Queen’s Professor Appointed to New UK Food Economy Task Force
30 July 2013 --- A Queen’s University Professor has been appointed to the new UK Food Economy Task Force which aims to boost the UK’s food economy through world class collaboration.
Professor Chris Elliott, Director of the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s University, joins fifteen leaders from business, universities and government in the Task Force launched by the National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB.). The task force will be chaired by Justin King, Chief Executive, Sainsbury’s and has been set up to ensure that business and university activities are aligned to get maximum economic impact for the UK globally and to keep the country at the forefront of food security.
This is the latest high profile appointment for Professor Elliott who, last month, was chosen by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department of Health to lead an independent review of Britain’s food system in light of the recent horsemeat fraud.
Speaking about his most recent appointment, Professor Elliott said: “Food production is a truly global and highly competitive business. The UK must produce the highest quality graduates that will understand the complexities and opportunities of operating in the global marketplace. The establishment of the Task Force is an important step in the further development of vital industry-academia partnerships.”
Dr David Docherty, CEO of the NCUB, said, “Industry and higher education must unite effectively to tackle the challenges of a world-leading food sector, and the Task Force will make a major contribution to this effective collaboration.”
Professor Chris Elliott is Professor of Food Safety and Director of the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s University Belfast. The recently opened £33m Institute is improving global food security through the establishment of an international ‘food-fortress’ in Belfast. It will be a key partner in national and global efforts to provide the world’s growing population with a sustainable, safe and secure supply of high quality food.
Professor Elliott has published over 240 peer review articles, many of them relating to the detection and control of agriculture, food and environmental-related complaints. His main research interest is the development of innovative techniques to provide early warning of threats across the entire fresh water and agri-food supply chains. Protecting the integrity of the food supply chain is also a key research driver.
Queen’s in partnership with safefood, the all-island body to promote awareness and knowledge of food safety and nutrition issues in Ireland, is set to showcase the latest international developments in food safety and traceability at a major conference next year. The second Food Integrity and Traceability Conference will take place at Queen’s from 8-10 April 2014. Featuring experts from Queen’s Institute for Global Food Security and from around the world, the event will showcase progress in delivering safe and authentic food to consumers and explore current and emerging threats to the integrity of the agri-food chain.
