News / Events
The European Commission has launched the 2nd edition of the EU Prize for women innovators. The competition is open until 15 October 2013!
The EU Prize for Women Innovators aims to raise public awareness about the need for more innovation and more women innovators. It will reward three women who have developed outstanding innovations and brought them to market.
Download the info sheet here.
The second edition of the IGFS newletter is now available, download your copy here to keep up with the latest news at the Institute for Global Food Security.
An insight into some of the research being carried out by the post graduate students at the Institute for Global Food Security.
The Institute for Global Food Security congratulates all students graduating this summer (July 2013). It is delighted to acknowledge the success of it’s PhD students, Dr Anthony O’Kane, Dr Sheung Chan and in particular, Dr Ratthaphol Charlermroj. Dr Ratthaphol Charlermroj, or ‘Fluke’ to his friends, is the first Thai student to graduate from the Institute.
Speaking after his graduation, Fluke said “Queen’s has a vibrant international student community, which I am proud to have been a part of for the past two and a half years. Thanks to the strong links between BIOTEC in Thailand and the Institute for Global Food Security, I have had the opportunity to study at one of the world’s leading centres for food security research and to work alongside some of the most renowned researchers in food safety and integrity. I am thrilled that my parents have been able to travel to Belfast to experience life in this great city and celebrate my graduation along with my fellow Thai students.”
Fluke was supervised at Queen’s by Prof Chris Elliott. The photograph shows Fluke with his co-supervisor, Dr Nitsara Karoonuthaisiri (BIOTEC).
Based on The Complete University Guide (2014) Agriculture at QUB is now ranked 3rd out of 17 in the league table (up from 5th in 2013) and Food Science is now ranked 6th out of 36 (up from 9th in 2013).
The European Commission has approved funding for 248 new projects under the LIFE+ programme, the European Union's environment fund. The projects cover actions in the fields of nature conservation, climate change, environmental policy and information and communication on environmental issues across all Member States. Overall, they represent a total investment of some EUR 556.4 million, of which the EU will provide EUR 281.4 million.
Read the full press release here.
Dr Clive Black, Head of Research for Shore Capital Stockbrokers, one of the UK’s top five investment analysts with particular responsibility for the food manufacturing and retail sectors, has won the inaugural Queen’s University Belfast Graduate Volunteer Alumni of the Year Award.
Educated in Northern Ireland, graduating from Queen’s University Belfast with a PhD in Corporate Strategy in the Northern Ireland Food Industry, Clive takes a very active interest in the agri-food sector
Clive is a strong champion of the Institute for Global Food Security, and advisor to the Director, Prof Chris Elliott. He was instrumental in securing the participation of Tesco CEO Philip Clarke at the official launch of the Institute (March 2013).
The Institute for Global Food Security is delighted that Clive has received recognition for his commitment to the University. The presentation took place at The Students' Union Volunteering Excellency Awards held at the beginning of June 2013.
Further information is available on the Development and Alumni Relations Office website.
Professor Chris Elliott from Queen’s Institute for Global Food Security will lead an independent review of Britain’s food system in light of the recent horsemeat fraud, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department of Health announced today.
The review, which was announced in April, will focus on consumer confidence in the authenticity of all food products and any weaknesses in food supply networks which could have implications for food safety and public health.
The full story is available here.
The finals of the IFST undergraduate student competition were held at Queens University Belfast, on Thursday 30 May 2013. Organised by the Northern Ireland branch, and only in its second year, this highly successful event attracted a total of 22 entries from undergraduates at QUB, Ulster University and the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE). All were of a high standard and were whittled down to 5 finalists against pre-established criteria by a panel of three IFST members.
During the event, all 5 finalists gave highly professional and informative presentations of their work.
- Hannah Clarke described how lecithin and other emulsifiers provided technical solutions to the problem of replacing NaHCO3 with KHCO3 in Irish Soda Bread.
- Victoria Hughes gave key insights for marketing sports drinks from urine analysis and nutrition knowledge research into hydration status in athletes (female hockey players and male rugby players).
- Ciara McAllister looked at the replacement of butylated hydroxyl anisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxyl toluene (BHT), by rosemary and green tea extracts acting as natural antioxidants in meat products.
