Overview: securing the food chain
This event brings together researchers from the recent programme of pilot projects run by the Food Standards Agency and the RCUK-funded IT as a Utility Network+. Key outcomes including the benefits and potential for IoT in improving security across the food chain or network will be presented. The role of data, both open and closed, will figure strongly in these conclusions. The event is targeted at researchers and policy makers in the fields of IoT, food, food security, food transportation and storage, and also wider environmental issues.
The event has been structured to present detailed discussions on Monday with an overview and more strategic discussion on Tuesday. So that policy makers might wish to attend only day 2, and academics and other experts both days or even just day 1. (do let us know if only intersted in partial attendance.)
Project descriptions:
- The University of Nottingham team are looking at how growing communities can use IoT to share data that improves the accountability of local-produced food.
- The University of Lincoln team are working with a consumer panel to help them understand how their own fridge usage might lead to healthier habits and save themselves money.
- The University of Aberdeen team are investigating how inexpensive sensors can be used by catering businesses to operate both more safely and more efficiently, and potentially track a food history that helps deliver recommended best practices.
- Tiny data loggers are similarly being investigated by the University of Birmingham to track the journey of the long-life sandwiches to monitor their integrity and that of the cold-chain that supports their delivery.
The goals for the event are:
- Generate new ideas that FSA could take in the practice
- Influence future research and policy in the FSA
- See how to take the Pilot Projects forward in to actual practice right now
- Define and refine new data inputs for FSA policy
Further information on the projects is available here
Agenda
7 March
10:30 – 11:00 – registration and coffee
11:00 – 11:15 – introduction and welcome JGF/SB
11:15 – 11:30 – FSA – aims and objectives of the programme – ST
11:30 – 12:45 – Overview of project outcomes: projects 1 & 2 – including conclusions and recommendations
12:45 – 13:45 – lunch
13:45 – 15:00 – Overview of project outcomes: projects 3 & 4 – including conclusions and recommendations
15:00 – 15:20 – coffee
15:20 – 16:20 – emergent issues from the projects – panel discussion
16:20 – 17:00 – The role of data and information management at the Food Standards Agency – Sian Thomas
17:00 – 17:30 – wrap up and prep for day 2
8 March
09:00 – 09:30 – registration and coffee
09:30 – 09:45 – welcome and introduction to ITaaU and FSA – JGF/ST
09:45 – 10:15 – Unleashing the power of the Internet of Things – successes to date – Chris Cooper
10:15 – 10:45 – FSA – vision – surveying the landscape – Guy Poppy
10:45 – 11:00 – coffee
11:00 – 12:00 – projects outcomes summary
12:00 – 12:30 – Discussion on outcomes and suggested follow on actions
12:30 – 13:00 – lunch
13:00 – 14:30 – what happens next – discussion in break out groups, report back
14:30 – 15:00 – plenary discussion on plans and outcomes
15:00 – 15:20 – coffee
15:20 – 15:45 – wrap up and finish
Key people:
Guy M Poppy is Chief Scientific Adviser to the Food Standards Agency (UK Govt) and is a Professor of Ecology in the Centre for Biological Sciences at the University of Southampton
Jeremy Frey is Professor of Physical Chemistry, Head of Computational Systems Chemistry, PI and Champion of the IT as a Utility RCUK Digital Economy Challenge Area
Sian Thomas is Head of Information Management at Food Standards Agency in London
Chris Cooper is a leading innovator in the field of Internet of Things and Director & Co-founder at KnowNow Information Ltd