Institute for Agri-Food Research and Innovation

About Us

About Us

We deliver innovation in research and sustainable solutions across the agri-food supply chain.

The Institute for Agri-Food Research and Innovation (IAFRI) is a virtual institute, jointly owned and operated by Newcastle University and Fera Science Ltd (Fera). It seeks to deliver research and innovation in the agriculture, food and environmental sectors and translate the outcomes into real world solutions for the benefit of society. IAFRI operates out of two main locations, the National Agri-Food Innovation Campus and the School of Natural and Environmental Science (SNES) at Newcastle.

IAFRI delivers this work through a combination of externally funded research activities, through the joint appointment of staff who divide their time between Newcastle and Fera Science Ltd. and by running a doctoral training programme. IAFRI has the following objectives:

  1. Generate and apply new knowledge to practical problems in the agriculture, food and environmental sectors
  2. Generate, manage and exploit intellectual property to drive commercial growth in Fera’s business
  3. Develop a pipeline of expert scientists, by creating a talent pool for recruitment by Fera or Newcastle and developing the skills of existing staff