Faculty of Environment, University of Leeds

Flooded farming field

Can planting hedgerows help prevent #flooding?

Join us on Wed 10th Dec, 12.00-12.40 to hear from Prof Pippa Chapman & Dr Sofia Biffi.

Pippa & Sofia have explored how hedgerows of different ages (from under 5 years to decades old) affect how well soil absorbs and drains water.

Link to register 👇

Green SRI logo with a textured dark green background. Text reads: "a celebration of 21 years of sustainability research at Leeds"

The SRI@21 research agenda is now live!

Available online and in print, the ambitious agenda asks 21 questions that will direct the Sustainability Research Institute’s research over the next two decades.

environment.leeds.ac.uk/downloads/do...

Dry and cracked soils in a farming field

Read our new #COP30 blog by Dr Ruth Wade & Profs Guy Ziv and Pippa Chapman: 'Farming in an unpredictable climate'.

They explore the impact of climate change on UK farming and how farmers might mitigate and adapt by using regenerative agriculture practices.

Read blog: medium.com/globalfoodle...

Today & tomorrow at #COP30: discussions on food, agriculture & equity.

@martinp556.bsky.social blog shares how University of Leeds researchers are supporting climate change adaptation measures via food system research, & how research might reveal further indicators for leaders to consider 👇

Ruth smith on food-systems change

"Farmer-led research reminds us that solutions don’t come from the top down - they grow from the ground up. To unlock food-systems change, we must connect farmer voices to the policy spaces that shape their futures”

Day 4 at #COP30 🌍

Ahead of today's side events our delegates are involved in, Ruth Smith has written a blog on how farmer-led research can drive just rural transitions.

🔗 Read here: climate.leeds.ac.uk/bridging-the...
#FoodSystems #ClimateAction #COP30

Glaciers are a vital water source but how much longer will we have them?🏔️

Scaling some of the most challenging heights and battling extreme conditions, our researchers have found some shocking truths about the glaciers❄️

To read more about their journey, click the link below👇
https://bit.ly/4nP14EZ

The SRI@21 research agenda includes questions about inclusivity in sustainability research.

It reflects on equity and power to help ensure that sustainability progress is fair and effective for everyone. 🌍

The full research agenda launches next week, Wednesday 19 November, online and in print.

A green, textured graphic that says "SRI: 21 Years of Sustainability Education"

What sustainability challenges do we still need to address with solution-focused research?

The SRI@21 research agenda explores some of the complex theoretical topics – like sufficiency, provisioning systems, and economies – that still require sustainable solutions.

It launches 19 November 2025.

UAV image of Hammarmossen, detailing peatland pools

Colleagues installing and recording GPS points for pressure transducers

Trail camera attached to a tree

UAV image of Hammarmossen, detailing peatland pools

Last week @peatbloke.bsky.social, @duncanquincey.bsky.social, colleagues from Uppsala University and I re-visited Hammarmossen, this time as part of our NERC-funded Antheia project. We deployed a number of sensors and conducted UAV surveys. Looking forward to returning! @envleeds.bsky.social

Pleased to have contributed a small part to this work and to continue the important conversation about plant science education. @envleeds.bsky.social

Green graphic reading "SRI a celebration of 21 years of sustainability research at Leeds."

How do we make progress towards a sustainable future? 🛤️

The SRI@21 research agenda explores questions that still need addressing, such as:

❓ How do we envision sustainable futures?
❓ Who makes decisions about sustainability?
❓ How should we measure our goals?

SRI@21 launches 19 November 2025.

Global Food and Environment Institute W: www.leeds.ac.uk/globalfood | E: globalfood@leeds.ac.uk

Our quarterly newsletter is now available.

This edition provides an update on:
🚜 University Research Farm activity
👩‍💻 Upcoming webinar schedule until January 2026
🍊 FoodWise Leeds recent campaigns
📚 FoSTA-Health Project blog series
& much more!

Link below 👇

food waste being scraped into a food waste bin

Join us 19 Nov to hear Dr Gülbanu Kaptan deliver a webinar titled, 'Reducing Household Food Waste: Behavioural Insights for Climate Action'.

Includes a live Q&A session with the speaker!

More info 👇

#FoodWaste #ClimateAction #Sustainability

16 climate tech ventures join EarthScale’s first cohort - Priestley Centre for Climate Futures EarthScale, a pioneering UK-wide programme, has officially launched with its first cohort: 16 ambitious climate tech ventures tackling some of the most urgent challenges of our time.

EarthScale has launched its first cohort of 16 #ClimateTech ventures and the University of Leeds is proud to be part of the network supporting them through the Priestley Centre.

