Global Food and Environment Institute membership call

Academic staff and postgraduate students are invited to join the Global Food and Environment Institute (GFEI) at Leeds.

Working to create a radically different global food system is the main driving force behind the Global Food and Environment Institute at Leeds

Global Food and Environment Institute membership call. October 2019

An interdisciplinary research community bringing together a diverse membership from across academia, industry and public policy, the GFEI is working to create a radically different global food system – one that works in harmony with nature and provides everybody with access to safe and nutritious food.

It connects University staff and students conducting research across the entire food system with a large network of global partners. It also further demonstrates our commitment to supporting interdisciplinary research.

Now, the GFEI is encouraging academic staff and postgraduate students to become members of the Institute, to further enhance the impact of its research.

Director of the GFEI, Professor Steve Banwart, said: “The Institute harnesses research partnerships around the world to tackle one of the 21st century’s greatest challenges – meeting the urgent demand of people everywhere for healthy, nutritious food while improving environmental resources to sustain future generations.

“Through its research, education, networking, advocacy and event programmes, the Institute will develop enduring solutions that facilitate transformative change.

“We want to help create a global food system that is socially-just, climate-smart and goes far beyond sustainability; a food system that can adapt vigorously to enhance the future habitability of Earth.”

The GFEI is also leading the development of a digitally-connected smart farm and terrestrial observatory facility at the University. These facilities will support innovative and commercially-relevant agricultural, ecological, earth and environment research.

Research themes

Research at the GFEI is divided into four themes:

  • Agriculture and environment
  • Food in the Global South
  • International food supply chains; and
  • Urban food consumption and health.

You are encouraged to apply for membership if you are conducting research in a relevant field at Leeds or work with those who are. Applications from colleagues working in industry or outside the University are also encouraged.

Membership benefits

Benefits of being part of the GFEI include:

  • contributing to a vibrant research environment and helping tackle one of the world’s most pressing challenges
  • collaboration with food and environment experts and access to our networks, spanning business, government and academia
  • receiving updates about publications, funding and employment opportunities
  • being able to apply for seed funding to encourage new research strengths
  • receiving dedicated support for research funding proposals; and
  • helping set the strategic direction of the GFEI for the benefit of its members and to continue raising awareness of global food challenges.

Upcoming events

A vibrant calendar of GFEI events include:

  • a seminar held jointly with Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), the Priestley Centre and the Sustainability Research Institute (SRI), in which Philip Thornton, from CCAFS, presents a talk entitled ‘Transforming food systems under a changing climate to meet the Sustainable Development Goals’; and
  • Dr Alan Hernandez Alvarez, Lecturer in the School of Food Science and Nutrition at Leeds, presenting a seminar entitled ‘Building up an appetite for a new kind of grub: Insects, algae, fungi and creepy bacteria’ between noon and 1pm on Tuesday 3 December in the School of Earth and Environment (8.119).

Further information

Complete the form to register as a GFEI member and sign up to the mailing list.

Contact the GFEI team via email for further information or follow it on Twitter for all the latest news. 

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