The Oxford Martin Programme on
The Future of Food
The Challenge
A significant overhaul of the current global food system is needed to meet the challenges of feeding a growing world population in a healthy, equitable, sustainable and resilient way.
The future of food programme links together research on the food system at Oxford and facilitates solution-orientated research to address these major concerns. The research includes scientific, economic, social and environmental issues of food production and consumption, as well as how food affects health, sustainability and economic development.
By integrating existing research, supporting new interdisciplinary initiatives, and facilitating interactions between academia, government, civil society and the private sector, we provide fresh insights and propose effective action to address the challenges of feeding the global population.
Livestock, Environment and People (LEAP)
The global average consumption of meat and dairy is rising, driven by increasing incomes and population growth. The growing demand for meat matters as its consumption has significant effects on people’s health and livestock production can have major environmental impacts.
The LEAP programme aims to understand the health, environmental, social and economic effects of meat and dairy consumption to provide evidence and tools for decision makers to promote healthy and sustainable diets.
LEAP is supported by the Wellcome Trust’s Our Planet Our Health Programme and is a four-year project (2017-2021) led by Professor Charles Godfray and Professor Susan Jebb.
latest news
View allBeans and peas best meat alternative, finds Oxford research
Beans and peas rank best as meat and milk replacements from nutritional, health, environmental, and cost perspectives, a new study led by an Oxford Martin researcher has found.
Eating less sugar would be great for the planet as well as our health
Sugar addiction is on the rise. Globally, sugar intake has quadrupled over the last 60 years, and it now makes up around 8% of all our calories.
British Academy Global Professor to research food systems at Oxford Martin School
Professor Paul Behrens will join the Oxford Martin School in September after being awarded a British Academy Global Professorship, working on rapid food system transformations in a rapidly changing world.
Last LEAP Conference highlights importance of food research communities
The Oxford Martin Programme on the Future of Food recently celebrated the last Wellcome-funded LEAP conference. The conference showcased novel research findings, examining the relationship between livestock, the environment and people; and brought together a strong community of researchers in these fields.
Publications
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The environmental and social opportunities of reducing sugar intake
A comprehensive Beyond-GDP database to accelerate wellbeing, inclusion, and sustainability research
Opportunities to produce food from substantially less land
Sustainability benefits of transitioning from current diets to plant-based alternatives or whole-food diets in Sweden
Ancient chicken remains reveal the origins of virulence in Marek’s disease virus
The global and regional air quality impacts of dietary change
Vegans, vegetarians, fish-eaters and meat-eaters in the UK show discrepant environmental impacts
The Triple Challenge: synergies, trade-offs and integrated responses for climate, biodiversity, and human wellbeing goals
Four ways blue foods can help achieve food system ambitions across nations
people
View allCharles Godfray
Director, Oxford Martin School
Susan Jebb
Professor of Diet and Population Health
Tara Garnett
Director of Table
Marco Springmann
Senior Researcher on Environment and Health
Sarah Harper
Director, Oxford Institute of Population Ageing
Mike Rayner
Professor of Population Health
Jim Hall
Professor of Climate and Environmental Risks
Peter Scarborough
Professor of Population Health
Stanley Ulijaszek
Professor of Human Ecology
Linda Cobiac
Senior Researcher
Michael Clark
Postdoctoral Researcher
George Cusworth
Postdoctoral Researcher
Keren Papier
Postdoctoral Researcher in Nutritional Epidemiology
Doug Gollin
Professor of Development Economics
Cristina Stewart
Research Assistant
Javier Lezaun
James Martin Lecturer in Science and Technology Governance
Michael Bonsall
Professor of Mathematical Biology
Lexi Earl
Programme Manager
videos
View all'Towards a liveable planet: land, energy and food system transitions' with Prof Paul Behrens
Book talk: 'Not the end of the world: how we can be the first generation to build a sustainable planet' with Hannah Ritchie & Charles Godfray
'The Cattle-Grain-Beef Complex: Maize, feedlots, and British breeds in the rise of the modern food system' with Dr Nathan Sayre
upcoming events
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