Professor Ben Lowe of Kent Business School will work as part of a research group alongside colleagues from other universities and food industry organisations to address the access to fresh, sustainable foods in poorer communities of the UK.
The project, led by Reading University, is titled ‘Co-production of healthy, sustainable food systems for disadvantaged communities’ and is one of four interdisciplinary research programmes to have been awarded £24m through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)’s Strategic Priorities Fund (SPF).
Professor Lowe, alongside colleague Professor Iain Fraser (School of Economics) will work with people from a variety of disadvantaged communities (Whitley-Reading, Brighton & Hove, Tower Hamlets and Plymouth), small and large food businesses and policy makers to co-develop solutions to give improved access to fresher food and identify opportunities to prevent food loss in mainstream supply chains.
Professor Lowe’s research input will focus on understanding how consumers attribute value to novel food innovations and will feed into the price setting process for these products to enhance acceptance. Professor Fraser will examine consumer attitudes and preferences towards design attributes of innovative food products.