Table Talk

Six new Diet and Health Innovation Hubs are starting work in the UK to overcome the challenges of producing and getting us all to consume healthier, more nutritious food. They form part of a group called the Diet and Health Open Innovation Club. £15m worth of funding has been made available by three public bodies and a Government department. It is a big project, with big challenges to overcome. Various reports suggest poor nutrition costs our health services around £20bn per year. A key part of the project is encouraging collaboration between researchers and industry. So, in this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, we find out more about the types of research being undertaken, what it could mean for the food industry, and how the research might translate into improvements in nutrition. Guests: Philip Calder, Professor of Nutritional Immunology, Medicine at the University of Southampton Gemma Walton, Associate Professor, University of Reading Professor Martin Warren – Chief Scientific Officer a

Pushing for better diversity and inclusion is important in every industry. A 2018 report from the charity Stonewall found that, due to their sexuality, 18% of the UK’s LGBTQ+ workers had been negatively targeted by colleagues. And the agricultural industry is no different. In fact, it can come with a whole lot of its own specific challenges. Farming can be a lonely, high-pressure business. The UK Office for National Statistics says suicide rates in farmers are among the highest in any occupational group. Every year, 50 gay farmers take their own lives, with the fear of coming out as one of the main reasons. This simply cannot continue. And there are great potential benefits to making our agricultural sector more diverse. So, through the lens of LGBTQ+ farmers, in this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, we explore diversity in agriculture. Relevant resources: The Samaritans The Gay Farmer Helpline Agrespect - the rural LGBTQ+ network Guest: Amie Burke, Inclusivity Programme Manager, IGD

Deforestation, soil health and biodiversity are all major concerns in the agricultural industry. A recent United Nations report claims an estimated 80% of global deforestation is down to agricultural practices, as well as being the leading cause of habitat destruction. But does farming always have to lead to deforestation? Can crops and trees not only co-exist, but possibly thrive together? The emerging field of mycoforestry is a means of managing forest communities through the introduction of fungi. In this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, we look at a new study which suggests edible fungi could be used, with potentially huge consequences for the future of sustainable agriculture. So what did the study find? What could it mean for deforestation? And how can all of this benefit the food industry? Guest: Professor Paul Thomas, Honorary Professor, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling

Why have, for many years, eating disorders disproportionately affected girls? In a previous episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, we focused on how eating disorders affect boys and men. For boys and men, it is a relatively new topic of discussion, even if the issue has been around for some time. But girls and young women eating disorders have been spoken about in public discourse for much longer. The problem is, the number of people affected is still rising. According to the NHS, more young people than ever are receiving treatment for eating disorders. In the last year, there has been a 35% increase in hospital admissions, with girls aged 17-to-19 having higher rates than any other demographic. They are difficult figures to ignore and raise the question: Why do eating disorders affect more girls than boys? What role do the media, the food industry, and social pressure have to play? And, as the London Centre for Eating Disorders suggests, has the Covid pandemic had an impact on cases? Guests: Fio

In this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, we are looking to the future. Specifically, at the food innovators who may well be shaping the industry for years to come. EcoTrophelia UK is a national competition where students design eco-innovative food products. The winners go on to compete in a European final and, as well as receiving a cash prize, some of the entrants could see their products end up on supermarket shelves. The competition is organised jointly by the Institute of Food Science and Technology, and Campden BRI.  The competition is open to teams of students registered at a university or other establishment of scientific or technical higher education.  We went along to the UK final, which was held at Sainsbury’s HQ in central London in June. From all at Food Matters Live, a huge congratulations to each of the finalists. Visit the EcoTrophelia website to find out how you can enter a team into next's year competition.

Last November, the eyes of the world were on Sharm el-Sheik as Egypt hosted COP27, the UN Climate Change Conference. The host country was rallying other nations to gear up their climate action, hoping to persuade politicians around the globe to take us in a direction which avoids climate catastrophe. COP26 in Glasgow in 2021 was criticised in some quarters for failing to put food systems at the heart of the conversation. So, were things any different at COP27? Major global companies attended, including Tetra Pak, which hosted panels on technological innovation, net zero and sustainable protein. In this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, made in partnership with Tetra Pak, we review the progress made at COP27 and ask: Has there been meaningful discussion, which will result in meaningful change? We also look back at COP15, which focused on biodiversity. At that conference, nearly 200 countries signed an historic agreement to halt biodiversity loss by 2030. Finally, we look ahead to what might be

