About Us
We deliver innovation in research and sustainable solutions across the agri-food supply chain.
Our structure
The Institute for Agri-Food Research and Innovation (IAFRI) is a virtual institute, jointly owned and operated by Newcastle University and Fera Science Ltd (Fera). It seeks to deliver research and innovation in the agriculture, food and environmental sectors and translate the outcomes into real world solutions for the benefit of society. IAFRI operates out of two main locations, the National Agri-Food Innovation Campus and the School of Natural and Environmental Science (SNES) at Newcastle.
IAFRI delivers this work through a combination of externally funded research activities, through the joint appointment of staff who divide their time between Newcastle and Fera Science Ltd. and by running a doctoral training programme. IAFRI has the following objectives:
- Generate and apply new knowledge to practical problems in the agriculture, food and environmental sectors
- Generate, manage and exploit intellectual property to drive commercial growth in Fera’s business
- Develop a pipeline of expert scientists, by creating a talent pool for recruitment by Fera or Newcastle and developing the skills of existing staff
Newcastle University
Newcastle University is a world-class civic university with a global reputation for academic excellence. Our mission is to be a world-class, research-intensive University, deliver teaching and facilitate learning of the highest quality and play a leading role in the economic, social and cultural development of the North East of England.
We are committed to research excellence and innovation, including research which responds to societal needs and challenges, the application and commercialisation of research, and innovation and entrepreneurship.
Our teaching and learning is based on excellent education, informed by leading-edge research, and a wide variety of enterprise and volunteering activities.
Within Newcastle University, the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences (NES) hosts the Institute for Agri-Food Research and Innovation. The school of NES is part of the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering (SAgE), renowned nationally and internationally for academic excellence across science, engineering and agriculture.
The school of NES promotes excellence in research and teaching relating to food, agriculture, rural environments, the countryside, and the rural economy. Research covers:
- food science and human health
- agricultural science and management
- soil and environmental science
- rural economy and society
- food and product marketing
NES offer high quality undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across the whole spectrum of subjects, as well as agricultural business support and outreach activities.
Fera Science Ltd
Fera Science Ltd (Fera) is a translational science business, employing more than 500 people, including 350 scientists at the National Agri-Food Innovation Campus in York.
Our expertise is used to:
- support and develop a sustainable food chain
- support a healthy natural environment
- protect the global community from biological and chemical risks
- Fera is now a private and public sector joint venture. We work proactively and collaboratively with the private sector, UK
- government departments and other public bodies, international governments and organisations.
Our aim is to innovate and develop good translational science that will protect and enhance food, plant, animal and environmental quality.
Fera Science focuses on four key areas:
- remote, faster, early warning diagnostics and interventions, capable of being deployed through intelligent networks
- discovery technology across the agri-food chain
- smarter surveillance data and risk analysis
- sustainability in the food chain to reduce waste
Contact us
Institute for Agri-Food Research and Innovation
Agriculture Building
Newcastle University
King's Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 7RU
Telephone: +44 (0)191 208 7962
Email: iafri@newcastle.ac.uk
Institute for Agri-Food Research and Innovation Fera Science Ltd. (Fera)
National Agri-Food Innovation Campus
Sand Hutton
York
YO41 1LZ
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44(0) 1904 462 140