivated to participate in this problem definition phase of the Network because research priorities will be set against routes to impact by virtue of participation from food system stakeholders at all stages.
Harnessing interdisciplinary talents to drive collaborative projects: the Network will pursue our research priorities with programmes that fund proof-of-concept and other similar projects that act under a 'culture of innovation' to draw upon the insights, data, and technologies from across the Network members' organisations, disciplines, and levels of seniority.
Enhancing the food safety community by implementing and developing skills from Network discoveries: the Network will extend the methods and knowledge developed in our collaborative research by hosting a series of different training events and by sponsoring the exchange of scientists and food industry employees between Network member sites. These programmes will actively support skill development on food safety and interoperability between Network partners.
Bringing forward the Network discoveries to shift the food safety field: the Network will be highly visible and have an active voice through web, audio, and video platforms to support Network engagement with policy makers and other funders. Network research and training outcomes will also be shared more broadly and publicly to further support food safety skill development.
Technical Summary
The food system comprises many social, environmental, and political factors that together affect the foods that are produced and the foods that are sought by consumers. Amongst these overlapping domains of a massive and complex system, there are multiple points where challenges to food safety emerge and endure. As examples, climatic changes can have both immediate and longer-term impacts to food composition when carbon and temperature cycles change and new toxins appear in both aqua- and agriculture. Or, consumer preferences for non-meat protein alternatives that create a large market shift to new classes of foods made through new processes could impart unbeknownst toxin, chemical or microbial hazards. Another example is the use of antibiotics, which might lead to resistant pathogens persisting in food animals, their feedstock, and food production facilities which can each lead to our exposure to foodborne pathogens. All of these challenges - and many others - represent an opportunity of study and for the identification of new interventions or policies that could improve the safety of food. And all of these challenges represent a view on emerging food safety risks that, to be appropriately considered and studied, require participation from a multitude of stakeholders and scientific disciplines.
It is the goal of the Network to establish a multi-stakeholder approach to apply science to the food safety challenges prioritised within this community as areas where collaborative research could make a positive impact to food safety. Within the Network, policy and industry sectors will come together with academic research through problem definition exercises, funded collaborative research projects, and food safety training fora. The Network will collect and act on old and new data regarding food safety risks and then mobilise the developed information and knowledge within their community and target it towards action by food and health policy makers.
It is the goal of the Network to establish a multi-stakeholder approach to apply science to the food safety challenges prioritised within this community as areas where collaborative research could make a positive impact to food safety. Within the Network, policy and industry sectors will come together with academic research through problem definition exercises, funded collaborative research projects, and food safety training fora. The Network will collect and act on old and new data regarding food safety risks and then mobilise the developed information and knowledge within their community and target it towards action by food and health policy makers.
Organisations
- QUADRAM INSTITUTE BIOSCIENCE (Lead Research Organisation)
- Food Standards Agency (Co-funder)
- Food Standards Agency (FSA) (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF READING (Collaboration)
- University of Hertfordshire (Collaboration)
- GLASGOW CALEDONIAN UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- Fresh Produce Consortium (Collaboration)
- University of Lincoln (Collaboration)
- ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH AGENCY (Collaboration)
- QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY BELFAST (Collaboration)
- Ohio State University (Collaboration)
- LONDON METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- British Standards Institute (BSI Group) (Collaboration)
- Food Standards Scotland (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM (Collaboration)
- CRANFIELD UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS (Collaboration)
- Wageningen University & Research (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA (Collaboration)
- London South Bank University (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON (Collaboration)
- University of Stirling (Collaboration)
- Waste and Resources Action Programme (Collaboration)
- Chilled Food Association (Collaboration)
- Cardiff Metropolitan University (Collaboration)
- Fera Science Limited (Collaboration)
- Quadram Institute Bioscience (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER (Collaboration)
- Agricultural and Horticulture Development Board (Collaboration)
- Newcastle University (Collaboration)
- Zimmer and Peacock (Collaboration)
- UK HEALTH SECURITY AGENCY (Collaboration)
- Knowledge Transfer Network (Collaboration)
- Scotland's Rural College (Collaboration)
- Institute of Food Science and Technology (Collaboration)
- NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE (Collaboration)
- Meteorological Office UK (Collaboration)
- Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) (Collaboration)
- ULSTER UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL (Collaboration)
- Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) (Collaboration)
- Unilever (Collaboration)
Publications
Holden ER
(2024)
Identification of pathways required for Salmonella to colonize alfalfa using TraDIS-Xpress.
in Applied and environmental microbiology
Mather AE
(2024)
Foodborne bacterial pathogens: genome-based approaches for enduring and emerging threats in a complex and changing world.
in Nature reviews. Microbiology
Adriaenssens E
(2024)
Developing and delivering phage-based technologies in the UK
Gilmour MW
(2022)
A full view of foodborne microbes
| Title | FSRN Project Summary: Using deep learning in protein interactions to detect a group of emerging bacterial pathogens |
| Description | The Food Safety Research Network (FSRN) funded a partnering project to SRUC, to collaborate with STFC. The project was run Oct-2023 to Apr-2024. The slides present the summaries of the project.The project examined whether computational approaches could be used to detect a group of bacteria with high risk of being pathogenic. Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are very diverse, with only some isolates able to cause serious human disease. They are mainly foodborne and occur in a range of hosts and habitats. Although characterised by carriage of Shiga toxin, there is a major challenge in determining which are likely to cause disease because multiple genetic factors are required. The current emergence of isolates with extensive genetic diversity has rendered the existing risk profiling tool as no longer fit-for-purpose.Variation in STEC isolates occurs in both the total genetic complement and within single genes, which may indicate functional variation in the gene products. Protein variants with altered thermodynamic properties could be rendered sub-optimal for host interactions, effectively attenuated in their functions with reduced pathogenic risk potential. Our project aimed to determine whether protein functional variation could be exploited as a means to distinguish groups of isolates based on corresponding genetic differences. We used a set of 281 STEC isolates genomes (collected in a previous project), comprising clinical, i.e. associated with disease, and non-clinical isolates from wild deer, and food products (cheese, minced beef).In Part 1, we used a well characterised STEC interacting protein pair, Intimin (Eae) and the translocated intimin receptor (Tir), as a proof of principle. In Part 2, we took a whole genome approach identifying virulence factors that are potentially associated with human disease, so increase the higher risk profile. We complied the findings into a flowchart to potentially classify pathogenic non-O157 STEC, based on PCR detection. Together this builds a far more nuanced and informative risk profile of any specific STEC isolate, using molecular approaches with a relatively rapid turn-around time, high throughput and with precedent for remote, non-lab based use. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| URL | https://sruc.figshare.com/articles/presentation/FSRN_Project_Summary_Using_deep_learning_in_protein_... |
| Title | FSRN Project Summary: Using deep learning in protein interactions to detect a group of emerging bacterial pathogens |
| Description | The Food Safety Research Network (FSRN) funded a partnering project to SRUC, to collaborate with STFC. The project was run Oct-2023 to Apr-2024. The slides present the summaries of the project.The project examined whether computational approaches could be used to detect a group of bacteria with high risk of being pathogenic. Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are very diverse, with only some isolates able to cause serious human disease. They are mainly foodborne and occur in a range of hosts and habitats. Although characterised by carriage of Shiga toxin, there is a major challenge in determining which are likely to cause disease because multiple genetic factors are required. The current emergence of isolates with extensive genetic diversity has rendered the existing risk profiling tool as no longer fit-for-purpose.Variation in STEC isolates occurs in both the total genetic complement and within single genes, which may indicate functional variation in the gene products. Protein variants with altered thermodynamic properties could be rendered sub-optimal for host interactions, effectively attenuated in their functions with reduced pathogenic risk potential. Our project aimed to determine whether protein functional variation could be exploited as a means to distinguish groups of isolates based on corresponding genetic differences. We used a set of 281 STEC isolates genomes (collected in a previous project), comprising clinical, i.e. associated with disease, and non-clinical isolates from wild deer, and food products (cheese, minced beef).In Part 1, we used a well characterised STEC interacting protein pair, Intimin (Eae) and the translocated intimin receptor (Tir), as a proof of principle. In Part 2, we took a whole genome approach identifying virulence factors that are potentially associated with human disease, so increase the higher risk profile. We complied the findings into a flowchart to potentially classify pathogenic non-O157 STEC, based on PCR detection. Together this builds a far more nuanced and informative risk profile of any specific STEC isolate, using molecular approaches with a relatively rapid turn-around time, high throughput and with precedent for remote, non-lab based use. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| URL | https://sruc.figshare.com/articles/presentation/FSRN_Project_Summary_Using_deep_learning_in_protein_... |
| Description | FSRN was established at the Quadram Institute with strategic funding and support from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and FSA to coordinate new ideas and partnerships amongst researchers, food businesses and government policymakers. During FSRN's Inception Phase (2022-25), we successfully established our research priorities, built long-lasting relationships and initiated collaborative research projects (42 projects totalling £1.88M). FSRN's value proposition is to connect our diverse members in funded collaborations where each partner's unique skills and experiences synergise to make UK food safe from microbial risks. |
| Exploitation Route | At FSRN we quickly learnt that food safety interests commonly intersect with other scientific disciplines and food system drivers, e.g. the United Nations priorities of diets being healthy, accessible and sustainable. From our members we also know that the FSRN model, founded on our strong network orchestration approaches, is needed long-term; extending our programme would add value to existing and new FSRN partners. Our future aims are: 1) to AMPLIFY STRATEGIC CONNECTIONS and complementarity with other food system communities and research networks; 2) to coordinate more projects that ADVANCE TRANSLATABLE SOLUTIONS by addressing food safety risk through new food system insights, technologies and upskilling; to extend our impact and add value by 3) NUCLEATNG NEW INVESTMENTS IN FOOD SAFETY through creation of fundable platforms and opportunities based on evolving and shared needs of the FSRN community. The case for future activities is built on experience learnt through: FSRN activities, feedback from BBSRC, FSRN advisory boards, structured interactions with Network members, and our FSRN Community Event (Feb. 2024). Success will be ensured by continued emphasis on listening to and harnessing stakeholder perspectives, and rapid prioritization of food safety risks and research opportunities. We have demonstrated effective delivery of our objectives and provided resourcing and mechanisms for members to develop collaborative projects that advance translation into food safety. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Environment Government Democracy and Justice Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology |
