The Quadram Institute and the Internet of Food Things Network (IoFT) Plus: Data, science and policy for a healthy food system: 1 November 2021 – Workshop Report

The Quadram Institute and the Internet of Food Things Network Plus (IoFT) held an online strategic workshop on 1 November 2021 addressing the interplay of data-driven science and innovation in the food system, food safety and food-related health.

The half-day workshop sought to set the scene and establish the kind of strategic thinking needed to apply the interdisciplinary activities of IoFT and the Quadram Institute to UKRI research topics in order to address government food strategy goals as well as broader sustainability goals.

The aim of the event was to:

• Establish a better understanding of government policy and wider societal needs for the food/health system
• Initiate more collaborative thinking across disciplines and between institutions to prepare approaches to addressing these opportunities
• Share this thinking with representatives from various policy and regulatory bodies, such as Defra, FSA, UKRI, OAI and Innovate UK
• To identify opportunities for future collaborations combining digital, health, medical, food and industrial research

This report summarises the three keynote presentations and key points from the breakout groups and plenary session.