The Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, is excited to announce the launch of a new research initiative, the THRIVING Food Futures project, which has been awarded funding by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) as one of seven new research hubs designed to accelerate the UK’s journey to net zero. This innovative research hub aims to design and evaluate new food policies to support healthy, sustainable diets across the UK. As well as helping the country meet its legal Net Zero targets, sustainable diets can address public health issues such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and health inequalities.
The food we eat is currently responsible for one third of global greenhouse gas emissions and, without significant change to our diets, the UK cannot meet its climate commitments. Encouragingly, diets that are good for the planet, such as those rich in fruit, vegetables, and cereals and low in red and processed meat, are also beneficial for health. However, progress towards policy change has been stalled by two key areas: a perceived lack of public support and a lack of real-world evidence about the effectiveness of potential policies.
THRIVING Food Futures aims to overcome these challenges by working with a wide range of stakeholders, including academics, policymakers, industry representatives, and civil society groups. The project will focus on designing policies that transform the food system to support healthy, sustainable diets for all. Public engagement is central to this mission, and community panels will ensure that a diverse range of public perspectives are considered throughout the research process.