Fera's official launch event and symposium
The Food and Environment Research Agency was officially launched on 15 June 2009 at an event held at the Agency's state of the art laboratory facilities at Sand Hutton, York.
This webpage provides access to videos of the presentations made on the day, including the keynote speaches by Hilary Benn, (then Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), and Professor Bob Watson, Defra's Chief Scientific Adviser.
The event
The aim of the event was to look at the role science plays in providing evidence to support the development of policy relating to the global challenges that face us in the areas of:
- climate change
- global food security and safety in the food chain
- environmental sustainability of the natural environment, balancing more for less.
And within that, to look at some of the work Fera is already engaged in and how this will evolve as the challenges presented by these global issues evolve.
The morning session was about setting the scene, with presentations from Hilary Benn, and Professor Bob Watson, Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs.
The afternoon session involved a short series of presentations by leading scientists at Fera focusing on the different aspects of the science they undertake.
Fera marketplace
You may also recall that Fera had set up the 'marketplace' to make various aspects of the work we do more accessible to delegates. The marketplace was designed to showcase how Fera's work delivers solutions to everyday and emerging problems, using world-class science and creative ideas.
The following document provides an overview of the science presented and more importantly gives contact details for the heads of the programmes involved - Fera marketplace.
Presentation downloads
As you will see, the talks from the morning session have been provided as both PDF slide packages and video format with the slides built in to the video.
The afternoon talks have been provided as either a PDF slide package or a video of the actual presentation, again with the slides cut in to the video. The video format has been used where a presenter used a significant amount of video within his or her own slide presentation.
If you experience any problems downloading or viewing any of the video or presentation files, please contact
The Morning Session
Welcome and Introduction
Presented by: Adrian Belton, Fera Chief Executive
Setting the scence - Science providing solutions in a changing world
Presented by: Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP
"Science has never had a higher profile in the UK Government." Mr Benn's presentation dicussed the key role Fera is to play in delivering scientific evidence to support future policy, to understand more our ecosystems and to help tackle some of the biggest challenges we face including, climate change and food security.
The importance of Fera's research to effective decision making
Presented by: Bob Watson, Defra's Chief Scientific Officer - introduced by Professor Nicola Spence
An overview of Defra's new purpose; to tackle some of the toughest challenges facing the UK & wider world including, food, energy and water security, and a look at some of the key issues involved.
The Birds and the Bees - The importance of evidence in policy making
Presented by: Adrian Belton, Fera Chief Executive
An overview of the multitude of different and very important roles for which the scientific evidence Fera provides is vital.
The Afternoon Session
1. Supporting the 'frontline' of plant health in Africa for food security
Presented by: Dr Julian Smith, Head of International Development
A look at how Fera and our international partners are forming strategic partnerships in Africa to develop virus diagnostics, better testing capabilities and pest risk analysis, and intelligent pest surveillance.
To contact Julian, email
2. Spatial impacts of land use change
Presented by: Dr Nigel Boatman, Agri-Environment and Land Use Strategy Team
Insight into Fera's work in furthering our understanding of agricultural land use change, the impacts of this and how we use advanced GIS modelling to predict future scenarios.
To contact Nigel, email
3. Food safety, nanotechnology, and science in support of food and environment policy
Presented by: Dr Laurence Castle, Head of Contaminants and Authenticity
A brief review of Fera's role in food chain safety and how our science in this area meets policy and industry needs. The presentation also covered some of our work in understanding nanomaterials and their impact.
To contact Laurence, email
4. Food and Environment: Complex Molecular Mixtures
Presented by: Dr Adrian Charlton, Chemical and Biochemical Profiling
An overview of Fera's expertise and capability in detection and detection methods.
To contact Adrian, email
5. The Irish Dioxins Incident
Presented by: Shaun White, Head of Chemical Residues
How Fera's high quality routine surveillance spotted high levels of dioxins in an Irish pork sample in December 2008.
To contact Shaun, email
6. Wildlife management: resolving conflicts with science
Presented by: Dr John Allan, Head of Wildlife Management
A look at how Fera used cutting edge technology to monitor the movement of Pink Footed Geese and assess the likely impact of wind farms on populations, demonstrating Fera's expertise in providing sound impartial advice to resolve human wildlife conflicts.
To contact John, email
7. Woodchester Park: A national resource for wildlife diseases
Presented by: Dr Robbie McDonald, Head of Wildlife and Emerging Diseases
An overview of the role of Fera's Woodchester Park facility and their focus on wildlife diseases research.
To contact Robbie, email
8. Risk, uncertainty and decision-making
Presented by: Dr Andy Hart, Evidence and Analysis
A look at Fera's work in understanding uncertainty to help manage risks and provide an improved basis for decision making.
To contact Andy, email
9. The diverse requirements for varieties and seeds legislation
Presented by: Andy Mitchell, Technical Manager, Policy and Regulations
A look at Fera's Plant Varieties and Seeds team and their work dealing with the diverse requirements for varieties and seeds legislation whilst faced with challenges such as climate change and food security.
To contact Andy, email
10. Keeping bees healthy
Presented by: Dr Helen Crews, Head of Inpsectorate Programme
An introduction to Fera's work with Bees and to the Healthy Bees Plan which aims to sustain the honey bee - a key contributor to sustainable agriculture and environment.
To contact Helen, email
11. Phytophthora research, regulation, response: managing risks together
Presented by: Martin Ward, Head of Policy Programme
How Fera's Risk Assessment team lead the development of rapid, in-field diagnostics to help drive down the global threat of fungal pathogens Phytophthora ramorum and Phytophthora kernoviae.
To contact Martin, email