| Description | In the first three years since inception of the UK Food Safety Research Network (FSRN) we have successfully coordinated a transdisciplinary community and are establishing a focal niche ensuring microbial food safety remains relevant and at the forefront of UK research and policy. In Y3, FSRN membership has grown to over 400 individuals spanning 42 cross-sector projects (from 81 members and 15 projects at end of Y1). Member feedback from stakeholder interviews indicated that the key enablers of this success are: (i) listening to stakeholder perspectives when identifying food safety challenges and opportunities; (ii) prioritising risks that must be solved to ensure critical problems are addressed first; (iii) connecting interdisciplinary teams in a way that accesses and uses the widest possible skillset and builds community capacity; (iv) simplifying access to research funding by using a streamlined application and review process; (v) driving to impact by exploiting multiple pathways and working with frontline communities; (vi) promoting success through visibility and awareness to attract new partners and tackle additional challenges. More specifically, from interviews and FSRN systems for project reporting, all collaborative project holders stated that the FSRN funding helped them start and/ or deepen relationships with partners which they intend to take further. In many cases, the funding also allowed project holders to engage with industry and build relationships with important stakeholders, an invaluable resource to gain insight into the real-world problems of the food industry and enable project holders to drive impact through their research. FSRN's primary function is to broker partnerships across sectors/ disciplines where connections would not otherwise be made. For example, in the project 'Understanding microbial risks in ready-to-eat (RTE) foods', successful collaboration between a global food brand and a social and economic geography and epidemiology team defined new areas of socio-microbial research in RTE supply chains that include low moisture ingredients (LMI). With a wider set of stakeholders, shared challenges around LMIs were identified, providing the groundwork for industry-wide codes of best practice. Vulnerabilities to UK food safety from sourcing LMI into RTE supply chains, and opportunities to enhance mitigation, both sociologically and technologically, were identified. Industry-facing briefing documents are available (UoSouthampton; https://tinyurl.com/bk4f4bmc and https://tinyurl.com/2jdj4dpu). Collaboration with the Innovate UK Phage Innovation Network (PIN) enabled delivery of an expert workshop and dissemination event on bacteriophage technologies (see impact case study [UKRI; https://tinyurl.com/4fzzcs6n] and co-authored report [UKRI; https://tinyurl.com/2ua4atws]). Subsequent FSRN awards to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) enabled development of reference reagents for genomic phage identification, an essential requirement for licensing. MHRA, in sessions facilitated by PIN and FSRN, developed non-mandatory regulatory guidance for bridging between innovation and UK regulation of phage applications (under review). These activities helped MHRA leverage £1.8M for AMR research and innovation focussed on One Health and low-and middle-income countries. FSRN leadership team members have successfully attracted uplift funding from UKRI and internationally. The AMr in the Agrifood Systems Transdisciplinary (AMAST) network (£650K, Aug24-Jul28) in response to the 2023 UKRI call for Transdisciplinary networks to tackle AMR. The AMAST Network (DOI:10.1016/j.onehlt.2024.100884) creates a transdisciplinary community to address AMR challenges in agrifood systems and brings together stakeholders from academia, industry, policy and consumer groups to co-develop solutions through collaboration, dialogue and action. Internationally, the Horizon Europe-funded CATALYSE project (€2M, Jan24-Dec26; £56K to QIB), will disseminate innovation across the European food industry; the FSRN leadership team lead the stakeholder engagement strategy. We initiated an 'STEC Interest Group' (CFA; https://tinyurl.com/tecut9c2) to support risk management of STEC; anticipated outcomes include effective testing requirements delivering actionable results, and opportunities for integrated planning/ action by participating stakeholders. STEC Interest Group activities start in 2024 and are anticipated to continue from 2025. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2023 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Government, Democracy and Justice,Retail |
| Impact Types | Economic Policy & public services |
| Description | BBSRC Seeding Award for Food Safety Research Network |
| Amount | £500,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | SA-2023-QUADRAM |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2023 |
| End | 02/2024 |
| Description | Biofilm Inhibition and Pathogen Control in Food Production Environments |
| Amount | £56,878 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 05POC24-07 |
| Organisation | National Biofilms Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Private |
| Start | 01/2025 |
| End | 01/2026 |
| Description | CATALYSE: Catalysing scientific innovation into food safety action |
| Amount | € 1,886,655 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 101136754 |
| Organisation | Catholic University of the Sacred Heart |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | Italy |
| Start | 01/2024 |
| End | 01/2027 |
| Description | FTMA4 - Food Safety Research Network Flexible Talent Mobility Account 2023 |
| Amount | £69,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/X01794X/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2023 |
| End | 03/2023 |
| Description | ICURe |
| Amount | £35,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2024 |
| End | 06/2024 |
| Description | Funded a project: Freeze with Ease: Developing a Home Guide to Safe Food Storage and Waste Reduction |
| Organisation | Birmingham City Council |
| Department | Public Health Birmingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | FSRN funded a project submitted by the University of Birmingham. This project aims to develop a comprehensive and accessible "Freeze with Ease" guide focused on safe food storage, particularly around freezing and reducing waste. The primary goal is to enhance household food safety by providing a practical, user-friendly resource that addresses high-risk practices associated with freezing, storing, and thawing food. By targeting unsafe habits that increase the risk of food contamination and spoilage, the project intends to lower the incidence of foodborne illnesses and boost consumer confidence in safe food management at home. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Birmingham will lead the project. Other partners involved in the project are: - The Home Cooking Consultant, The Full Freezer: Frozen food specialist offering technical insights into the freezing process, food quality, and preservation. - Behavioural Science Consultant, LABS Innovation Limited: Behavioural scientist analysing and applying behaviour change principles to develop interventions that resonate with users. - Design and Media Creator: Producing digital educational materials, including visuals, to communicate safe practices effectively. - Food System Team, Public Health Division, Birmingham City Council: Local Authority contributing food policy expertise and supporting resource dissemination to maximise community reach and impact. |
| Impact | Outputs from this project are expected lated in 2025. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Funded a project: Freeze with Ease: Developing a Home Guide to Safe Food Storage and Waste Reduction |
| Organisation | University of Birmingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | FSRN funded a project submitted by the University of Birmingham. This project aims to develop a comprehensive and accessible "Freeze with Ease" guide focused on safe food storage, particularly around freezing and reducing waste. The primary goal is to enhance household food safety by providing a practical, user-friendly resource that addresses high-risk practices associated with freezing, storing, and thawing food. By targeting unsafe habits that increase the risk of food contamination and spoilage, the project intends to lower the incidence of foodborne illnesses and boost consumer confidence in safe food management at home. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Birmingham will lead the project. Other partners involved in the project are: - The Home Cooking Consultant, The Full Freezer: Frozen food specialist offering technical insights into the freezing process, food quality, and preservation. - Behavioural Science Consultant, LABS Innovation Limited: Behavioural scientist analysing and applying behaviour change principles to develop interventions that resonate with users. - Design and Media Creator: Producing digital educational materials, including visuals, to communicate safe practices effectively. - Food System Team, Public Health Division, Birmingham City Council: Local Authority contributing food policy expertise and supporting resource dissemination to maximise community reach and impact. |
| Impact | Outputs from this project are expected lated in 2025. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Supported an international exchange: Using Biostimulants to combat human pathogens in plants: from living labs in Crete to the Quadram Institute |
| Organisation | Quadram Institute Bioscience |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Through the further funding Flexible Talent Mobility Award, we were able to support a member of the FSRN to organise and participate in an international exchange between the Quadram Institute, UK; and The Hellenic Mediterranean University, Greece. The purpose of this exchange is to initiate a new collaboration with the scope to further explore how safe environmental bacteria can be used to promote food security while also contributing towards plant improvement. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The FSRN funded the activity. The award holder (FSRN member based at Quadram Institute) organised the activity and hosted the collaborator at Quadram Institute. During their visit, the collaborator helped to expand on the use of a lab-based plant model. They also analysed samples collected during the exchange. Quadram provided sequencing and bioinformatic support and training. The Hellenic Mediterranean University hosted the award holder. During the visit, the award holder learnt about the "living lab" initiative and attended demonstrations of biostimulant applications in open field trials and in greenhouses to explore how a similar setup can be used to test more sustainable agricultural practices. They also delivered a seminar to the local university staff and students, which was also attended by a team from the ministry of Agricultural Development and Food. |
| Impact | This FTMA-supported international exchange empowered the applicant with invaluable opportunities to build skills, strengthen relationships, expand their professional network, and advance their research through knowledge sharing, collaboration exploration, active pursuit of funding, and promising experiments with novel agents to enhance food security. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: Development of sensor-based technology to explore how consumers use their refrigerators and to establish the impact of behaviour on temperature performance |
| Organisation | Cardiff Metropolitan University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | FSRN funded this project submitted jointly by all the partners. This project proposes a multi-phase approach to make advancements towards enhancing our understanding of how consumers use domestic refrigerators. Stream A will explore how consumers use their refrigerators. This will provide usage and behavioural information that can then drive technical opportunities to adapt refrigerators designs to 'nudge' or encourage consumers to store foods better and use their refrigerators more optimally. Stream B will explore consumer refrigeration habits. This stream will collect qualitative data on consumer practices, attitudes toward thermometers, and refrigerator repair perceptions, problems experiences with current refrigerator design, establish foods commonly wasted, attitudes toward thermometers, attitudes towards repairing refrigerator, preferences for new vs. repaired fridges, and perceptions of design features. Topics relating to refrigerator design will also be explored. |
| Collaborator Contribution | • Industry: Appliance manufacturers and appliance retailers. • Academic partners: Universities with expertise in food safety and human behaviour will contribute to study design, data analysis, and interpretation, lending academic rigor to consumer behaviour insights. • Government agencies: Food safety authorities and public health organisations will support in aligning research goals with public safety regulations, potentially facilitating access to relevant data and helping with the dissemination of findings to the public. • Industry associations: Industry associations with experience of food storage in the home will support the project. • Consumers: The involvement of consumers will be essential in this project. |
| Impact | Outputs from this project are expected lated in 2025. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: Development of sensor-based technology to explore how consumers use their refrigerators and to establish the impact of behaviour on temperature performance |
| Organisation | Chilled Food Association |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | FSRN funded this project submitted jointly by all the partners. This project proposes a multi-phase approach to make advancements towards enhancing our understanding of how consumers use domestic refrigerators. Stream A will explore how consumers use their refrigerators. This will provide usage and behavioural information that can then drive technical opportunities to adapt refrigerators designs to 'nudge' or encourage consumers to store foods better and use their refrigerators more optimally. Stream B will explore consumer refrigeration habits. This stream will collect qualitative data on consumer practices, attitudes toward thermometers, and refrigerator repair perceptions, problems experiences with current refrigerator design, establish foods commonly wasted, attitudes toward thermometers, attitudes towards repairing refrigerator, preferences for new vs. repaired fridges, and perceptions of design features. Topics relating to refrigerator design will also be explored. |
| Collaborator Contribution | • Industry: Appliance manufacturers and appliance retailers. • Academic partners: Universities with expertise in food safety and human behaviour will contribute to study design, data analysis, and interpretation, lending academic rigor to consumer behaviour insights. • Government agencies: Food safety authorities and public health organisations will support in aligning research goals with public safety regulations, potentially facilitating access to relevant data and helping with the dissemination of findings to the public. • Industry associations: Industry associations with experience of food storage in the home will support the project. • Consumers: The involvement of consumers will be essential in this project. |
| Impact | Outputs from this project are expected lated in 2025. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: Development of sensor-based technology to explore how consumers use their refrigerators and to establish the impact of behaviour on temperature performance |
| Organisation | Food Standards Scotland |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | FSRN funded this project submitted jointly by all the partners. This project proposes a multi-phase approach to make advancements towards enhancing our understanding of how consumers use domestic refrigerators. Stream A will explore how consumers use their refrigerators. This will provide usage and behavioural information that can then drive technical opportunities to adapt refrigerators designs to 'nudge' or encourage consumers to store foods better and use their refrigerators more optimally. Stream B will explore consumer refrigeration habits. This stream will collect qualitative data on consumer practices, attitudes toward thermometers, and refrigerator repair perceptions, problems experiences with current refrigerator design, establish foods commonly wasted, attitudes toward thermometers, attitudes towards repairing refrigerator, preferences for new vs. repaired fridges, and perceptions of design features. Topics relating to refrigerator design will also be explored. |
