Our work

The Transforming UK Food Systems Programme is supported by UKRI’s Strategic Priorities Fund (SPF). The Strategic Priorities Fund investment aims to increase high-quality, multi- and interdisciplinary research and innovation, ensure that UKRI investment links up effectively with government research and innovation priorities, as well as respond to strategic priorities and opportunities. The Transforming UK Food Systems Programme was chosen as a programme to be supported by this fund and to deliver on its aims.

The Transforming UK Food Systems Programme had three main stages of funding, consisting of Consortia projects, a Centre for Doctoral Training and Shorter research projects.

Consortia projects

The first funding call in the Transforming UK Food Systems Programme awarded funding to four interdisciplinary research projects of up to £6 million each.

These five-year programmes are multi-centre, interdisciplinary and bring together different parts of the food system to build a critical mass of researchers and stakeholders to address important issues, such as obesity, sustainable agriculture and global warming.

Centre for Doctoral Training

The second funding call in the Transforming UK Food Systems Programme awarded funding to a Centre for Doctoral Training.

The UK Food Systems Centre for Doctoral Training (UKFS-CDT) aims to develop the next generation of food system change thinkers and makers for a healthy and sustainable food future. From 2021 to 2027 and with a budget of £5 million, the UKFS-CDT based from the University of Greenwich will train over 60 interdisciplinary doctoral researchers capable of leading the UK towards a resilient, healthy and inclusive food future.

The UKFS-CDT will create a pipeline of skilled people (three cohorts of students), who are able to apply critical, interdisciplinary systems thinking to health and sustainability challenges across academia, industry and government.

Shorter research projects

The last funding call in the Transforming UK Food Systems Programme awarded funding to 12 shorter, more action-focussed research projects.

The programme awarded funding of up to £2 million to projects which span between two and three years in total, addressing key issues such as:

  • obesity and public health
  • sustainable agriculture
  • alternative protein sources
  • consumption patterns.

The projects take a food systems approach by integrating aspects from production, processing, manufacturing and food environments as well as healthier diets and consumption.

You can find out more about each consortia project, the CDT and our other shorter projects on the research projects, training and reports page.