Welcome to the Newsletter of the University of Cambridge Global Food Security Initiative for November 2015
The University of Cambridge has recently become a member of Agri-Tech East, whose REAP Conference 2015 takes place at Churchill College this Wednesday 11th November. The day provides the opportunity for academics to meet with potential business partners, growers and producers. Also happening that same day is the Cambridge-Africa Visiting Fellows Research Showcase, and the latest seminar in the CRASSH series Science Non-fiction and the Bottom Billion. Two further seminars in the CRASSH seminar series Food: Field to Table? are also taking place – please see details of these and other forthcoming events below.
Do use this newsletter for sharing your own food security-related news and events – content can be sent to me at the address below.
Dr Will Simonson
coordinator@globalfood.cam.ac.uk, tel: +44 (0)1223 333925+44 (0)1223 333925
News and announcements
2015 Global Hunger Index (GHI)
The 2015 Global Hunger Index was published last month by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). This year marks the tenth year of the GHI, which measures the state of hunger at the global, regional, and national level. The Index shows hunger levels in developing countries falling by 27 percent since 2000, and 17 countries halving their hunger scores since 2000. However, hunger levels in 52 of the 117 measured countries remain "serious" (44 countries) or "alarming" (8 countries), most of them in Africa south of the Sahara. This year's report includes a chapter on the relationship between conflict and hunger. Armed conflict disrupts food systems, destroys livelihoods, displaces people, and leaves those who stay unsure when they will eat next. Many countries with the worst GHI scores are engaged in or recently emerged from war. You can access the full report or its shorter synopsis—as well as the data behind the scores—on the IFPRI website. A press release and factsheet on the report's findings in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and globally are also available.
Thought for Food Challenge
Thought for Food Challenge is calling on bright young innovators to develop breakthrough solutions to the biggest challenge facing our generation: how will we feed 9+ billion people by 2050? They will gain access to cutting edge tools, mentors and a global community of friends and supporters. Grants of $10,000 are available in start-up investment to build their big ideas.
Events and talks
11 November 2015: Realising our economic and agricultural potential (REAP)
Churchill College Cambridge
Agri-Tech East REAP Conference 2015
Note: The University of Cambridge is an Agri-Tech East member, so member registration rates apply to University staff.
11 November 2015: Visiting African Fellows' Research Showcase
Hughes Hall, Cambridge
Cambridge-Africa Programme
11 November 2015: Will open source biotechnology benefit the bottom billion?
12.00-14.00 Seminar Room SG2, Alison Richard Building
CRASSH research group seminar
18 November 2015: Land use conflicts: they’re not making it anymore
17.00-19.00 Seminar Room SG2, Alison Richard Building
CRASSH ‘Food: Field to Table?’ research group seminar
18 November 2015: Biodiversity and Local Partnerships - Halting the Decline of the Honey Bee in the UK
Central London
A Public Policy Exchange Symposium
19 November 2015: Food Matters Live: Creating a productive, resilient and sustainable food system
Conference Theatre, ExCeL, London
Including a debate chaired by Jonathon Dimbleby
20 November 2015: Social Protection and Nutrition: Pathways, Systems, and Country Experience
Washington DC or online (WebEx)
A SecureNutrition Seminar (12.30-2pm EST)
26 November 2015: Phenotyping Is An F-Word: Crop Research In Fields, On Farms, With Farmers (Roger Sylvester-Bradley, ADAS)
16:00-17:00 Department of Plant Sciences, Large Lecture Theatre
CPPS Seminar/Plant Sciences Departmental Seminars
1 December 2015: RemSens SIG: Sensing in the Air – UAVs, Fixed Wing and Satellite Sensing
Centrum, Norwich Research Park
An Agri-Tech East event
2 December 2015: Paris 2015: Securing food in a changing climate
17.00-19.00 Seminar Room SG2, Alison Richard Building
CRASSH ‘Food: Field to Table?’ research group seminar
10 December 2015: Policy on high fat, sugar and salt foods - next steps for reformulation, marketing and regulation
Central London
Westminster Food & Nutrition Forum Keynote Seminar
16 December 2015: The BES GM debate
Royal Society of Edinburgh
17.30-20.30 at the 2015 BES Annual Meeting
Funding
ESRC Impact Acceleration Account Impact (IAA) Fund (University of Cambridge restricted call – deadline: 16 November 2015, 5pm)
The ESRC IAA competition is now open. Funding is available for 15 projects a year up to a value of £20,000 each. Projects must be completed within 9 months of the award of the grant, though most projects are expected to be shorter. Funding: Grants up to £20,000 from the ESRC Impact Acceleration Account. Application forms and guidance are available on the Research Strategy ESRC Impact Acceleration Account webpage. The support of the Head of Department is required for all applications. Applications will be reviewed by the Executive Steering Group, comprised of senior social science researchers. If you have any questions, then please write to Marla.Fuchs@admin.cam.ac.uk
Sustainable agricultural intensification research and learning in Africa (SAIRLA) (deadline: 19 November 2015)
These grants aim to finance a series of research projects to generate new evidence and decision support tools for decision makers at international, national and local levels to create an enabling environment for poorer African smallholder farmers, especially youth and women, to benefit from sustainable intensification. Proposals may request between £400,000 and £750,000 for up to 45 months for projects starting in April 2016.
Policy lab for early career researchers on sustainable nutrition (Global Food Security Programme) (deadline: 1 December 2015)
Funding supports research taking an interdisciplinary and systems approach to the area of sustainable nutrition, or sustainable and healthy eating patterns. The successful team will be awarded £5,000 to cover the costs associated with producing a report for GFS.
Soil security research fellowship awards (Natural Environment Research Council) (deadline: 3 December 2015)
These aim to secure future soil quality to sustain ecosystems and the services they deliver to people, such as sustainable agriculture, flood and disease regulation, carbon storage and clean water. A total up to £2 million at 80 per cent of full economic costing is available for up to three years. NERC expects to give up to six awards.
Our planet, our health awards (Wellcome Trust) (deadline: 29 January 2016)
These support high-quality, transdisciplinary programmes of research that investigate novel aspects of – and build evidence for – how complex changes in our environment affect our health. Awards are worth up to £2 million per year for up to five years.
AXA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2015/2016 Campaign (University of Cambridge Restricted Call – deadline: 13 November 2015)
AXA Research Fund has announced the call for postdoctoral fellowships 2015/2016. Post-doctoral projects funded by the AXA Research Fund should contribute to a better understanding of one of three clusters of risks: Environmental Risks, Life Risks, Socio-Economic Risks. The awarded projects will be funded for 2 years for a maximum total of £130,000 for the entire duration of the funding.
Food and business global challenges programme integrated projects
Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research – Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, NL (deadline: 5 January 2016)
This encourages scientific research and innovation projects that contribute to long-term access to affordable, safe and nutritious food for vulnerable and resource-poor populations in low- and middle-income countries. Grants are worth up to €600,000 per project with a duration of four years. Partners are required to provide co-funding of at least 20 per cent of the total project budget, either in-kind or cash.
Innovate UK Early and Late stage agri-tech catalyst grants (deadline 13 January 2016)
For pre-industrial research feasibility studies that explore the commercial potential of an early-stage innovative idea, through review of research evidence and application potential in agri-food production, assessment of business opportunity or scoping for further development. For projects of up to 18 months, costing between £150,000 and £500,000.
Innovate UK Satellites to improve agri-food systems (deadline 17 February 2016)
This aims to stimulate the development and adoption of new technologies and business models based on the innovative use of satellite technology, in order to improve the productivity of the UK food and farming industries and simultaneously address the environmental impacts of increased land use and intensification. The budget for this call is worth up to £3.75 million and grants are worth up to £1 million each.
DEFRA European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability grant (EIP-Agri) (deadline 31 March 2016
These support projects which link research, farming and forestry practice to encourage innovation and improve productivity and sustainability in the agricultural sector. Grants are worth between £5,000 and £150,000 for up to three years. The total budget is worth £5 million.
Horizon 2020 Societal Challenges, EU (deadline: 26 January 2016)
H2020-SC5-2016 greening the economy – topics 12 and 24, single stage
Proposals may address topics related to food and water resource for the development of inclusive, sustainable and healthy Euro-Mediterranean societies, as well as support to policy and preparing for innovation procurement. Each successful proposal is expected to receive between €100,000 and €2 million although proposals for other amounts will also be considered. The indicative budget for this call is expected to be between €2.1 million and €2.3m.
Horizon 2020 Societal Challenges, EU (deadline: 17 February 2016)
Proposals may address a range of activities under the food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine and maritime and inland water research and the bioeconomy societal challenges call on H2020-BB-2016 bio-based innovation for sustainable goods and services – supporting the development of a European bioeconomy call. Each proposal is expected to receive up to €2 million, although proposals for other amounts are also considered. The indicative budget for this call is €7 million.
Proposals may address the topic of BB-01-2016 sustainability schemes for the bio-based economy, under the subject securing sustainable biomass supply for bio-based goods and services. Each proposal may receive up to €5 million, although larger proposals may be considered. The indicative budget for this call is €5m.
Proposals may address a range of activities under the food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine and maritime and inland water research and the bioeconomy societal challenges call for blue growth – demonstrating an ocean of opportunities. Each proposal is expected to receive up to €15 million, although proposals for other amounts are also considered. The indicative budget for this call is €74m.
Proposals may address a range of topics within the food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine and maritime and inland water research and the bioeconomy societal challenge. Each successful proposal is expected to receive between €5 million and €12m although proposals for other amounts will also be considered. The total indicative budget for this call is €141.5m.
Proposals may address a range of topics within the food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine and maritime and inland water research and the bioeconomy societal challenge. Each successful proposal is expected to receive between €1 million and €10m although proposals for other amounts will also be considered. The total indicative budget for this call is €49m.