| Collaborator Contribution | • Industry: Appliance manufacturers and appliance retailers. • Academic partners: Universities with expertise in food safety and human behaviour will contribute to study design, data analysis, and interpretation, lending academic rigor to consumer behaviour insights. • Government agencies: Food safety authorities and public health organisations will support in aligning research goals with public safety regulations, potentially facilitating access to relevant data and helping with the dissemination of findings to the public. • Industry associations: Industry associations with experience of food storage in the home will support the project. • Consumers: The involvement of consumers will be essential in this project. |
| Impact | Outputs from this project are expected lated in 2025. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: Development of sensor-based technology to explore how consumers use their refrigerators and to establish the impact of behaviour on temperature performance |
| Organisation | London South Bank University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | FSRN funded this project submitted jointly by all the partners. This project proposes a multi-phase approach to make advancements towards enhancing our understanding of how consumers use domestic refrigerators. Stream A will explore how consumers use their refrigerators. This will provide usage and behavioural information that can then drive technical opportunities to adapt refrigerators designs to 'nudge' or encourage consumers to store foods better and use their refrigerators more optimally. Stream B will explore consumer refrigeration habits. This stream will collect qualitative data on consumer practices, attitudes toward thermometers, and refrigerator repair perceptions, problems experiences with current refrigerator design, establish foods commonly wasted, attitudes toward thermometers, attitudes towards repairing refrigerator, preferences for new vs. repaired fridges, and perceptions of design features. Topics relating to refrigerator design will also be explored. |
| Collaborator Contribution | • Industry: Appliance manufacturers and appliance retailers. • Academic partners: Universities with expertise in food safety and human behaviour will contribute to study design, data analysis, and interpretation, lending academic rigor to consumer behaviour insights. • Government agencies: Food safety authorities and public health organisations will support in aligning research goals with public safety regulations, potentially facilitating access to relevant data and helping with the dissemination of findings to the public. • Industry associations: Industry associations with experience of food storage in the home will support the project. • Consumers: The involvement of consumers will be essential in this project. |
| Impact | Outputs from this project are expected lated in 2025. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: Development of sensor-based technology to explore how consumers use their refrigerators and to establish the impact of behaviour on temperature performance |
| Organisation | University of Leeds |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | FSRN funded this project submitted jointly by all the partners. This project proposes a multi-phase approach to make advancements towards enhancing our understanding of how consumers use domestic refrigerators. Stream A will explore how consumers use their refrigerators. This will provide usage and behavioural information that can then drive technical opportunities to adapt refrigerators designs to 'nudge' or encourage consumers to store foods better and use their refrigerators more optimally. Stream B will explore consumer refrigeration habits. This stream will collect qualitative data on consumer practices, attitudes toward thermometers, and refrigerator repair perceptions, problems experiences with current refrigerator design, establish foods commonly wasted, attitudes toward thermometers, attitudes towards repairing refrigerator, preferences for new vs. repaired fridges, and perceptions of design features. Topics relating to refrigerator design will also be explored. |
| Collaborator Contribution | • Industry: Appliance manufacturers and appliance retailers. • Academic partners: Universities with expertise in food safety and human behaviour will contribute to study design, data analysis, and interpretation, lending academic rigor to consumer behaviour insights. • Government agencies: Food safety authorities and public health organisations will support in aligning research goals with public safety regulations, potentially facilitating access to relevant data and helping with the dissemination of findings to the public. • Industry associations: Industry associations with experience of food storage in the home will support the project. • Consumers: The involvement of consumers will be essential in this project. |
| Impact | Outputs from this project are expected lated in 2025. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: Development of sensor-based technology to explore how consumers use their refrigerators and to establish the impact of behaviour on temperature performance |
| Organisation | Waste and Resources Action Programme |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | FSRN funded this project submitted jointly by all the partners. This project proposes a multi-phase approach to make advancements towards enhancing our understanding of how consumers use domestic refrigerators. Stream A will explore how consumers use their refrigerators. This will provide usage and behavioural information that can then drive technical opportunities to adapt refrigerators designs to 'nudge' or encourage consumers to store foods better and use their refrigerators more optimally. Stream B will explore consumer refrigeration habits. This stream will collect qualitative data on consumer practices, attitudes toward thermometers, and refrigerator repair perceptions, problems experiences with current refrigerator design, establish foods commonly wasted, attitudes toward thermometers, attitudes towards repairing refrigerator, preferences for new vs. repaired fridges, and perceptions of design features. Topics relating to refrigerator design will also be explored. |
| Collaborator Contribution | • Industry: Appliance manufacturers and appliance retailers. • Academic partners: Universities with expertise in food safety and human behaviour will contribute to study design, data analysis, and interpretation, lending academic rigor to consumer behaviour insights. • Government agencies: Food safety authorities and public health organisations will support in aligning research goals with public safety regulations, potentially facilitating access to relevant data and helping with the dissemination of findings to the public. • Industry associations: Industry associations with experience of food storage in the home will support the project. • Consumers: The involvement of consumers will be essential in this project. |
| Impact | Outputs from this project are expected lated in 2025. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: FSRN-A12 |
| Organisation | Quadram Institute Bioscience |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The FSRN is funding a research project between the Quadram Institute Bioscience and a pet food company to develop bacteriophage cocktails to decrease Salmonella contamination in raw pet food. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Quadram and the pet food company are going to complete the research project which FSRN are funding. |
| Impact | Two companies (one pet food company, one commercial bacteriophage producer) have contacted the academic lead to discuss potential collaborations. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: FSRN-A13 |
| Organisation | Fera Science Limited |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The FSRN are funding a research project by the University of Lincoln and Fera Science on developing a rapid test for the point-of-care detection of foodborne microbes. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The University of Lincoln and Fera Science are going to complete this research project which FSRN are funding. |
| Impact | No known outputs yet. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: FSRN-A13 |
| Organisation | University of Lincoln |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The FSRN are funding a research project by the University of Lincoln and Fera Science on developing a rapid test for the point-of-care detection of foodborne microbes. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The University of Lincoln and Fera Science are going to complete this research project which FSRN are funding. |
| Impact | No known outputs yet. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: FSRN-A18 |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The FSRN are funding a research project by the University of Nottingham, the University of Stirlin and a seafood processor, testing bacteriophage as a biocontrol of Listeria monocytogenes in the UK aquaculture. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The University of Nottingham, the University of Stirling and the seafood processor are going to complete this research project which FSRN are funding. |
| Impact | No known outputs yet. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: FSRN-A18 |
| Organisation | University of Stirling |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The FSRN are funding a research project by the University of Nottingham, the University of Stirlin and a seafood processor, testing bacteriophage as a biocontrol of Listeria monocytogenes in the UK aquaculture. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The University of Nottingham, the University of Stirling and the seafood processor are going to complete this research project which FSRN are funding. |
| Impact | No known outputs yet. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: FSRN-A19 |
| Organisation | Northumbria University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The FSRN are funding a research project by Northumbria University and the UK Edible Insects Association on profiling microbial communities in Acheta domesticus (cricket) production systems for risk assessment and evaluation, and development of best practice approaches. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Northumbria University and the UK Edible Insects Association are going to complete this project which FSRN are funding. |
| Impact | No known outputs yet. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: FSRN-A22 |
| Organisation | Northumbria University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The FSRN are funding a research project by the Northumbria University and Prima Cheese on developing fibre optic biosensors to transform environmental monitoring programs and enable real-time monitoring of pathogens in food processing systems. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Northumbria University and Prima Cheese are going to complete this research project which FSRN are funding. |
| Impact | No known outputs yet. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: FSRN-A24 |
| Organisation | University of Reading |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The FSRN are funding a research project by the University of Reading and AgriCoat Natureseal to investigate the antimicrobial activity of a newly-developed formula of a commercial disinfectant and its potential use in combination with ozone treatment. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The University of Reading and AgriCoat Natureseal are going to complete this research project which FSRN are funding. |
| Impact | No known outputs yet. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: FSRN-B11 |
| Organisation | Fresh Produce Consortium |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | FSRN are funding a project by the Fresh Produce Consortium to develop and implement microbial safety training and certification for growing fresh produce. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Fresh Produce Consortium is going to complete this project which FSRN are funding. |
| Impact | No known outputs yet. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: Food science facts and fictions |
| Organisation | Institute of Food Science and Technology |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | FSRN funded a project submitted by the University of Southampton. This project builds on team members' previous empirical and imaginative research with food and microbes. It aims to: 1) Stimulate interdisciplinary dialogue and knowledge exchange to explore scientific and cultural conceptions of safety, cleanliness, contagion and technology. 2) Gather data with consumers to understand their food safety practices at home. 3) Disseminate findings and build plans for further research in this area. These aims will be delivered through the following activities: i) Site exchange visits between team members (n=4) at labs at UoS, studios at WSA, and IFST, and in-person workshop with team members and associates (n=4) to co-design research questions for ii). ii) A pilot photo-voice elicitation study with a sample group of students (n=40) from Art and Media, WSA and School of Biological Sciences, UoS. iii) Online workshop with team members and associates to review initial findings from ii) and to inform the co-creation of resources for IFST's Food Safety Special Interest Group and a co-designed public engagement activity for University of Southampton's Science and Engineering Festival, March 2025. The project brings together a new team built on existing relationships and founded on a strong research base and industry engagement. It represents an exciting and innovative new collaboration that explores conceptually novel terrain. We will use existing resources (free workshop venues), and relationships (student participants via WSA and UoS) to maximise the impact of the funding in a short amount of time. Photo-voice elicitation is an established social science method in which participants keep a photo diary of particular aspects of their lives, behaviours or environment. The student sample has been chosen partly because they are easy to recruit and will likely have access to smart phones. Students are also an interesting consumer group, representing a range of nationalities and cultural backgrounds. Many will be living independently for the first time, and still developing their food knowledges and practices. Others will be living with family members or friends, and sharing and navigating multiple food knowledges and practices as well as multiple human-microbial relations. |
| Collaborator Contribution | - University of Southampton is leading the project. - IFSTs Food Safety Special Interest Group represents an engaged stakeholder group through which we can build future pathways to impact. |
