Enhancing Agri-Food Transparent Sustainability (EATS)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Dundee
Department Name: Design and Making
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Publications
| Description | Ongoing design-thinking methods and tools have been developed and tested in an agile approach. These are reshaping how the Agri-Food sector reviews and identifies opportunities and barriers for net zero in it's supply chain. Design methods, including futures and foresight tools have also been applied to facilitate two policy labs, these are particularly important when considering key policy outcomes or goals in the future and the role of design in participatory governance in the development of technology solutions for Net Zero. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2023 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Creative Economy,Environment |
| Impact Types | Economic Policy & public services |
| Description | 'Meeting of the Minds' for net zero governance, British Academy, London |
| Organisation | The British Academy |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Prof Mel Woods participated in an invite-only event. This knowledge exchange session brought together SHAPE researchers working on net zero governance, in a scenario exercise as a vehicle for sharing insight, setting agendas and reflecting on the connecting role of governance across a range of research areas. The format was interactive and designed to encourage exchange of evidence and latest thinking, focusing on the interests of a policy audience. Participants were asked to consider some of the tough policy questions and factors facing policymakers today, bringing both together to discuss recommendations on the way forward. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The British Academy designed and led the session, based ongoing dialogue with government. |
| Impact | The Net Zero Governance Programme marshals SHAPE research to explore how improving the quality of governance can contribute to achieving net zero by 2050 in the UK. It aims to clearly articulate why governance matters for an effective system of net zero delivery; and examine how good quality, people-centred & place-sensitive, multi-level governance can provide the tools to effectively direct, oversee and create accountability for reaching net zero. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Consumer Insights World Cafe |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | EATS Consumer workshop used the World Cafe method to interrogate changing attitudes to pro-environmental choice, identify attitudes and behaviours to food in general. The audience included the general public, third sector and agri-food experts, the workshop acted as a foundation consumer insights gathering to inform next steps and prototyping activities in year 2 for our digital platform development. The Hospitalfield Beer and Berries Festival is an annual curated event in collaboration with Feast Journal, Angus Growers and Angus Soft Fruit (Sector Partners). The programme combines artistic and cultural activities with academic and scientific talks and workshops. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://hospitalfield.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/1page-Beer-and-Berries-2022-programme-1.pdf |
| Description | EATS Brewing Sector Co-creation Workshop Series |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Brewing Sector Co-creation Workshop Series (3 x 1-Day events) A series of three co-design workshop with a range of industry stakeholders. We engaged with 2 key groups, consultants and representatives of large breweries, and the founder - director and brewers of a small craft brewery. Bespoke design thinking methods and canvases were employed to map the supply chain data ecosystem, namely, what attributes, measures and metrics are important and what existing technologies and data are support decision-making. We also explored future scenarios, motivations regarding pro-environmental sustainability and barriers and facilitators to a transparent supply chain. In our online workshops, materials were presented in Miro where we worked collaboratively with participants. Ethical approval had been granted and with project information shared and signed consent forms completed by all participants. External participants were recruited from Anheuser-Busch InBev the world's largest brewer, and the Malt Doctor representing sustainability for the food and drink industry and a small craft brewery as well as academic experts from the project team. In all 9 participants took part across all workshops. Aims and Objectives • To engage in user-centred, interdisciplinary research to understand current practices and shape new solutions for environmentally sustainable food futures in the digital economy. • To investigate the motivations and responses of a range of actors who will interact with such systems. • To establish current baselines for how supply chain actors involved in fruit growing (berries) collect environmental impact data in agri-food supply chains. Research Questions • What datasets, indicators and decision-making processes are relevant to the different actors participating in supply chains to realize sustainable food futures? • How do we formulate appropriate vocabularies which characterise sustainability practices, their context and rationale, and facilitate data capture and integration? • Can we realise a provenance-based sustainability solution for supply chains, that is trusted and able to facilitate pro-environmental decision-making and action? • How do we exploit sustainability data assets to inform decision making towards net-zero, resulting in demonstrable changes to practice and behaviour? An internal sector report 'Brewing Sector Workshop Report, Woods., M, Crowe., S, Sept 2022' (60pgs), brought insights from small and large brewery together and has informed decisions on the development of a digital platform, technology requirements and data for sustainability requirements and decision-making. URLs https://www.maltdoctor.co.uk; https://71brewing.com; |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.ab-inbev.com/ |
