Overview
Organisation profile
Research Group Leads: Dr Jennifer Rowntree and Dr Mark Whiteside
Sustainable Food Production is a cross-disciplinary group of academics and their research teams who together study all aspects of food production and its impact on the natural environment. Creating systems for long-term food security while maintaining ecosystem services and biodiversity is a key global challenge. We work on productive systems in marine, freshwater and land-based environments taking a data intensive approach to understanding the issues.
Research Areas
- Plant productive systems
- Animal productive systems
- Automation and sensor technology
UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Our work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 2 Zero Hunger -
SDG 14 Life Below Water -
SDG 15 Life on Land
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Profiles
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Dr Naofel Aljafer
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences - Senior Research Fellow
- Sustainable Food Production
Person: Academic (Research)
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Toby Anderson Von Trampe
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences - Research Assistant
- Sustainable Food Production
Person: Academic (Research), Doctoral Student (D00)
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Dr Darren Aoki
- School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences - Associate Professor of World History and Oral History
- History and Heritage Research Group
- Sustainable Food Production
Person: Academic (Research)
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CRISPS (E3)
Preziosi, R. (PI - Principal Investigator) & Rowntree, J. (CoI - Co-Investigator)
1/07/24 → 31/08/32
Project: Research
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Integrated community-driven engagement for sustainable enhancement of food production in East Africa: the Jali Ardhi [Care for the Land] project
Blake, W. (PI - Principal Investigator), Gilvear, D. (CoI - Co-Investigator), Amuri, N. N. (CoI - Co-Investigator), Kadigi, R. R. (CoI - Co-Investigator), Mtei, K. (CoI - Co-Investigator), Munishi, L. K. (CoI - Co-Investigator), Ndakidemi, P. (CoI - Co-Investigator) & Kelly, C. (RF - Research Fellow)
31/03/20 → 30/03/22
Project: Research
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SoilSCAN: Soils, Science and Community ActioN
Blake, W. (PI - Principal Investigator) & Kelly, C. (CoI - Co-Investigator)
1/02/20 → 31/03/20
Project: Research
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A manifesto for plant science education
Alvey, E., Paterlini, A., Williams, M. E., Cerfonteyn, M. E., Dobbie, S., Dodsworth, S., Dunbar, S. D., Headland, L. R., Kolesnikova, A., Kumar, P., Manrique, S., Mansfield, C., Stroud, S., Woodhouse, S., Ashton, H., Benitez-Alfonso, Y., Breeze, E., Byers, K. J. R. P., Chetariya, C. P. & Dyson, B. C. & 23 others, , 1 Mar 2026, In: Plants People Planet. 8, 2, p. 422-432 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate
Open AccessFile3 Downloads (Pure) -
Collaborating with ‘blue food’ system stakeholders to achieve optimal nutritional health and wellbeing in less affluent communities
Pettinger, C., Hunt, L. & Wagstaff, C., 7 Jan 2026, In: Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. p. 1-29Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open AccessFile5 Downloads (Pure) -
Common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) blooms off the Southwest of the UK: History, trends, causes and consequences. Report on Work Package 1: History, causes and consequences of octopus blooms
Stewart, B., Thomas, S., Smyth, T. J., James, M. K., Sullivan, E., Hall, A., Osmond, T. & Sheehan, E., 27 Jan 2026, The Marine Biological Association. 104 p.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report
Open AccessFile
Activities
- 1 Organising, hosting and/or delivering a workshop, seminar, course
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Anhydrobiosis – cheating death and telling the tale, The Royal Society, UK.
Boschetti, C. (Participant)
22 Mar 2022Activity: Event organisation or participation › Organising, hosting and/or delivering a workshop, seminar, course
Press/Media
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Science and Technology Researchers say sunscreens are putting marine life at risk
21/02/25
1 item of Media coverage
Media story
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Project aims to advance knowledge around environmental impacts of nuclear industry
17/11/22
1 item of Media coverage
Media story
Student theses
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Antibacterial Properties of TiO2 Nanotubes coated with nano-ZnO and nano-Ag
Gunputh, U. F. (Author), Li, L.-Y. (Director of Studies (First Supervisor)), Handy, R. (Other Supervisor), Tredwin, C. (Other Supervisor) & Le, H. (Other Supervisor), 2018Student thesis: PhD
File -
Topography-based Enhancement of Multifunctionality on Coastal Infrastructure
Bauer, F. (Author), Hanley, M. (Director of Studies (First Supervisor)), Knights, A. (Other Supervisor), Foggo, A. (Other Supervisor) & Firth, L. (Other Supervisor), 2026Student thesis: PhD