| Impact | Outputs from this project are expected lated in 2025. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: Food science facts and fictions |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Department | PublicPolicy@Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | FSRN funded a project submitted by the University of Southampton. This project builds on team members' previous empirical and imaginative research with food and microbes. It aims to: 1) Stimulate interdisciplinary dialogue and knowledge exchange to explore scientific and cultural conceptions of safety, cleanliness, contagion and technology. 2) Gather data with consumers to understand their food safety practices at home. 3) Disseminate findings and build plans for further research in this area. These aims will be delivered through the following activities: i) Site exchange visits between team members (n=4) at labs at UoS, studios at WSA, and IFST, and in-person workshop with team members and associates (n=4) to co-design research questions for ii). ii) A pilot photo-voice elicitation study with a sample group of students (n=40) from Art and Media, WSA and School of Biological Sciences, UoS. iii) Online workshop with team members and associates to review initial findings from ii) and to inform the co-creation of resources for IFST's Food Safety Special Interest Group and a co-designed public engagement activity for University of Southampton's Science and Engineering Festival, March 2025. The project brings together a new team built on existing relationships and founded on a strong research base and industry engagement. It represents an exciting and innovative new collaboration that explores conceptually novel terrain. We will use existing resources (free workshop venues), and relationships (student participants via WSA and UoS) to maximise the impact of the funding in a short amount of time. Photo-voice elicitation is an established social science method in which participants keep a photo diary of particular aspects of their lives, behaviours or environment. The student sample has been chosen partly because they are easy to recruit and will likely have access to smart phones. Students are also an interesting consumer group, representing a range of nationalities and cultural backgrounds. Many will be living independently for the first time, and still developing their food knowledges and practices. Others will be living with family members or friends, and sharing and navigating multiple food knowledges and practices as well as multiple human-microbial relations. |
| Collaborator Contribution | - University of Southampton is leading the project. - IFSTs Food Safety Special Interest Group represents an engaged stakeholder group through which we can build future pathways to impact. |
| Impact | Outputs from this project are expected lated in 2025. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: Improving food safety at home: Co-creating a Food Standards Scotland campaign to safeguard vulnerable older adults from foodborne illness. |
| Organisation | Cardiff Metropolitan University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | FSRN funded a project submitted by the ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre, part of Cardiff Metropolitan University. Based on findings from our previous research with FSS, we propose to co-create a multi-resource campaign that will address identified gaps in food safety communication and utilise approaches preferred by our target audience to translate the reasons for physiological and pharmacological predispositions to foodborne disease susceptibility among individuals aged 65 and older. The proposed campaign will focus on critical food safety behaviours and provide essential equipment and skills for implementing these practices in the home. The acceptability and feasibility of the campaign will be evaluated for potential impact and effectiveness in improving food safety in the home. |
| Collaborator Contribution | - ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre, Cardiff Metropolitan University is leading the project. - Food Standards Scotland will support to prioritise and finalise the project's objectives, they will also help recruit participants and scale up the project findings/ outputs after conclusion. - Ohio State University will provide expertise building on the existing collaboration with Cardiff Metropolitan University |
| Impact | Outputs from this project are expected lated in 2025. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: Improving food safety at home: Co-creating a Food Standards Scotland campaign to safeguard vulnerable older adults from foodborne illness. |
| Organisation | Food Standards Scotland |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | FSRN funded a project submitted by the ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre, part of Cardiff Metropolitan University. Based on findings from our previous research with FSS, we propose to co-create a multi-resource campaign that will address identified gaps in food safety communication and utilise approaches preferred by our target audience to translate the reasons for physiological and pharmacological predispositions to foodborne disease susceptibility among individuals aged 65 and older. The proposed campaign will focus on critical food safety behaviours and provide essential equipment and skills for implementing these practices in the home. The acceptability and feasibility of the campaign will be evaluated for potential impact and effectiveness in improving food safety in the home. |
| Collaborator Contribution | - ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre, Cardiff Metropolitan University is leading the project. - Food Standards Scotland will support to prioritise and finalise the project's objectives, they will also help recruit participants and scale up the project findings/ outputs after conclusion. - Ohio State University will provide expertise building on the existing collaboration with Cardiff Metropolitan University |
| Impact | Outputs from this project are expected lated in 2025. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: Improving food safety at home: Co-creating a Food Standards Scotland campaign to safeguard vulnerable older adults from foodborne illness. |
| Organisation | Ohio State University |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | FSRN funded a project submitted by the ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre, part of Cardiff Metropolitan University. Based on findings from our previous research with FSS, we propose to co-create a multi-resource campaign that will address identified gaps in food safety communication and utilise approaches preferred by our target audience to translate the reasons for physiological and pharmacological predispositions to foodborne disease susceptibility among individuals aged 65 and older. The proposed campaign will focus on critical food safety behaviours and provide essential equipment and skills for implementing these practices in the home. The acceptability and feasibility of the campaign will be evaluated for potential impact and effectiveness in improving food safety in the home. |
| Collaborator Contribution | - ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre, Cardiff Metropolitan University is leading the project. - Food Standards Scotland will support to prioritise and finalise the project's objectives, they will also help recruit participants and scale up the project findings/ outputs after conclusion. - Ohio State University will provide expertise building on the existing collaboration with Cardiff Metropolitan University |
| Impact | Outputs from this project are expected lated in 2025. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: Leveraging Intelligent Technology for Advancing Hand Hygiene and Behaviour for Food Safety at Home |
| Organisation | Cardiff Metropolitan University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | FSRN funded a project submitted by Cardiff Metropolitan University. The proposed improvement in this project is the development of a smart sink system designed to enhance hand hygiene practices at home, addressing food safety risks associated with poor hygiene. This system utilises sensor-based technology to monitor handwashing behaviours, measuring key factors such as duration, frequency, and technique. Unlike traditional methods, which can be intrusive or impractical for home use, this smart sink seamlessly integrates into domestic settings, including home food production businesses (HFPBs), offering a user-friendly and privacy-conscious solution to promote consistent hygiene practices. To deliver this solution, the project will first develop a core device fitted onto a sink that provides real-time feedback through visual or auditory cues, encouraging effective handwashing without disrupting daily routines. The device is designed to be versatile, with reconfigurable, reusable, and reprogrammable components, allowing it to be adapted to additional Good Hygiene Practices (GHP) beyond hand hygiene, such as surface cleaning or cross-contamination prevention. This adaptability supports a scalable approach, enabling the system to meet evolving hygiene needs across home environments, especially in HFPBs where compliance with food safety standards is essential. The smart sink will undergo iterative testing and refinement, incorporating user feedback from trials to ensure functionality, convenience, and effectiveness. This approach not only meets immediate food safety needs at home but also lays the groundwork for wider applications in food service and manufacturing environments, supporting resilient hygiene practices across varied contexts. |
| Collaborator Contribution | - Cardiff Metropolitan University will lead the project. - Zimmer & Peacock (https://www.zimmerpeacock.com/) brings specialised knowledge in sensor integration and data systems specific to food safety, further strengthening the project's technical capabilities. |
| Impact | Outputs from this project are expected lated in 2025. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: Leveraging Intelligent Technology for Advancing Hand Hygiene and Behaviour for Food Safety at Home |
| Organisation | Zimmer and Peacock |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | FSRN funded a project submitted by Cardiff Metropolitan University. The proposed improvement in this project is the development of a smart sink system designed to enhance hand hygiene practices at home, addressing food safety risks associated with poor hygiene. This system utilises sensor-based technology to monitor handwashing behaviours, measuring key factors such as duration, frequency, and technique. Unlike traditional methods, which can be intrusive or impractical for home use, this smart sink seamlessly integrates into domestic settings, including home food production businesses (HFPBs), offering a user-friendly and privacy-conscious solution to promote consistent hygiene practices. To deliver this solution, the project will first develop a core device fitted onto a sink that provides real-time feedback through visual or auditory cues, encouraging effective handwashing without disrupting daily routines. The device is designed to be versatile, with reconfigurable, reusable, and reprogrammable components, allowing it to be adapted to additional Good Hygiene Practices (GHP) beyond hand hygiene, such as surface cleaning or cross-contamination prevention. This adaptability supports a scalable approach, enabling the system to meet evolving hygiene needs across home environments, especially in HFPBs where compliance with food safety standards is essential. The smart sink will undergo iterative testing and refinement, incorporating user feedback from trials to ensure functionality, convenience, and effectiveness. This approach not only meets immediate food safety needs at home but also lays the groundwork for wider applications in food service and manufacturing environments, supporting resilient hygiene practices across varied contexts. |
| Collaborator Contribution | - Cardiff Metropolitan University will lead the project. - Zimmer & Peacock (https://www.zimmerpeacock.com/) brings specialised knowledge in sensor integration and data systems specific to food safety, further strengthening the project's technical capabilities. |
| Impact | Outputs from this project are expected lated in 2025. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: S01 |
| Organisation | Quadram Institute Bioscience |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The FSRN is funding the project "De-risking and enhancing upscale prototyping studies of a colour-change contamination detection wipe" led by Fresh Check. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The relationship between FreshCheck and the Quadram Institute will allow rapid studies to test colour change sensitivity and specificity to food and microbial contaminants and provides the best opportunity to realise the project's full potential. The Quadram Institute's extensive suite of food and microbial testing techniques (including a multitude of samples) will be a critical contribution to the project, conversations on how testing can run in tandem with current Quadram projects has already been discussed. Furthermore, the Quadram Institute has an extensive range of expertise in the field of microbiology which will be incredibly beneficial to this project to ensure it reaches the development milestones. FreshCheck also has key partnerships within the food industry in the form of current customers, through to interested parties waiting to be onboarded. These clients range from small restaurant chains through to some of the top 10 food manufacturers in the UK. FreshCheck will work with these clients to obtain real world data on the wipe sensitivity. Working with industry connections will also ensure that the prototype wipes are developed with market-relevant feedback to de-risk adoption after the project is completed." |
| Impact | Outputs will be reported in April 2024 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: S04 |
| Organisation | Quadram Institute Bioscience |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The FSRN is funding the project "Exploring genomics and metagenomics to uncover the secrets of RTE ham spoilage" led by the Quadram Institute Bioscience. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Two key partners will engage in this project: "Company H", a major UK producer of Ready to Eat (RTE) cooked meats and other meat products, and Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB), a renowned research institute with extensive expertise in studying microbial threats in the food industry. Company H will bring valuable insights into RTE ham production, actively contributing to the sampling plan, providing access to their facilities, assisting in sample collection and delivery, and actively engaging in result interpretation. QIB's in-kind contributions encompass access to their cutting-edge laboratories for sample processing and bacteria isolation, freezer storage for preserving bacterial isolates, core services like sequencing facilities and bioinformatic resources, and the dedicated time of a QIB Research Scientist who will lead project coordination and results analysis. QIB will also facilitate access to subcontracted Project Scientists who will assist in sample processing. |
| Impact | Outputs will be reported in April 2024 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: S05 |
