Opportunities
Conferences and seminars | Courses | Funding available | Job opportunities
Conferences and seminars Back to top
Courses Back to top
New MSc in Sustainability in the Food Industry – London Metropolitan University
This course provides graduates with the scientific knowledge and skills needed to apply the principles of sustainability to the procurement of ingredients and equipment, processing, food safety and quality, and distribution within the food industry. Students will learn how to implement a sustainable strategy in the context of the food industry. The course will also cover the principles of food processing with options in food safety, food biotechnology and food analysis.This new MSc is designed to develop understanding of sustainability and its measurement in (small) food businesses and then work with such companies to develop sustainable strategies. London Metropolitan Univesity has been working with food SMEs in the London area for a long time and provided them with support for quality assurance programmes, product development, advice etc. For more details see here.
Funding available Back to top
Food freight: call for Expressions of Interest
The Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab (NB. Victoria in Australia - not 19 Century Britain) is seeking expressions of interest to undertake two research projects on food freight / distribution systems as follows:
- Part I: Understanding Victorian Food Freight Movements
- Part II: Best Practice (Sustainable) Food Distribution Systems
The Lab says ‘We are open to the possibility that someone who knows their way around these systems may be able to put this information together quite easily from existing sources, or it may be more difficult. We're hoping that this fairly open EOI process will help to reveal knowledgeable people in this field that we are not yet aware of - so please circulate widely, particularly?to people with experience in freight, distribution and/or logistics systems.’
For more information see here: or contact Kirsten Larsen.
Food Standards Agency Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme
The FSA is inviting applications for research scholarships (starting in October 2009) in two areas:
- microbiological safety of food (ref: Food Hygiene)
- social science of food (ref: Social Science)
The deadline for applications is 31 March 2009
For more information see here.
WRAP Invitation to tender: Developing Resource Maps for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Through the Retail Supply Chain
WRAP, the Waste Resources Action Programme in tends to commission research to develop detailed ‘resource maps’ (quantifying food waste and packaging waste arisings) through the fresh fruit and vegetable retail and wholesale supply chain. The aim is to quantify what types and amounts of waste are occurring in the retail and wholesale supply chain, at what stage and provide insights as to why. Carbon impact and economic value will also be quantified. This will enable the identification of priority areas in which interventions can be made to prevent waste and move waste that cannot be avoided up the waste hierarchy. During the process of gathering data and considering the issues, examples of good practice within the retail supply chain are to be identified and will be used to develop and share best practice across the sector.
For more information see here.
Job opportunities Back to top
The Food Climate Research Network (FCRN) has a vacancy for a Research Assistant. The post is part-time (2 days a week) and funded for 2 years.
The Food Climate Research Network aims to provide a comprehensive research, policy and communications resource focusing on how the global greenhouse gas impacts of UK food consumption might be reduced.
The work will involve providing administrative support, synthesising information relating to food and climate change and producing material for dissemination via the FCRN membership mailing list and the FCRN website.
Candidates should have a first degree in a relevant subject or equivalent work experience, excellent writing, summary and communication skills and a general understanding of food and environmental issues. A Masters degree or equivalent experience is preferable but the job may also be suitable for someone undertaking a part-time Masters course
To see the job advert, click here. Informal enquiries can be made to Tara Garnett.
For an application pack and to apply on-line please click here