The issue
The UN expects global demand for food to increase by 60 per cent by 2050. As demand grows, our food supply systems will need to be better-equipped to respond to unexpected pressures.
The IKnowFood project aims to develop practical tools to enable farmers, processors, manufacturers, retailers and consumers to withstand shocks to the UK food system. We want to create positive social and environmental change to help meet our growing demands.
The research
The IKnowFood team is led by Professor Bob Doherty at the University of York's School for Business and Society and includes co-investigators from five academic departments at York, two research institutes and colleagues from the universities of Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds.
We we aim to deepen our understanding of the UK food system and the global context in which it operates. We're working in four areas to unearth problems and develop interventions to improve resilience:
1. On-farm
We're working on low-cost sensor and automation technologies that enable farmers to manage the risks associated with production and natural resource management. Our collaborative approach identifies specific technologies and the drivers and barriers to their take-up and use.
2. Supply chain
Bringing together supply chain researchers and practitioners with political scientists allows us to develop new information and business decision-support tools for retailers and manufacturers. Data from a wide range of trade, industry and political sources is informing new practical interventions and knowledge that will enhance the governance of the food system.
3. Consumer
Health scientists, psychologists and computer scientists are investigating consumer beliefs, values and inequalities - particularly why population groups make different food choices. New knowledge on the lived realities of food poverty are informing policy interventions at a local and national level. In addition, we are designing practical applications and interventions using persuasive technologies to improve the health and wellbeing of consumers.
4. Network
Working with existing industry, consumer, policy and research bodies, we will develop a multi-stakeholder food system resilience network. Comprising farmers, processors, retailers and consumers, we will use this network to share and test our results and practical tools.
The outcome
Bob Doherty speaks at the Coop's Future of Food launch
IKnowFood has already had impact in the UK and internationally, working with industry, NGOs and the policy community.
We've partnered with the Coop Food Policy team to develop and launch a new ‘Future of Food’ strategy.