| Organisation | Agricultural and Horticulture Development Board |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The FSRN is funding the project "Phages in Food Safety" led by the University of Hertfordshire. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The University of Hertfordshire is leading the project to make connections and gain insight into phage use in other countries. The wide range of experts included from the outset provide expertise in academia, lab facilities, including those at the recently established Phage research centre at the university of Leics, veterinary public health and food safety experts. These will be supported by experts in research and spin- outs to identify promising areas of collaboration. AHDB will identify priority food safety areas for the UK. Circagene and Avaxzipen will identify the most promising areas for innovation with University of Hertfordshire and University of Leicester leading the academic research area. BSI will bring a wealth of understanding of how to establish standards of production/monitoring from the outset. |
| Impact | Outputs will be reported in April 2024 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: S05 |
| Organisation | British Standards Institute (BSI Group) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The FSRN is funding the project "Phages in Food Safety" led by the University of Hertfordshire. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The University of Hertfordshire is leading the project to make connections and gain insight into phage use in other countries. The wide range of experts included from the outset provide expertise in academia, lab facilities, including those at the recently established Phage research centre at the university of Leics, veterinary public health and food safety experts. These will be supported by experts in research and spin- outs to identify promising areas of collaboration. AHDB will identify priority food safety areas for the UK. Circagene and Avaxzipen will identify the most promising areas for innovation with University of Hertfordshire and University of Leicester leading the academic research area. BSI will bring a wealth of understanding of how to establish standards of production/monitoring from the outset. |
| Impact | Outputs will be reported in April 2024 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: S05 |
| Organisation | University of Hertfordshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The FSRN is funding the project "Phages in Food Safety" led by the University of Hertfordshire. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The University of Hertfordshire is leading the project to make connections and gain insight into phage use in other countries. The wide range of experts included from the outset provide expertise in academia, lab facilities, including those at the recently established Phage research centre at the university of Leics, veterinary public health and food safety experts. These will be supported by experts in research and spin- outs to identify promising areas of collaboration. AHDB will identify priority food safety areas for the UK. Circagene and Avaxzipen will identify the most promising areas for innovation with University of Hertfordshire and University of Leicester leading the academic research area. BSI will bring a wealth of understanding of how to establish standards of production/monitoring from the outset. |
| Impact | Outputs will be reported in April 2024 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: S05 |
| Organisation | University of Leicester |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The FSRN is funding the project "Phages in Food Safety" led by the University of Hertfordshire. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The University of Hertfordshire is leading the project to make connections and gain insight into phage use in other countries. The wide range of experts included from the outset provide expertise in academia, lab facilities, including those at the recently established Phage research centre at the university of Leics, veterinary public health and food safety experts. These will be supported by experts in research and spin- outs to identify promising areas of collaboration. AHDB will identify priority food safety areas for the UK. Circagene and Avaxzipen will identify the most promising areas for innovation with University of Hertfordshire and University of Leicester leading the academic research area. BSI will bring a wealth of understanding of how to establish standards of production/monitoring from the outset. |
| Impact | Outputs will be reported in April 2024 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: S06 |
| Organisation | Queen's University Belfast |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | FSRN are funding the project "HeTaCoat: A Next-Generation Edible Coatings for Sustainable Fresh Produce Protection" lead by the University of Birmingham. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Birmingham are leading the project with key partners Ermen systems Ltd and Queen's University Belfast who will contribute by providing access to their expertise in materials science, microbiome, and food safety. |
| Impact | Outputs will be reported in April 2024 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: S06 |
| Organisation | University of Birmingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | FSRN are funding the project "HeTaCoat: A Next-Generation Edible Coatings for Sustainable Fresh Produce Protection" lead by the University of Birmingham. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Birmingham are leading the project with key partners Ermen systems Ltd and Queen's University Belfast who will contribute by providing access to their expertise in materials science, microbiome, and food safety. |
| Impact | Outputs will be reported in April 2024 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: S07 |
| Organisation | Agricultural and Horticulture Development Board |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The FSRN is funding the project "Broadening Collaborative Action for Pork Safety (B-CAPS)" led by the University of Hertfordshire. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Hertfordshire will be leading the project. Their key partners are PHWC, PVS, NPA, FSA, abattoirs, pork producers/farmers, and universities (e.g. Royal Veterinary College, University of Leeds, Harper Adams University). For objective 1, we intend to invite representatives from all partners to attend both the networking event and the workshop. We anticipate that input from all categories will be key to development of a business case for a project that represents the needs of the industry. For objective 2, abattoirs, producers and other FBOs and NPA will help identify key concerns about participating in microbial detection studies. PHWC and FSA will help propose/identify solutions. For objective 3, abattoirs, pork producers, farmers (including university farms) will provide access to sites, samples, and participate in surveys, and universities will provide expertise and contribute new or rare sequence types of C. difficile of animal/environmental origins to the project to expand the spectra database. |
| Impact | Outputs will be reported in April 2024 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: S07 |
| Organisation | University of Hertfordshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The FSRN is funding the project "Broadening Collaborative Action for Pork Safety (B-CAPS)" led by the University of Hertfordshire. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Hertfordshire will be leading the project. Their key partners are PHWC, PVS, NPA, FSA, abattoirs, pork producers/farmers, and universities (e.g. Royal Veterinary College, University of Leeds, Harper Adams University). For objective 1, we intend to invite representatives from all partners to attend both the networking event and the workshop. We anticipate that input from all categories will be key to development of a business case for a project that represents the needs of the industry. For objective 2, abattoirs, producers and other FBOs and NPA will help identify key concerns about participating in microbial detection studies. PHWC and FSA will help propose/identify solutions. For objective 3, abattoirs, pork producers, farmers (including university farms) will provide access to sites, samples, and participate in surveys, and universities will provide expertise and contribute new or rare sequence types of C. difficile of animal/environmental origins to the project to expand the spectra database. |
| Impact | Outputs will be reported in April 2024 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: S08 |
| Organisation | Glasgow Caledonian University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The FSRN is funding the project "Foodborne viruses in UK Produce: Catalysing connectivity" led by Glasgow Caledonian University. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The project leads wish to encourage the development of plans for promoting structured and transparent communication across different projects, and with the wider community who aren't being funded directly and this would help the FSRN to build a more networked community, sparking new collaborations and opportunities, and develop the network beyond a series of funded projects. The intended workshop audience and participants will be: Regulators (e.g. UK Food Standards Agency, Food Standards Scotland, Environment Agency, etc.). Industry bodies will be included (e.g. the Food and Drink Federation/Institute of Food Science and Technology/Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland/The Chilled Food Association/the British Frozen Food Federation/the British Retail Consortium/Farmers /Producers/UK Water Industry Research etc). Retailers e.g. representatives from the big 5 supermarkets, Public Health representatives. Funding Bodies e.g. NERC. We will aim to capture key stakeholder attitudes towards foodborne viruses with a view to understanding the current situation in the UK. Draft SWOT analyses will be prepared in advance of the workshops and will be completed as an exercise during the workshops. After the workshops, the SWOT analyses results will be compiled and incorporated within the final report sent to the funding bodies of the workshops (BBSRC and UKFSRN). |
| Impact | Outputs will be reported in April 2024 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: S10 |
| Organisation | Ulster University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The FSRN is funding the project "Ultrafast detection of foodborne bacteria using acoustics" led by Ulster University. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Ulster University will be leading the project. Primarily, the conventional development cost for Synthetic Imprinted Polymers (SIPs) targeting a specific bacterium is typically in excess of £20,000. However, through a collaborative arrangement with Sensip-DX, we have secured a significantly discounted rate of £8,000 for SIPs development. This financial advantage grants us access to cutting-edge industry facilities dedicated to manufacturing synthetic polymers tailored to microorganisms (as a first example we will detect E. Coli). Upon successful sensor development, we gain entry to Sensip-DX's clientele, presenting a unique opportunity to field-test our sensors in authentic food chain environments where bacterial detection is of paramount importance. Beyond the direct academic beneficiaries (which is Nikhil Bhalla and Saikat Jana), our project extends its impact to various stakeholders, including farmers, specific local council departments overseeing hygiene, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), and the Food Standards Agency. This collaborative effort not only drives technological innovation but also contributes to addressing practical challenges in safeguarding food safety and agricultural practices. |
| Impact | Outputs will be reported in April 2024 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: S12 |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The FSRN is funding the project "Using deep learning in protein interactions to detect an emerging group of bacterial pathogens" led by Scotland's Rural College (SRUC). |
| Collaborator Contribution | SRUC will lead the project. Primerdesign Ltd. is a commercial partner who generate PCR-based detection kits for a range of microbes, including human pathogens, for food or veterinary / agriculture settings (Products : genesig). They will be able to inform on potential application towards the next generation of diagnostic tools that use sequence-based differences to identify pathogens. In the wider context, the work is relevant to public health agencies, including FSA / FSS and the reference laboratories since STEC is a notifiable disease. It is also relevant to primary and food producers for surveillance of pathogens in the farm, food and wider environment. Finally, it is relevant to policy for biosurveillance in the detection of emerging pathogens. The Seeding fund provides the opportunity to carry out the computational work and to discuss the potential application with Primerdesign Ltd., and opportunities for developing the partnership towards research projects. Currently, they retail a kit for detection of STEC, but this is limited to the O157 serotype. They also have kits for any E. coli (uidA positive). Therefore, there are opportunities for expansion to non-O157 STEC, and for detection of those that are potentially pathogenic and classed as high risk to human health. |
| Impact | Outputs will be reported in April 2024 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: S12 |
| Organisation | Scotland's Rural College |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The FSRN is funding the project "Using deep learning in protein interactions to detect an emerging group of bacterial pathogens" led by Scotland's Rural College (SRUC). |
| Collaborator Contribution | SRUC will lead the project. Primerdesign Ltd. is a commercial partner who generate PCR-based detection kits for a range of microbes, including human pathogens, for food or veterinary / agriculture settings (Products : genesig). They will be able to inform on potential application towards the next generation of diagnostic tools that use sequence-based differences to identify pathogens. In the wider context, the work is relevant to public health agencies, including FSA / FSS and the reference laboratories since STEC is a notifiable disease. It is also relevant to primary and food producers for surveillance of pathogens in the farm, food and wider environment. Finally, it is relevant to policy for biosurveillance in the detection of emerging pathogens. The Seeding fund provides the opportunity to carry out the computational work and to discuss the potential application with Primerdesign Ltd., and opportunities for developing the partnership towards research projects. Currently, they retail a kit for detection of STEC, but this is limited to the O157 serotype. They also have kits for any E. coli (uidA positive). Therefore, there are opportunities for expansion to non-O157 STEC, and for detection of those that are potentially pathogenic and classed as high risk to human health. |
| Impact | Outputs will be reported in April 2024 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: S13 |