| Description | EATS Soft Fruits Sector Co-creation Workshop Series |
| 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 | Soft Fruit Sector Co-creation Workshop Series (1-Day event) An in person 5 hr co-design workshop with industry stakeholders. Bespoke design thinking methods and canvases were employed to map the Soft Fruit supply chain data ecosystem, namely, what attributes, measures and metrics are important and what existing technologies and data are support decision-making. We also explored future scenarios, motivations regarding pro-environmental sustainability and barriers and facilitators to a transparent supply chain. Ethical approval had been granted and with project information shared and signed consent forms completed by all participants. Participants were recruited from Angus Growers, a soft fruits producer organisation and consortium based in Arbroath, UK, and owned by seventeen large scale fruit farms. Participant roles encompassed: agronomy, sustainability, and management. Aims and Objectives • To engage in user-centred, interdisciplinary research to understand current practices and shape new solutions for environmentally sustainable food futures in the digital economy. • To investigate the motivations and responses of a range of actors who will interact with such systems. • To establish current baselines for how supply chain actors involved in fruit growing (berries) collect environmental impact data in agri-food supply chains. Research Questions • What datasets, indicators and decision-making processes are relevant to the different actors participating in supply chains to realize sustainable food futures? • How do we formulate appropriate vocabularies which characterise sustainability practices, their context and rationale, and facilitate data capture and integration? • Can we realise a provenance-based sustainability solution for supply chains, that is trusted and able to facilitate pro-environmental decision-making and action? • How do we exploit sustainability data assets to inform decision making towards net-zero, resulting in demonstrable changes to practice and behaviour? An internal sector report 'Soft Fruit Sector Workshop Report, Woods., M, Crowe., S, August 2022' (50pgs), brought insights from small and large brewery together and has informed decisions on the development of a digital platform, technology requirements and data for sustainability requirements and decision-making. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.angusgrowers.co.uk |
| Description | Policy Lab 1 |
| 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 | Hybrid Policy Lab 13 March 2023, Edinburgh and online. Attended by key food and drink sector actors UK-wide, industry bodies, policy makers and government officials. University of Dundee researchers presented WP1 research and preliminary insights as context and inspiration 'Sustainability Stories' from two Agri-Food Industry Case Studies - Angus Growers (soft fruits) and ABInBev , 71 Brewing (brewing) which have informed mapping of our data ecosystem. The workshop questions included: What attributes, measures and metrics are important and what existing technology do agri-food businesses use? What might a trusted infrastructure for transparent sustainability data would look like, and how would it be framed by (and operate within) the wider environmental, social and economic context? What are policy makers currently planning? How could this project's technical developments support emerging policy? Could it help sectors and businesses with their ESG commitments? The format was a co-design workshop to facilitate contributions from a range of voices to inform the development of a transparent sustainability platform. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/en/activities/eats-policy-lab |
| Description | Policy Lab 2 |
| 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 | EATS Policy Lab 2: Opportunities for digital solutions to deliver transparent sustainability in agrifood supply chains - how to build on lessons learned? Timing EATS Policy Lab 2, 9th October 2024 from 11am-4pm. Scotland House, 58 Victoria Embankment, Temple, London EC4Y 0DS Prof Mel Woods led a co-design session in two part (1.5hrs) The session covered a Introduction to the 3 Horizons model and its application for policy planning toward the 2050 timeframe. Session 1 Horizon 1 Business as usual • Q1 - What are the key policy outcomes or goals we believe will reasonably be achieved by 2050 under current trends? • Q2: What are the greatest risks to achieving these policy goals (e.g., economic, environmental, political)? • Q3 - What policy challenges or objectives will likely remain unmet by 2050? Summary of Horizon 3 based on the 2050 scenario from IPCCC https://www.ipcc.ch/srccl/ Examining innovations or disruptions that could transform the policy landscape. What needs to change in the policy environment to support these transformations? Session 2 Horizon 2 Disruptive Innovation - the same 2 questions for all tables • Q1 - What are innovations (technological, social, economic) that could bridge the gap between Horizons 1 and 3? • Q2 - What policy changes are necessary to foster and support these innovations? |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/144246540/EATS_Policylab_2_Final_Report.pdf |