Applications for Cohort 2 open in Spring 2026!
climate.leeds.ac.uk/news/16-clim...
@imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social

Bold green text that reads "SRI@21" with the University of Leeds logo underneath

This year, the Sustainability Research Institute (SRI) celebrates 21 years of interdisciplinary research. 🌍

On 19 November, SRI will launch its ambitious research agenda, laying out its next steps towards a just, sustainable future.

SRI’s journey so far: spotlight.leeds.ac.uk/sustainabili...

People gather outside around a screen to see the film screening in Ghana of the films recorded as part of the research

The most effective and equitable agroecological approach needs to have many voices represented when shaping agricultural policy and agendas.

Researchers need to ensure they include alternative voices, knowledge and experiences

👇

#Agroecology #Agriculture

YouTube video by GFEI, University of Leeds Dr Mapenzie Tauzie | Women's everyday experience Malawi agriculture livelihoods & social relations

Did you catch yesterday's #WorldFoodDay webinar by Dr Mapenzie Tauzie?

It explored how women in Malawi navigate empowerment, agriculture, nutrition and daily resource negotiations, while sustaining social ties and family wellbeing.

Catch up for free 👇
youtu.be/QARbMAy7nDs?...

'World Food Day' text next to a photo of Alan and team at an apple juicing event

Fruit Works Co-operative is a social enterprise helping communities in Bradford & Leeds to plant / maintain fruit trees.

We interviewed Alan Thornton, Director, to learn more on this & plans for the newly established Leeds Food Growing Network.

👉 medium.com/globalfoodle...

#WorldFoodDay 👇

A combine harvester in a field with AI related symbols and charts overlayed on top, with the 'World Food Day' text next to it.

New blog: 'AI in food production: How much should we worry about big tech?' by @martinp556.bsky.social, PhD researcher.

👉 globalfoodleeds.medium.com/ai-in-food-p...

#WorldFoodDay #AI

👇

Aerial shot of the Parkinson Building at the University of Leeds next to a text overlay that says 'World Food Day'

Today is #WorldFoodDay!

We've a selection of new blogs & videos to share that focus on some of the many ways our researchers are tackling the focus of #WorldFoodDay every day through their research.

If you want to learn more about our researchers & their work, visit www.leeds.ac.uk/globalfood

👇

We must also consider how accessible new technologies are to women, youth and low income households.

Dr Mapenzie Tauzie's research focuses on the ways in which digital transformations of agriculture may reinforce social inequalities in #Malawi:

link.springer.com/article/10.1...

👇

A community gathers outside to hear someone speak

The effective implementation of agroecological principles requires collaboration. Equitable partnerships—across academia, farmers, policymakers, investors, and civil society—are key to enabling innovation and impact.

#WorldFoodDay

👇

School children sitting on a wall

A new study by Inès François, Dr Hannah Ensaff & Dr homer matt, the lunch choices of 155 children (5–11) were tracked for multiple days.

Using time-series & cluster analysis, the study, in collab with SchoolGrid, uncovered stable patterns in food choices & identified 4 distinct selection profiles👇

Supporting Agroecology Transitions in Africa through University of Leeds Research By Stephen Whitfield, Professor in Food, Agriculture and Climate.

As part of our month-long spotlight on agroecological research, we have published a blog by Professor Stephen Whitfield that summarises the many ways in which our researchers are supporting this area of research at the University of Leeds.

👉 Read: medium.com/globalfoodle...

Toynton chicken farm 'will pollute air like M25' report claims Villagers say they are

Priestley member Dr @jimmcquaid.bsky.social is quoted in an article by BBC news responding to claims that a proposed Lincolnshire poultry farm would emit PM2.5 pollution comparable to the M25. McQuaid deemed the comparison reasonable, warning of health risks
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Distant mountains across Death Valley, USA

New, comprehensive rewilding guidelines have been launched today, following years of research and collaboration. ️🏞️

Professors Steve Carver and Ian Convery are the lead authors of the guidelines for rewilding practices, launched at the IUCN World Conservation Congress.

iucn.org/press-releas...

Olufemi Adesina is working with International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology in Kenya on how the push-pull approach in agroecological practices can reduce crop pest pressure.

👇

Fall armyworm on a green leaf that has been partly eaten

A key focus of agroecological practice is understanding ecosystem functions.

Researchers are studying how plant-level treatments, field-level crop compositions & landscape-scale structures & vegetation interact to influence crop pest & disease risks.

fosta-health.eu/index.php/bl...

👇

Dr Effie Papargyropoulou engages with policymakers at local & national level, providing research evidence to support food policy change.

She co-developed a tool to measure social, environmental & economic impact of local food initiatives that transform urban food systems by empowering citizens

👇

Prof @sgonzalezsara.bsky.social focuses on transforming the food system by collaborating with local groups & policymakers to support civic change.

She’s on the FoodWise Steering Group, which recently focused on public food procurement—schools & hospitals buying nutritious, locally produced food.
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