| Organisation | University of Leeds |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The FSRN is funding the project "Capability building for consumer behaviour changes as food safety interventions in the home" led by the University of Leeds. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The PI works as an Associate Professor in Behavioural Decision Making at the Leeds University Business School in the University of Leeds. Because of the PI involvement in the recent Kitchen Life-2 project and their ongoing research collaboration with the FSA due to a PhD student co-funded by the FSA and supervised by the PI, the PI will disseminate the results of the project to the FSA and seek input from their Risk Assessment team to make recommendations for future interventions. |
| Impact | Outputs will be reported in April 2024 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: S14 |
| Organisation | London Metropolitan University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The FSRN is funding the project "Developing strategy for reduction of cases of foodborne diseases by Campylobacter: Study of potential contribution of meats other than chicken in campylobacteriosis with focus on cross contamination (prevalence of Campylobacter in meats; a cross-contamination study)" led by the London Metropolitan University. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The research will be carried out by a team comprising academics, a PhD student and MSc graduate at London Metropolitan University, who are all members of the Microbiology Research Unit (MRU) which was founded in 1999. Our research revolves around 4 themes including food and environmental pathogens and their survival. We use cultural and biomolecular (culture independent) approaches to explore bacterial pathogens in food, applying phenotypic and genotypic means and procedures. Local authorities (Redbridge council, Islington council): they are and will be involved in the project to share their data as well as facilitating access to the local butcheries along with the sampling and swap tests. Food Standards Agency (food safety inspections and enforcement team): similarly, they will be able to facilitate sampling and access to local butcheries and supermarkets. Slaughtering house: arrange visit to the site to assess the slaughtering regime in practice and food safety measures in place. |
| Impact | Outputs will be reported in April 2024 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: S15 |
| Organisation | Northumbria University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The FSRN is funding the project "Insect Farming Workshop: Opportunities and Challenges to Support Industry Growth and Underpin Food Safety" led by Northumbria University. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The project partners in Northumbria University and the UK Edible Insects Association have been networking with other UK Stakeholders working in this research space (e.g. University of Leeds, University of Shefield), as well as regulator Stakeholders (Food Standards Agency). The UKEIA membership includes diverse industry Stakeholders working in the insect sector to produce food and feed. We will use these connections and Networks to bring together key Stakeholders in industry, in research, and in regulation, to build a roadmap for future efforts to address knowledge gaps and best practice to ensure the production of safe foods/feeds. |
| Impact | Outputs will be reported in April 2024 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: S16 |
| Organisation | Cardiff Metropolitan University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The FSRN is funding the project " Efficacy of Gaseous Ozone Aerosol Disinfection and Biocide Products Regulation conformity for Applications within Food Manufacturing Facilities" led by Cardiff Metropolitan University. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Cardiff Met: will provide microbiological expertise, access to the bioaerosol and laboratory facilities and will design and provide data for BPR dossier approval. They will also undertake sampling and analysis of isolated microorganisms. Food Centre Wales: Is a developmental food production facility which already has an ozone system in place for ice machine disinfection. They will provide access to the site under different production environments, the taking of microbiological samples and allow the installation of ozone devices in key areas within the site. Ozone Industries (OI): Is a UK manufacturer of ozone systems supplied to the food industry. With access to an ozone dossier (requirement for compliance to the BPR) OI seeks to collate the necessary data to make a submission to the HSE. OI will supply the ozone system (free of charge) for the proposed field trials. Acceptance by the HSE will create a market demand for the product by approving the application in both efficacy and health and safety. Ozone Industries will submit the necessary detailing the equipment specification in collaboration with a specialist consultancy (exponent), test protocols and field data to support the application. |
| Impact | Outputs will be reported in April 2024 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: S17 |
| Organisation | Birmingham City Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | FSRN are funding the project "Ensuring Safe Transitions: Guidelines to Support Food Industry and Food Aid Collaborations " lead by the University of Birmingham with the partners The Food Justice Network, The Active Wellbeing Society, Birmingham City Council, and Nationwide Caterers Association. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Birmingham is leading this project with roles split as: - School of Chemical Engineering University of Birmingham - academic experts bringing expertise in food safety, leading engagement and resource development. - Environmental Health Team and Health Protection Team at Birmingham City Council (BCC) - expert guidance on environmental health standards and regulatory compliance to ensure resources are theoretically and practically sound. - Food Justice Network - network of over 300 people from food banks, community cafes, food pantries and other food aid projects across Birmingham. The coordinator of the network will provide expertise and support with engagement with food aid projects and disseminate resources. - Birmingham Food Revolution Partnership - city-wide partnership delivering the Birmingham Food System Strategy and coordinated by the Food System Team at BCC. Stakeholder engagement across the city including food businesses and restaurants through the Food Economy and Employment Action Group and food aid projects through the Food Insecurity and Resilience Action Group. The partnership will provide expertise, ensure project is rooted in practical realities and support with dissemination - Nationwide Caterers Association - will provide insight and disseminate findings with their members |
| Impact | Outputs will be reported in April 2024 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: S17 |
| Organisation | University of Birmingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | FSRN are funding the project "Ensuring Safe Transitions: Guidelines to Support Food Industry and Food Aid Collaborations " lead by the University of Birmingham with the partners The Food Justice Network, The Active Wellbeing Society, Birmingham City Council, and Nationwide Caterers Association. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Birmingham is leading this project with roles split as: - School of Chemical Engineering University of Birmingham - academic experts bringing expertise in food safety, leading engagement and resource development. - Environmental Health Team and Health Protection Team at Birmingham City Council (BCC) - expert guidance on environmental health standards and regulatory compliance to ensure resources are theoretically and practically sound. - Food Justice Network - network of over 300 people from food banks, community cafes, food pantries and other food aid projects across Birmingham. The coordinator of the network will provide expertise and support with engagement with food aid projects and disseminate resources. - Birmingham Food Revolution Partnership - city-wide partnership delivering the Birmingham Food System Strategy and coordinated by the Food System Team at BCC. Stakeholder engagement across the city including food businesses and restaurants through the Food Economy and Employment Action Group and food aid projects through the Food Insecurity and Resilience Action Group. The partnership will provide expertise, ensure project is rooted in practical realities and support with dissemination - Nationwide Caterers Association - will provide insight and disseminate findings with their members |
| Impact | Outputs will be reported in April 2024 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: S18 |
| Organisation | Unilever |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The FSRN is funding the project "Low Moisture ingredients in Ready To Eat food products: Global sourcing and supply challenges and knowledge gaps" led by the University of Southampton. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Southampton will lead the project. They have a strong network of food industry retailers and manufacturers and their teams of technical managers, quality assurance managers, production managers, and food safety compliance teams that we have built during the initial project. We plan to develop this network further by paying for travel/accommodation for some of the global manufacturing brands and Low Moisture ingredient trading bodies with experience of operating in the North American food regulatory environment, as well as South-East Asia, China, South America and Africa to attend the workshop. The focus of the workshop discussion will be to develop research questions that are meaningful to those industry employees. Unilever will engage and contribute their experiences as a global food manufacturer operating across the world, putting us in contact with staff with expertise in supply chain quality assurance challenges in different regions of the world. We will continue to draw from FSRN's contacts and expertise to make the visit and the workshop as impactful as possible. |
| Impact | Outputs will be reported in April 2024 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: S18 |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Department | PublicPolicy@Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The FSRN is funding the project "Low Moisture ingredients in Ready To Eat food products: Global sourcing and supply challenges and knowledge gaps" led by the University of Southampton. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Southampton will lead the project. They have a strong network of food industry retailers and manufacturers and their teams of technical managers, quality assurance managers, production managers, and food safety compliance teams that we have built during the initial project. We plan to develop this network further by paying for travel/accommodation for some of the global manufacturing brands and Low Moisture ingredient trading bodies with experience of operating in the North American food regulatory environment, as well as South-East Asia, China, South America and Africa to attend the workshop. The focus of the workshop discussion will be to develop research questions that are meaningful to those industry employees. Unilever will engage and contribute their experiences as a global food manufacturer operating across the world, putting us in contact with staff with expertise in supply chain quality assurance challenges in different regions of the world. We will continue to draw from FSRN's contacts and expertise to make the visit and the workshop as impactful as possible. |
| Impact | Outputs will be reported in April 2024 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: S20 |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Department | Cambridge Neuroscience |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The FSRN is funding the project "New tools to tackle Streptococcus suis, a leading zoonotic pathogen of pigs and driver of antibiotics usage" led by the University of Cambridge. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Academic partners: University of Cambridge, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Wageningen University and Research. Engagement with direct academic partners through regular project meetings. Wider academic engagement though conference presentations and publications. Industry partner: White Rose Farms Ltd, participant farm, and associated veterinarians. Engagement through regular project meetings. Wider stakeholders: UK and global pig producers. Organisations concerned with pig health (UK Pig Veterinary Society, National Pig Association, UK Animal and Plant Health Agency), pig veterinary medicines and usage (Veterinary Medicines Directorate), pig disease surveillance (APHA, SRUC, private veterinary diagnostic laboratories) and pig meat safety (Food Standards Agency). Engagement with stakeholders will be through our ongoing activities including these groups (PI is Junior Vice President of UK Pig Vet Society, a member of APHA's Pig Expert Group, and Deputy Chair of FSA's Advisory Committee on Microbiological Safety of Food). Also, we will present findings at national and, where possible, international conferences, and in industry publications. |
| Impact | Outputs will be reported in April 2024 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: S20 |
| Organisation | Wageningen University & Research |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The FSRN is funding the project "New tools to tackle Streptococcus suis, a leading zoonotic pathogen of pigs and driver of antibiotics usage" led by the University of Cambridge. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Academic partners: University of Cambridge, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Wageningen University and Research. Engagement with direct academic partners through regular project meetings. Wider academic engagement though conference presentations and publications. Industry partner: White Rose Farms Ltd, participant farm, and associated veterinarians. Engagement through regular project meetings. Wider stakeholders: UK and global pig producers. Organisations concerned with pig health (UK Pig Veterinary Society, National Pig Association, UK Animal and Plant Health Agency), pig veterinary medicines and usage (Veterinary Medicines Directorate), pig disease surveillance (APHA, SRUC, private veterinary diagnostic laboratories) and pig meat safety (Food Standards Agency). Engagement with stakeholders will be through our ongoing activities including these groups (PI is Junior Vice President of UK Pig Vet Society, a member of APHA's Pig Expert Group, and Deputy Chair of FSA's Advisory Committee on Microbiological Safety of Food). Also, we will present findings at national and, where possible, international conferences, and in industry publications. |
| Impact | Outputs will be reported in April 2024 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: S22 |
| Organisation | Food Standards Agency (FSA) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The FSRN is funding the project "Food safety and climate change: a monitoring tool to understand impacts and evaluate interventions to foodborne disease" led by the University of East Anglia. |