Pippa Murray is a visionary entrepreneur, a trailblazer in the world of nut butter, and the founder of the acclaimed brand Pip & Nut. Founded in 2013, it saw incredible success from the very beginning. Just a couple years in, her products were winning awards and were launched in Sainsbury's and Selfridges. It has been B Corp Certified since 2019 and is now the fastest growing nut butter brand in the UK and Ireland. Pippa has also been listed in the Evening Standard’s "London’s Most Influential People" and as ‘Start-Up Entrepreneur of the Year’ at the Natwest Great British Entrepreneur Awards. In this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, we look into how Pippa’s nut butter went from hobby to business venture, how she successfully grew the brand, and what she has planned for the future of Pip & Nut. Guest: Pip Murray, Founder, Pip & Nut

The picnic is a pastime loved by many. They bring people together, connect us with nature and make mealtime a little more exciting. But the evolution of the picnic is a fascinating one and there is a rich history behind this outdoor feast. From 18th century banquets to modern-day gatherings in the park, the picnic has evolved over time, reflecting changes in social norms and everyday life. Finger foods and picnic blankets were not always typical and – hold the front page! They were not even originally held outside! So where did it all begin? And how did we arrive at the picnic as the summertime staple we know and love today? Guest: Dr Alexander Lee, Fellow, Centre for the Study of the Renaissance, Warwick University

Climate change is the great challenge of our time – a problem so big, that tackling it requires co-operation on a scale we have never seen before. Our reliance on fossil fuels means that most aspects of our lives as individuals, and the economies we rely on, contribute to rising temperatures. And the food and drink industry is central to that. There is no getting away from the fact that the global food and drink industry is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions; estimated to make up 20 to 30 percent of the total. That means the industry has to play its part when it comes to striving achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Download our new Sustainable Food Digest Net zero means cutting emissions to as close to zero as possible, with any remaining emissions re-absorbed. By doing so, the United Nations says, we may be able to limit global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and therefore

As more of us look to improve our health and wellbeing, antioxidants have piqued the interest of some in the food and drinks industry. There is plenty of evidence that antioxidants are vital in protecting our cells from harm, but how does that link to our diets? How does what we eat correlate with the number and type of antioxidants in our bodies? And what about supplements? What role can they play, if any, in this area? Guest: Dr Christine Bösch, Associate Professor in Nutrition, University of Leeds

In this episode we explore the links between alcohol and religion. The consumption of alcohol is central to some of the world’s most popular religions, and for centuries it has been an important part of religious and spiritual rituals. The question is – why? This relationship between religion and alcohol has a long and fascinating history, and has been explored in great depth by the author, broadcaster and journalist Tom Morton in his recent book ‘Holy Waters: Searching for the sacred in a glass’. Recently the recipient of a Fortnum and Mason Food and Drink Award, the book explores the spiritual tales of drinks like mead, saké and rum, unpacks their religious significance, and highlights the links between brewing, winemaking, and worship. So how does the connection between religion and alcohol manifest across the world?   How has this evolved over time?   And what impact has religion had on the alcoholic drinks we make, sell and consume today? Guest: Tom Morton, Writer, broadcaster, musician

Over the last few years, the world of eSports has exploded in popularity. By 2024, its global audience on platforms like YouTube and Twitch is expected to reach nearly 600 million people. That is a huge increase on the roughly 400 million recorded in 2019. Yet despite the growing recognition of gaming as a serious sport, there remains a significant gap in the research around the role of nutrition. For conventional sports, research often focuses on nutrition as a way to enhance physical ability – what can make you run faster, jump higher and maintain stamina? But considering that eSport athletes spend the majority of their careers sitting down, you would expect their nutritional needs to differ. From an economic perspective, it has been widely reported that the computer games industry is now worth more than the music and movie industries combined. That has been followed by the food and drink industry showing an increased interest in functional beverages aimed at gamers. The question is: Is that boom in

What is it that drives Harriet Lamb, the woman behind the Fairtrade movement and current CEO of WRAP? It is the first question we ask in this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, and the answer is a chastening one. "I was researching why bananas are so cheap in our shops and I went to Costa Rica," she says. "I was met by Carlos, who drives me for miles through plantations of bananas, beautifully green, absolutely silent because so many pesticides have been used that there is none of the normal animal life.  "Carlos was one of the tens of thousands of Latin American men who was made sterile as a result of spraying those chemicals. But he took me to meet a woman, Maria, who suffered a worse fate. "She gave birth to a baby whose head was swollen like a huge balloon, with no eyelids, with no lips. She said the worst thing was that her baby was in constant pain.  "Even when she scooped him up to comfort him, which is of course your instinct as a mum, it only made the crying worse. And there was nothing s

