The Horticultural Quality and Food Loss Network (HortQFLNet) is jointly led by the University’s Professor Carol Wagstaff and Cranfield University’s Professor Leon A. Terry.
In this short film, Professor Carol Wagstaff gives an overview of the Network aims and objectives and the types of research it will carry out:
The aim of the Quality and Food Loss Network for Horticulture is to act as the leading collective voice for the UK horticultural and post-harvest community. The Network will focus delivering a highly effective, collaborative and sustainable horticultural research community in the UK. The scope of the Network will focus on post-farm gate problems, with the recognition that the solution to these may require pre-farm gate intervention. It is therefore inclusive of the entire supply chain, from breeders to retailer and consumer, but with a post-harvest focus.
The Network is funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). UKRI-BBSRC have identified significant opportunities for science to reduce food losses in horticultural crops. These can be unlocked through enabling novel and enhanced connections between researchers across disciplines and with users of research such as businesses and policymakers.