| Collaborator Contribution | UEA will be leading the project. UKHSA and FSA are listed as key project partners and will fully take part in sandpit events and discussions on project direction. The UEA PI and Newcastle CoI have long term proven links with both these organisations and the senior researcher on the project, has just changed role after working as Principal Epidemiologist and Head of Incidents and Response within the Gastrointestinal Infections and Food Safety Division of UKHSA. At project outset we will also discuss with FSRN other network members, especially from the food industry, who may wish to become involved as stakeholders in our sandpit events. In addition, we have a wealth of national and international contacts who may wish to take part. |
| Impact | Outputs will be reported in April 2024 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: S22 |
| Organisation | Newcastle University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| PI Contribution | The FSRN is funding the project "Food safety and climate change: a monitoring tool to understand impacts and evaluate interventions to foodborne disease" led by the University of East Anglia. |
| Collaborator Contribution | UEA will be leading the project. UKHSA and FSA are listed as key project partners and will fully take part in sandpit events and discussions on project direction. The UEA PI and Newcastle CoI have long term proven links with both these organisations and the senior researcher on the project, has just changed role after working as Principal Epidemiologist and Head of Incidents and Response within the Gastrointestinal Infections and Food Safety Division of UKHSA. At project outset we will also discuss with FSRN other network members, especially from the food industry, who may wish to become involved as stakeholders in our sandpit events. In addition, we have a wealth of national and international contacts who may wish to take part. |
| Impact | Outputs will be reported in April 2024 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: S22 |
| Organisation | UK Health Security Agency |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The FSRN is funding the project "Food safety and climate change: a monitoring tool to understand impacts and evaluate interventions to foodborne disease" led by the University of East Anglia. |
| Collaborator Contribution | UEA will be leading the project. UKHSA and FSA are listed as key project partners and will fully take part in sandpit events and discussions on project direction. The UEA PI and Newcastle CoI have long term proven links with both these organisations and the senior researcher on the project, has just changed role after working as Principal Epidemiologist and Head of Incidents and Response within the Gastrointestinal Infections and Food Safety Division of UKHSA. At project outset we will also discuss with FSRN other network members, especially from the food industry, who may wish to become involved as stakeholders in our sandpit events. In addition, we have a wealth of national and international contacts who may wish to take part. |
| Impact | Outputs will be reported in April 2024 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: S22 |
| Organisation | University of East Anglia |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The FSRN is funding the project "Food safety and climate change: a monitoring tool to understand impacts and evaluate interventions to foodborne disease" led by the University of East Anglia. |
| Collaborator Contribution | UEA will be leading the project. UKHSA and FSA are listed as key project partners and will fully take part in sandpit events and discussions on project direction. The UEA PI and Newcastle CoI have long term proven links with both these organisations and the senior researcher on the project, has just changed role after working as Principal Epidemiologist and Head of Incidents and Response within the Gastrointestinal Infections and Food Safety Division of UKHSA. At project outset we will also discuss with FSRN other network members, especially from the food industry, who may wish to become involved as stakeholders in our sandpit events. In addition, we have a wealth of national and international contacts who may wish to take part. |
| Impact | Outputs will be reported in April 2024 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: S23 |
| Organisation | Fera Science Limited |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The FSRN is funding the project "Metatranscriptomic Analysis of Viable But Non Culturable (VBNC) Microbial Cells in Novel Alternative Proteins and Plant-Based Foods." led by the University of Lincoln. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Lincoln (UoL) will lead this project and will be attending the 2-day Plant Based World Expo Europe 2023 in London scheduled for the 15th and 16th of November 2023 to connect with industry and collect samples as part of this project. In addition UoL will prepare samples for metatranscriptomic analysis, send the samples to molecular biology lab for analysis, analyse and interpret data, write the draft and final project report and prepare scientific manuscript for publication. The UoL researchers (food scientists, microbiologist, molecular biologist and bioinformatician) have experience in this research space and in engaging with industry and collaborating with other research organisations and stakeholders in the food sector. FERA science Ltd has facilities for molecular biology analysis and extensive expertise in bioinformatics data analysis and interpretation. We currently also work with 4 industrial partners on the FSRN project, we intend to engage with these partners and also analyse their food products using the metatranscriptomic molecular technique. |
| Impact | Outputs will be reported in April 2024 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: S23 |
| Organisation | University of Lincoln |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The FSRN is funding the project "Metatranscriptomic Analysis of Viable But Non Culturable (VBNC) Microbial Cells in Novel Alternative Proteins and Plant-Based Foods." led by the University of Lincoln. |
| Collaborator Contribution | University of Lincoln (UoL) will lead this project and will be attending the 2-day Plant Based World Expo Europe 2023 in London scheduled for the 15th and 16th of November 2023 to connect with industry and collect samples as part of this project. In addition UoL will prepare samples for metatranscriptomic analysis, send the samples to molecular biology lab for analysis, analyse and interpret data, write the draft and final project report and prepare scientific manuscript for publication. The UoL researchers (food scientists, microbiologist, molecular biologist and bioinformatician) have experience in this research space and in engaging with industry and collaborating with other research organisations and stakeholders in the food sector. FERA science Ltd has facilities for molecular biology analysis and extensive expertise in bioinformatics data analysis and interpretation. We currently also work with 4 industrial partners on the FSRN project, we intend to engage with these partners and also analyse their food products using the metatranscriptomic molecular technique. |
| Impact | Outputs will be reported in April 2024 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: S26 |
| Organisation | Cranfield University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The FSRN is funding the project "Supply chain mapping for food security and safety" led by Cranfield University. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Cranfield University will lead the project while other stakeholders will be drawn from across one cold-chain, with a key contact at Bidfood and Oliver Kay who will act as advisor and introduce the researcher to supply chain partners, participate in a workshop and check-in on progress, plus a final session to share and discuss the results. Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland act as strategic partners on the project as sponsors of the lead researcher's PhD, have highlighted the importance of supply chain mapping in contributing to resilience, and are interested in the outcomes. All supply chain partners will be invited to take part in a survey and semi-structured interview, online project briefing, face-to-face workshop and round-up meeting. Before research commences participants will be asked to give their full consent to take part in the process. They will be asked for their perspective and input as sector experts in identifying key dependencies and potential risks in the supply chain. Participants will be asked to give access to data for analysis and identification of vulnerabilities across the supply chain and to provide further contacts to expand the project knowledge through tier 2 and tier 3 suppliers. Where required, stakeholders' expenses will be reimbursed to enable participation. |
| Impact | Outputs will be reported in April 2024 |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | We are funding a research project: The Food Safety at Home Platform |
| Organisation | University of Birmingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | FSRN funded a project submitted by the University of Birmingham. This project proposes the creation of the Food Safety at Home Platform, a targeted, online resource designed to address the food safety knowledge gap for individuals preparing food in their own homes. By directly addressing the questions and needs of home cooks, this platform will provide practical, accessible information that builds essential food safety skills and fosters healthier kitchen habits. |
| Collaborator Contribution | - University of Birmingam: project lead - Behavioural Science Consultant, LABS Innovation Limited: Behavioural scientist applying behaviour change principles to develop resources that resonate with users and developing the platform. - Food safety expert consultant: Providing expert guidance on food safety and creating practical, accurate responses to common home food safety questions. - Design and Media Creator: Producing visuals and videos to communicate |
| Impact | Outputs from this project are expected lated in 2025. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | We are organising a workshop: 2 |
| Organisation | Agricultural and Horticulture Development Board |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | FSRN are organising a workshop together with the AHDB, PHWC, APHA and the University of Hertfordshire to study pathogen transmission in pig farming and pork production. The aim of the workshop will be to develop a research project and get buy-in from farmers and abattoirs. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners are part of planning the workshop and will be involved in delivering the research project. |
| Impact | No outputs yet. The workshop is planned for May 2023. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | We are organising a workshop: 2 |
| Organisation | Animal and Plant Health Agency |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | FSRN are organising a workshop together with the AHDB, PHWC, APHA and the University of Hertfordshire to study pathogen transmission in pig farming and pork production. The aim of the workshop will be to develop a research project and get buy-in from farmers and abattoirs. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners are part of planning the workshop and will be involved in delivering the research project. |
| Impact | No outputs yet. The workshop is planned for May 2023. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | We are organising a workshop: 2 |
| Organisation | University of Hertfordshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | FSRN are organising a workshop together with the AHDB, PHWC, APHA and the University of Hertfordshire to study pathogen transmission in pig farming and pork production. The aim of the workshop will be to develop a research project and get buy-in from farmers and abattoirs. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners are part of planning the workshop and will be involved in delivering the research project. |
| Impact | No outputs yet. The workshop is planned for May 2023. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | We are organising a workshop: 5 |
| Organisation | Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | FSRN together with the Met Office and Defra are organising a workshop on climate change impacts on food safety. The aim of the workshop is to publish a knowledge synthesis and potentially to develop a research project that will tackle some of the challenges identified in the workshop. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Met Office and Defra have been involved in planning the workshop and will be active participants. |
| Impact | No outputs yet. The workshop is planned for summer 2023. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | We are organising a workshop: 5 |
| Organisation | Meteorological Office UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | FSRN together with the Met Office and Defra are organising a workshop on climate change impacts on food safety. The aim of the workshop is to publish a knowledge synthesis and potentially to develop a research project that will tackle some of the challenges identified in the workshop. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Met Office and Defra have been involved in planning the workshop and will be active participants. |
| Impact | No outputs yet. The workshop is planned for summer 2023. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | We are organising a workshop: 6 |
| Organisation | Knowledge Transfer Network |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | FSRN together with the Innovate UK KTN Phage Innovation Network are planning an expert workshop entitled 'Developing and delivering phage-based technologies in the UK'. The expert workshop will be followed by an open invitation dissemination event. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Innovate UK KTN Phage Innovation Network have played a major part in organising the workshop, taking place on 16th March 2023. They are also involved in organising the dissemination event planned for May 2023. |
| Impact | No outputs yet. The workshop is planned for 16th March 2023 and the dissemination event for 16th May 2023. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Advancing STEC Diagnostics: organised a focused workshop to tackle challenges relating to Shiga-toxin producing E. coli outbreaks |
| 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 | After being approached by representatives from industry and the regulator, FSRN run a workshop bringing together food industry, food testing service providers, policymakers, regulators and government departments to discuss challenges relating the diagnostics methods and regulatory requirements for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). The workshop was attended by 40 participants in person, with a further 40 registered for online attendance. The discussions led to the development of four workstreams which are currently being pursued by teams stemming from the participants and invited colleagues. There are currently 27 participants that have volunteered to join the workstream activities. The follow-up activities are being coordinated by FSRN. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Attend INFAWM quarterly meeting |
