Researching fermentation in cocoa
March 11, 2020
Prof David Salt recently visited the Cocoa Research Centre in Trinidad & Tobago. In this post he reflects on our cocoa project in Colombia, and the work we are developing with the CRC. Our Colombian cocoa project began because we were interested in understanding the connections between the way fermentation works in cocoa beans and …
Measuring metabolites across the food chain: An interview with Dr Tristan Dew
March 4, 2020
Dr Tristan Dew is an Assistant Professor in Molecular Phenomics and a member of the Future Food Beacon. His work explores how mass spectrometry-based technologies can be used to rapidly assess metabolism within plants, animals and humans. In this interview, Tristan talks to Dr Lexi Earl about his research career, reasons for joining UoN, and …
Collaborations with Embrapa to research Brazilian agricultural practices
February 11, 2020
The Future Food Beacon is developing a working partnership with Embrapa, Brazil. Embrapa, the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, is part of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Supply and is concerned with generating knowledge and technology for Brazilian agriculture. In late 2018 and early 2019, supported by the UoN International Collaboration Fund, six Future …
Doing science in the field: stories from our Colombian cocoa project
January 16, 2020
Dr Christopher Moore and Dr David Gopaulchan travelled to Colombia together in May 2019 to carry out scientific sampling of the cocoa fermentation process on different farms. David recently travelled back to Colombia for the second harvest, to conduct further sampling, in November and December 2019. We spoke to David and Chris about the experiences, …
Genomic characterisation of the University of Nottingham dairy herd
December 18, 2019
This post is written by Dr Sarah Blott, Associate Professor in Animal Breeding and Genetics, in the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science. Milk and dairy products are a significant source of nutrition in the human diet; the first evidence of dairy consumption dates back over 6,000 years, and today dairy farming is a global …
Understanding more about oil palm farmed by smallholders
December 12, 2019
This post is written by Dr Thomas D Alcock and Dr Christina Vimala Supramaniam During a recent trip to Malaysia, including visits to the University of Nottingham Malaysia campus, Dr Thomas D Alcock and Dr Lexi Earl stopped by some smallholder oil palm plantations to get a feel for production practices. This is what they …
Nottingham Good Food Partnership: making food accessible to all in Nottingham
December 2, 2019
Nottingham Good Food Partnership is a not for profit organisation committed to transforming our local food system, to make it fit for purpose for the next generation. NGFP is a member of the international network of Sustainable Food Cities and represents over 60 organisations, all committed to realising a sustainable food future. It is the lead …
Eating chocolate in the name of science!
November 20, 2019
The Future Food Beacon is currently leading a Prosperity Fund/Innovate UK funded project titled Controlling cocoa bean fermentation for enhanced chocolate flavour. The project draws together Colombian female farmers with a Nottingham bean-to-bar chocolate maker, Luisa’s Vegan Chocolates, working alongside our researchers to improve the flavour of chocolate. The first harvest of cocoa took place …
Redefining pearl millet: Dr Ndjido Kane
October 15, 2019
Dr Ndjido Kane is a plant geneticist and molecular biologist, based at Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles. Dr Kane directs CERAAS, part of the Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles (ISRA). CERAAS specialises in drought adaptation of plants in West and Central Africa. In this interview, Ndjido talks to Lexi Earl about his research on pearl …
‘Reach and Teach Science in Africa’: Strengthening Research Capacity for Generating Future Foods
May 8, 2019
This post is written by Dr Ute Voβ and Dr Thomas Alcock. In April 2019, Nottingham Research Fellow Dr Ute Voß and Doctoral Prize Fellow Dr Thomas Alcock received funding through the Future Food Beacon Partnership Fund to travel to Benin, West Africa. In this article, they offer insights into their experiences teaching molecular biology …
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