Britain is a nation of cheese lovers. In 2022 a Mintel report showed a third of us ate it two-to-three times a week. And British cheese is booming. The British Cheese Board says we now produce more than 700 varieties. But it was not always thus… In fact the history of British cheese is a turbulent one, with peaks and troughs throughout the ages. Things got so bad in the post-War period that the social historian Dorothy Hartley wrote: “Our cheeses are lost to England”. In this episode of the Food Matters Live podcast, we explore that past but also look to the future.  How rosy do things look for British cheese going forward? And what impact will dairy-free alternatives have on the market? Guest: Ned Palmer, Author

When it comes to sustainability, academic research is at the heart of moving ideas forward, creating innovation and generating effective policy. Seeking to maximise the positive impact of the research in this area, in 2022 the University of Surrey launched the Institute for Sustainability. Exploring topics such as green living, net-zero energy and environmental prosperity, the institute promotes an interdisciplinary approach and focuses on contributing to a future where people’s lives are both sustainable and fulfilling. The rallying cry from our guest today is: “For too long, we have perceived sustainability negatively, as a sacrifice. But it actually means achieving a better life”. So, how does that work? And how will Surrey’s Institute for Sustainability help us get there? Guest: Professor Lorenzo Fioramonti, Founding Director, Institute for Sustainability

Eating disorders are a growing problem in the Western world and failure to treat them properly can lead to devastating outcomes. In England, the National Health Service says hospital admissions have risen by more than 80 per cent in the last five years. The increase is particularly stark among boys and young men, with a 128 per cent rise in that time. Various studies show that males account for anywhere between one-in-four and one-in-three people with an eating disorder. And with misdiagnosis reportedly more common in men, the risks to their health may be greater. So what is behind these statistics? How can we stop the numbers rising? And what role, if any, do the food and supplements industries have to play? Guests: Tom Quinn, Director of External Affairs, BEAT Deanne Jade, Founder, the National Centre for Eating Disorders Dr Dominique Thompson, GP and Director of Buzz Consulting BEAT's national Helpline 

It is probably a universal concern for parents: Is my child eating the right food to support their physical and mental development? But in between dealing with everyday life and cooking foods your child actually likes, meeting their nutritional needs can be a challenge. And other factors like the cost of living crisis only add to the stress. A recent study in the UK suggests a fifth of parents have struggled to provide food for their families, and around a quarter say their child’s mental health has declined as a result. So what impact can poor nutrition have on a child’s development? How do their nutritional needs change throughout childhood? And how can we encourage picky eaters to enjoy healthy foods? Guest: Hannah Love, Nutritionist and Paediatric Nurse

Vegetarianism, in Western cultures at least, is on the rise. More people are choosing not to eat meat, although globally it is a much more opaque picture. There is no doubt that in the West, adopting a vegetarian diet has been one of the top trends for the food industry to consider in recent years. But the history of vegetarianism is anything but recent. It goes all the way back to new ideas in ancient Greece, through persecution during the early Christian period, two world wars, right up to the present day. So buckle up for a story with more twists than a spiralised courgette as we delve into the history of vegetarianism. Guest: Richard McIlwain, Chief Executive, The Vegetarian Society of the UK

Paul Lindley OBE is a renowned entrepreneur, best-selling author, and philanthropist whose career has been one of innovation and social responsibility. In 2006, he founded the organic children’s food brand Ella's Kitchen which has seen phenomenal success. In the UK, it is the largest baby food business, amongst the 10 fastest growing private companies, and was one of the first certified B Corporations. Paul's work has been recognised globally, receiving numerous awards for his contributions to entrepreneurship and the food industry – including an OBE in 2019. As well as founding Ella’s Kitchen, his other work includes being Chair of the London Child Obesity Taskforce.

We could probably survive in a world without bees, but it would be a poorer one. It is nothing new to say that bees play a crucial role in supporting ecosystems. In a world without bees, not only would we have to get by without their delicious honey, many of the food stuffs we currently enjoy would likely disappear. Food insecurity would rise, and we would be financially worse off – bees contribute a significant chunk of money to the global food industry. We also know they are in danger. The International Union for Conservation of Nature says nearly 10% of wild bee species in Europe may be at risk of extinction. So, is sustainable beekeeping the answer? What does sustainability mean in this context? And is keeping bees, itself, inherently harmful? Listen to the end for our guests' favourite bee facts! Guests: Paul Horton, Director, Bee Farmers Association Nicola Bradbear, Director, Bees for Development Anne Rowberry, President, British Beekeepers Association