- Katie Moore researched fortification of foods with riboflavin and its impact on blood pressure reduction in people with the 677C→T polymorphism in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene. The genotype varies greatly from place to place on the globe with significant marketing implications.
- Roisin Trainor presented on folate and vitamin B12 status in an observational study on people with Coeliac condition with significant findings that should excite the interest of manufacturers of gluten-free foods and other foods suitable for people avoiding gluten.
It was a very tough decision, as all 5 finalists delivered excellent presentations on exciting topics. Roisin Trainor emerged as the winner, Katie Moore was a close runner-up, Hannah, Victoria and Ciara were highly commended. Roisin and Katie were awarded £1000 and £500 respectively through the good auspices of the NIFDA Educational Trust. All finalists received well deserved prizes including one year membership of IFST.
Sincere thanks to Michael Bell, CEO NIFDA and the Educational Trust. Michael presented the awards and personally congratulated the students on their success.
Stephane Durand, Head of Product Innovation and Development (Moy Park), chaired the event, Maureen Edmondson (Chair, IFST NI) organised the event, with support from Michael Walker (Fellow, IFST), Eamonn Donnelly, Group Development Manager (Dale Farm Ltd), Tassos Koidis (QUB) and Brian Gardner (Gardner Research). Excellent facilities at QUB were courtesy of Tassos and Prof Chris Elliott, who spoke on the recently launched Institute for Global Food Security (IGFS) at Queen’s University Belfast.
Michael Bell concluded by saying that this was the most exciting time in his long experience to be a part of the agrifood industry. Everyone agreed that the finalists in the competition were all highly employable and excellent ambassadors for IFST.
The photo shows (L to R) Chris Elliott, Michael Bell, Katie Moore, Roisin Trainor, Hannah Clarke, Victoria Hughes, Ciara McAllister and Stephane Durand.
The Institute of Global Food Security of Queen’s University Belfast is hosting the IFST undergraduate Student Competition this year, organised by the Institute of Food Science and Technology Northern Ireland Branch. There will be 5 finalist projects from food degree students at CAFRE, UU, QUB or The Open University in Northern Ireland competing for a £1000 prize. The event will take place on the 30th of May at 19:00 in the Canada Room, Lanyon Building.
For more information, see poster and go to:
http://www.ifst.org/professional_development/prizesandawards/#ireland
The first official IGFS Newsletter has now been published. It covers all the latest news from The Institute for Global Food Security, including the launch of the Institute by Mr Philip Clarke, CEO of Tesco. It features articles on the cutting edge research being carried out in our state of the art laboratories, the projects IGFS is involved with, and will keep you updated on all the current student and staff news.
Click here to download your copy.
Queen’s University Belfast officially launched the Institute for Global Food Security . The Institute will improve global food security through the establishment of an international ‘food-fortress’ in Belfast.
Keynote speakers included, Mr Phil Clarke (CEO, Tesco plc), Dr Mike Harrington, (Vice President of European and Asia Pacific Operations for the Waters Corporation) plus senior executives from the food industry.
Further information is available through the press release issued by the University. There is also a special QTV report available.
The full version of Phillip Clarke's speech is available as a .PDF download here.
The MAN-IMAL programme was created in response to a major change in society. Today, production chains are becoming more and more complex due to globalisation, industrialisation and the growing number of industry actors and regulations. As such, new objectives regarding the food humans consume have developed and directly influence not only animal production and nutrition, but also the preservation and composition of food production. These changes eliminate the boundaries between animal health, human health and food production sectors. A demand for new professional profiles, experts capable of understanding production and public health stakes, able to work in transdisciplinary teams on both national and international levels, has been identified.
Download the info sheet here.
Professor Nicolas Proudfoot, in the 1970's, was one of few working on identifying patterns and signals in nucleic acids with Prof. George Brownlee in Cambridge. From the discoveries made therein, he has progressed in the field of genetics considerably, allowing an insight as to how genetic structure relates to function which in turn influences evolution.
Download the flyer.
Postgraduate students from the DKB, MBC and AFBI have come together for a week long symposium. It promises to be an exciting and engaging week full of intriguying presentations and debate. With over 70 speakers there is sure to be something for everyone.
Download the flyer.
Prof Andy Meharg is interviewed by BBC4 on the perils lurking in homes of the Victorians, such as arsenic in wall paper and lead in children’s toys. The interview is available on YouTube.
