Scottish Alliance for Food

The Scottish Alliance for Food Launch Event – kickstarting conversations towards transforming Scottish Food Research

On the 11th and 12th of October, the University of Glasgow Advanced Research Centre hosted an exciting event—the launch of the Scottish Alliance for Food (SCAF). Our two-day launch highlighted the interrelated nature of food research across disciplines, showcased innovative research from across Scotland, and brought stakeholders together to discuss a transformative vision for the future of Scottish food research.

Event Highlights

Food Lenses Exhibition

At the core of our launch was the Food Lenses exhibition. The showcase explored the interconnected nature of research, offering a visual journey through different perspectives from production, communication, identity, economy, health, data, power, sustainability, and equity. The exhibition was a powerful reminder of the relevance of food research to diverse disciplines and sectors, highlighting our collective responsibility and need to transcend disciplinary boundaries to design transformative research that will shape Scotland’s food future. The Food Lenses exhibition materials can be viewed here.

Research Showcase

Complementing each lens in the Food Lenses exhibition was a research showcase, spotlighting innovative studies and novel findings from the SCAF membership. The showcase demonstrated the breadth and depth of ongoing efforts to build a strong, translational evidence-base to support a healthful, sustainable and just food future, from advancements in agricultural practices to innovative approaches in food waste technologies. The research showcase will be available to browse online soon.

Networking Lunches and Evening Reception

Beyond the exhibition and showcase, the launch event fostered conversations to foster new connections and reflection on how SCAF should support members working together. Attendees, including policymakers, industry leaders, and academic research community members, engaged in discussions centred around two core themes:

1. Designing Cross-Sectoral Transformative Food Research exploring how best to unite different sectors and disciplines in food and nutrition research, underscoring the importance of understanding shared goals, perspectives, and values. Trust emerged as a crucial element of research design, with honesty, integrity, credibility, and transparency highlighted as essential factors. Delivery, follow-through on collaborations, and responsiveness were emphasised by many. In exploring the missing link in cross-sectoral, transformative food research, diverse voices were identified as essential, including the general public, food producers, science communicators, animal behaviourists, lawyers, and NGOs. The consensus was clear—diverse perspectives are the catalyst for co-producing transformative research, and increasing the visibility of food research in Scotland requires careful (and thought-provoking) storytelling, to deliver impact through realistic yet inspiring ambitions.
2. Training & Skills Development conversations covered the need for connection, acknowledging the importance of time, happenstance, shared language, and communication to support meaningful relationships and increased porosity between sectors and disciplines in food research. Integrating teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in Alliance activities were key strategies highlighted, such as incorporating student research projects into SCAF and co-producing research with students to understand their knowledge and priorities.

 

The momentum generated during these two days promises a bright future for SCAF. Our journey as an Alliance has just begun, fuelled by diverse perspectives, collaborative efforts, and a shared commitment to transforming the Scottish food landscape to be healthful, sustainable, and equitable. If you are interested in joining SCAF and contributing your voice, skills, and expertise to our efforts, you can do so by following the link below.

Join the Scottish Alliance for Food

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First published: 15 October 2023