New Centre for Food Policy and Foresight launched at the University of Nottingham

A new food policy centre has launched at the University of Nottingham to address urgent food system challenges and improve livelihoods. This pioneering initiative is aimed at revolutionizing food systems through cutting-edge research and policy innovation.

The Centre for Food Policy and Foresight, officially launched today and established under the Food Systems Institute, unites over 50 distinguished experts from across the university, forming a multidisciplinary team dedicated to transforming how we approach food security, sustainability, and nutrition on both a national and global scale. These experts will develop evidence-based policy briefings and deliver distilled and practical policy recommendations for policymakers to act on, to help us attain a sustainable, ethical and environmentally friendly food system.

Our food system is confronted with pressures from all levels, and these multifaceted challenges require long-term system wide solutions that are environmentally positive, economically sustainable and societally beneficial. The new Centre will drive efforts to make the next 30 years of agricultural and food system research more beneficial to society.

This new Centre will be led by Professor Paul Wilson, an esteemed scholar in food policy and economics. His extensive experience includes over a decade of directing the Farm Business Survey and his recent tenure as Head of the School of Biosciences at the university. As the incoming President of the UK Society of Agricultural Economists, Professor Wilson is widely recognized for his contributions to the field. Jack Bobo, Director of the University of Nottingham’s Food Systems Institute, expressed his confidence in Professor Wilson’s leadership, stating, “We are fortunate to have someone of Professor Wilson’s calibre leading this initiative. His vast expertise and respected reputation in the field make him the ideal choice to drive the Centre’s mission forward.” 

Paul Wilson said: “The aim of the Centre is to influence policy debates on food security, sustainability and nutrition among other key food system issues. We already have more than 50 colleagues addressing multidisciplinary issues at the University; by facilitating the translation of this research and partnering with organisations, we will develop recommendations and thought leadership initiatives to secure our food future”.

The University of Nottingham is one of the few UK universities offering research expertise and capabilities across the food system and was recently rated as one of the world’s top Universities to study agriculture. The Centre will strengthen our reputation through the translation of this research and by developing actionable recommendations for policymakers and other industry decision makers.

“The Centre will support the Food Systems Institute’s vision of securing a future where sustainable food production feeds the world, and harness the University of Nottingham’s strength of providing high-level advice to policymakers” Jack Bobo, Director, Food Systems Institute

Building on policy advisory roles and submissions

Our academics have been engaging policymakers for decades by publishing and presenting in parliament to inform policy decisions around health, food security and more.

These submissions and advisory roles use research evidence to advise various committees and identify solutions on technology and food innovation that will address some of the UK’s greatest economic and food related issues.

You can read these reports and submissions on our website.

Further links

Discover the academics who will be working together to co-design the Centre’s priorities and research agenda.

Read more about our food policy research and why we are best positioned to deliver this work.

Explore our food research publications and perspectives from our Associate experts.

For any questions and collaboration inquiries, please email bb-food-systems@nottingham.ac.uk.