| 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 FSRN were invited to take part in the quarterly meeting of INFAWM, the food testing laboratory community's working group. MAK attended and made connections with this new group of stakeholders to the FSRN. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Attended UK agri-food system adaptation workshop. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The FSRN director attended this workshop in Bristol, part of the Met Office's programme on climate change and food security. This activity was partly supported through the FTMA4 award. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Booth at the Food Safety Europe conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | A member of the business development team and the Network Manager attended the conference and had a booth. We had a lot of engagement with industry and have had follow up conversations about potential collaborations. This activity was partly supported by the FTMA4 award. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | British Retail Consortium - Microbiology Working Group |
| 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 | Joined the meeting to introduce the Food Safety Reserach Network and present opportunities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Campden BRI - Microbiology Member Interest Group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Invited presentation to introduce the Food Safety Reserach Network and present opportunities |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Chair and host of the 21st International Symposium on Problems of Listeria and Listeriosis (ISOPOL). |
| 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 | Over four days from the 10th-13th September, the Quadram Institute hosted 200 delegates from 25 countries and 5 continents to the 21st International Symposium on Problems of Listeria and Listeriosis (ISOPOL). This diverse community meets every three years, and the Quadram-hosted symposium included esteemed researchers studying the cell biology of infection, multiple UK and global food businesses, national and international health and food safety authorities, and a multitude of early career researchers. The Quadram host (M Gilmour and his team) have received tremendous praise on the quality of the scientific programme and the networking and social events, as it was a goal of the symposium to highlight the rich microbiology in Norwich as well as the cultural gems of our fine city, such as the Norwich Cathedral (where the Welcome Reception was hosted). Sponsors of the event included BBSRC and the new Centre for Microbial Interactions, and BBSRC has been briefed on the success of the event, with outcomes including advanced evidence on using genomics and other microbiological indicators of pathogenesis within modern risk assessment exercises. Hosting ISOPOL also resulted in considerable reputational gain for Quadram as a convenor of food safety scientific fora, as well as promoting the formation of new connections with research collaborators and major food businesses. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://quadram.ac.uk/events/isopol2024/ |
| Description | Collaborative research planning under the Food Safety Research Network - Food Industry - Hethel Innovation / Broadland Food Innovation Centre |
| 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 | We met with the ERDF Food Business Advisor and introduced the UK Food Safety Research Network and opportunities for the constituent food producers that work with Hethel Innovation / Broadland Food Innovation Centre |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| Description | FSRN co-sponsored workshop: Climate change impacts on food safety |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The FSRN, together with Met Office and Defra, organised an online meeting followed by and in-person workshop to understand the impact of climate change on food safety. The outputs of these workshops will be a knowledge synthesis report outlining the discussion from the event and some recommendations; and a project to address one of the issues identified during the workshop. Both the report and the project proposal are currently under development. This workshop was facilitated by the professional consultancy Zuas which was supported in part by the FTMA award. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | FSRN flagship workshop: Collaborative Action for Pork Safety |
| 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 | We run a workshop as part of the FSRN-funded project: Collaborative Action for Pork Safety. We brought together the University of Herfordshire, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board and the Animal and Plant Health Agency to discuss and develop the project. There were also in attendance a small number of industry stakeholders to advise in the direction of the project. This workshop was facilitated by the professional consultancy Zuas which was supported in part by the FTMA award. The project is now underway as a result of this workshop. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | FSRN flagship workshop: Understanding microbial risks in ready-to-eat foods |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The FSRN hosted an online meeting followed by an in-person workshop to define and develop a project with the University of Southampton, Newcastle University and Unilever. The project intends to take a deep dive into low-moisture ready-to-eat food ingredients and the microbiology risks associated with them, aiming to identify knowledge and practice gaps along the supply chain. The workshops brought together the project leads and a wide group of stakeholders from across the supply chain. This aided the project leads to understand the field and prioritise the commodities and questions to address. This workshop was facilitated by the professional consultancy Zuas which was supported in part by the FTMA award. The project is now underway, guided by the discussions at the workshops. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Hosted Food Safety Lead and Technical Manager from major UK meat/food producer |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Full day session in Norwich to generate awareness of Quadram food safety microbiology research programmes and identify collaborative interests. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | How can the food industry use AI? A Case Study Workshop |
| 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 | FSRN co-organised a workshop together with the AIBIO-UK network on "How can the food industry use AI? A Case Study Workshop". The workshop attracted 50 participants, and the aim was to educate food industry on the power and limitations of AI, while also enabling collaborations for future projects. Feedback was very positive and audience requested similar future events. We are now planning a follow-on workshop with the University of Leicester Centre for Sustainable Organisations in May 2025, we have received funding through the AIBIO-UK Flexifund to support this event. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Introduction to the UK Food Safety Research Network to the Pig Health and Welfare Council. |
| 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 | Presentation and discussion regarding UK Food Safety Research Network and opportunities for the pig producer community. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Invite presentation on Listeria research and outcomes of engagement with industry |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Invited research seminar at the University of Guelph / Agriculture Agrifood Canada |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Invited guest lecture "Listeria is a rugged foodborne pathogen that acts as a Persister and an Evictor" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dr Gilmour provided an invited lecture to the Institute of Food Science and Technology Eastern branch. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Invited presentation to Farmed Insect Protein Workshop, Sheffield |
| 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 | Workshop to discuss industry needs to transition and scale up the production of nutritious and safe edible insects. Present update on Food Safety Research Network prgrammes and strategic intiatives. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ukeia_so-the-farmed-insect-protein-research-workshop-activity-7166700... |
| Description | Monthly meetings with FSA-PATH-SAFE |
| 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 | Monthly meetings with representative from FSA-PATH-SAFE to ensure our teams and activities are aligned. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| Description | Next-level grant writing using AI assistants |
| 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 | The workshop "Next-level grant writing using AI assistants" was held to explore innovative approaches to proposal development using artificial intelligence tools. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://lmarchio.github.io/building-bridges/ai |
| Description | Opening and Keynote presentation - Why should the food industry care about genomics? |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Dr Gilmour gave the opening and keynote presentation at the Food Genomics Summit to introduce the potential food industry benefits of incorporating genomics and scientific approaches into their business operations through collaboration with science partners. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://newfood.events/the-food-genomics-summit/ |
| Description | Organised a Community Event |
| 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 | We organised the FSRN Community Event which attracted 61 participants from 42 organisation (19 academic, 16 industry, 7 government departments or agencies). It consisted of showcasing current FSRN-funded projects and networking activities. The aim of the event was to build FSRN membership into an interactive community. We received overwelmingly positive feedback from participants on the overall content and takeaway messages from the day. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Panel Discussion - The Death of Plastics |
| 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 | M. Gilmour took part in a panel discussion on "the death of plastics", discussing the effect that the push for low plastic in packaging will have on food safety. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://newfood.events/the-food-safety-conference-2022/ |
| Description | Presentation at the Baltic Cadet Force visit to the Norwich Research Park |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | MAK gave a presentation of Food Safety and the FSRN to a group of school pupils that were visiting the Quadram Institute as part of the Baltic Cadet Force visit. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Project planning with global food producer |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Site visit to Quadram and project planning regarding investigation of food spoilage using microbiology, genomics and metagenomics |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Support running the 9th Microbes and Food Safety Bioinformatics Hackathon |
| 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 | Through the further funding Flexible Talent Mobility Award, we were able to support a member of the FSRN to organise a Bioinformatics Hackathon by the Quadram Institute Informatics team in Cambridge. The hackathon fostered global collaboration, generating innovative ideas and establishing lasting positive influence in food safety bioinformatics. The hackathon attracted a diverse group of 28 participants from nine different countries, namely Australia, Canada, Germany, Israel, UK, USA, Gambia, New Zealand, and Turkey. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Supported a member to attend the Expert Workshop: "Analysis of climatic and ecological factors affecting foodborne pathogen outbreaks" organised by the UKHSA in London |
| 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 | Through the further funding Flexible Talent Mobility Award, we were able to support a member of the FSRN to attend this expert workshop and contribute to the below areas: - Improved understanding: better understanding of how climatic and ecological factors can influence the transmission and amplification of foodborne pathogens. - Informed recommendations: the workshop's summary report would provide evidence-based recommendations to UKHSA, FSA, and other relevant government departments and agencies for risk analysis and public health response to foodborne disease outbreaks. - Public dissemination of findings: linked to the above one, the summary report shared publicly via gov.uk, would contribute to broader knowledge dissemination. - Collaboration and coordination: foster collaboration and coordination among different stakeholders. - Identifying research gaps: identify gaps in current knowledge and research needs. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Supported running the "Developing and delivering phage-based technologies in the UK" workshop and the "UK Phage Innovation Showcase" symposium |
| 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 Innovate UK KTN Phage Innovation Network, together with the FSRN, co-organised an expert workshop and a wide-audience dissemination event on the potential applications of bacteriophage in the UK. These events were in part supported through the FTMA award. This funding enabled a pioneering event which brought together existing expertise and facilitated the transfer of knowledge across multiple sectors and specialties. The event has been crucial to planning key actions for the development and translation of discoveries of phage-based technologies in the UK. Participants included representatives from academia (multiple UK Universities and research institutes); charities (such as Antibiotic Research UK and Cystic Fibrosis Trust); government departments and agencies (such as UKHSA, MHRA, VMD, FSS, and also the Agriculture and Agrifood Canada); industry (such as Fixed Phage, Campden BRI, AHDB, PBD Biotech, Constructive Bio, CFA, Carus Animal Health, Merck, AB Agri, Vets4u); networks and knowledge exchange hubs (such as NBIC, FSRN, Phage UK); NHS clinicians; not-for-profit initiatives (such as the Medicines Discovery Catapult); and social enterprises (such as CPI). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Talk and booth at the FPC Future conference |
| 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 | The Network Manager will give a talk to introduce the Network and future opportunities. The network co-director and a member of the business development team will attend the conference and have a booth. This activity was partly supported by the FTMA4 award. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | UK agri-food system adaptation workshop |
| 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 | Professional, multidisciplinary workshop (in-person; Bristol) to collaboratively identify research gaps and priorities related to climate change impacts on the food system. Co-hosted by the Met Office and DEFRA; invited participation as a food safety expert. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |