Plymouth researchers to get £600,000 for new national project
It will target disadvantaged communities left behind by the traditional UK food system
The University of Plymouth is taking part in a new national project targeting disadvantaged communities left behind by the traditional UK food system
These groups will be able to have a bigger say in how healthy and sustainable food is produced and distributed.
The project unites researchers and food industry representatives with charity leaders to reimagine how food policy, products and supply chains can be developed.
The work is one of four interdisciplinary research projects to have received a total of £24million funding through the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Strategic Priorities Fund (SPF).
It will develop a framework to ensure food is affordable, desirable and fits with the complex demands on people’s lives.
The Plymouth element of the project - which will directly receive around £600,000 funding - will build on Dr Clare Pettinger’s previous work, examining how food poverty is impacting vulnerable people across the city.
For the new project, she will be using her expertise in public health nutrition as part of a local and national benchmarking exercise to understand the diets of disadvantaged communities.
She will then also work with the Food Plymouth CIC to establish a team of community food researchers, whose work will include helping industry partners to improve the content healthiness and sustainability of food products.
As the project progresses, Dr Pettinger will also help to evaluate the impact of new products on choice and public health and then develop new community food policies.