What sustainability challenges do we still need to address with solution-focused research? The SRI@21 research agenda explores some of the complex theoretical topics – like sufficiency, provisioning systems, and economies – that still require sustainable solutions. It launches 19 November 2025.

Last week @peatbloke.bsky.social, @duncanquincey.bsky.social, colleagues from Uppsala University and I re-visited Hammarmossen, this time as part of our NERC-funded Antheia project. We deployed a number of sensors and conducted UAV surveys. Looking forward to returning! @envleeds.bsky.social

Pleased to have contributed a small part to this work and to continue the important conversation about plant science education. @envleeds.bsky.social

How do we make progress towards a sustainable future? 🛤️ The SRI@21 research agenda explores questions that still need addressing, such as: ❓ How do we envision sustainable futures? ❓ Who makes decisions about sustainability? ❓ How should we measure our goals? SRI@21 launches 19 November 2025.

Our quarterly newsletter is now available. This edition provides an update on: 🚜 University Research Farm activity 👩‍💻 Upcoming webinar schedule until January 2026 🍊 FoodWise Leeds recent campaigns 📚 FoSTA-Health Project blog series & much more! Link below 👇

Join us 19 Nov to hear Dr Gülbanu Kaptan deliver a webinar titled, 'Reducing Household Food Waste: Behavioural Insights for Climate Action'. Includes a live Q&A session with the speaker! More info 👇 #FoodWaste #ClimateAction #Sustainability

EarthScale has launched its first cohort of 16 #ClimateTech ventures and the University of Leeds is proud to be part of the network supporting them through the Priestley Centre. Applications for Cohort 2 open in Spring 2026! climate.leeds.ac.uk/news/16-clim... @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social

This year, the Sustainability Research Institute (SRI) celebrates 21 years of interdisciplinary research. 🌍 On 19 November, SRI will launch its ambitious research agenda, laying out its next steps towards a just, sustainable future. SRI’s journey so far: spotlight.leeds.ac.uk/sustainabili...

The most effective and equitable agroecological approach needs to have many voices represented when shaping agricultural policy and agendas. Researchers need to ensure they include alternative voices, knowledge and experiences 👇 #Agroecology #Agriculture

Did you catch yesterday's #WorldFoodDay webinar by Dr Mapenzie Tauzie? It explored how women in Malawi navigate empowerment, agriculture, nutrition and daily resource negotiations, while sustaining social ties and family wellbeing. Catch up for free 👇 youtu.be/QARbMAy7nDs?...

Fruit Works Co-operative is a social enterprise helping communities in Bradford & Leeds to plant / maintain fruit trees. We interviewed Alan Thornton, Director, to learn more on this & plans for the newly established Leeds Food Growing Network. 👉 medium.com/globalfoodle... #WorldFoodDay 👇

New blog: 'AI in food production: How much should we worry about big tech?' by @martinp556.bsky.social, PhD researcher. 👉 globalfoodleeds.medium.com/ai-in-food-p... #WorldFoodDay #AI 👇

Today is #WorldFoodDay! We've a selection of new blogs & videos to share that focus on some of the many ways our researchers are tackling the focus of #WorldFoodDay every day through their research. If you want to learn more about our researchers & their work, visit www.leeds.ac.uk/globalfood 👇

We must also consider how accessible new technologies are to women, youth and low income households. Dr Mapenzie Tauzie's research focuses on the ways in which digital transformations of agriculture may reinforce social inequalities in #Malawi: link.springer.com/article/10.1... 👇

The effective implementation of agroecological principles requires collaboration. Equitable partnerships—across academia, farmers, policymakers, investors, and civil society—are key to enabling innovation and impact. #WorldFoodDay 👇

A new study by Inès François, Dr Hannah Ensaff & Dr homer matt, the lunch choices of 155 children (5–11) were tracked for multiple days. Using time-series & cluster analysis, the study, in collab with SchoolGrid, uncovered stable patterns in food choices & identified 4 distinct selection profiles👇

As part of our month-long spotlight on agroecological research, we have published a blog by Professor Stephen Whitfield that summarises the many ways in which our researchers are supporting this area of research at the University of Leeds. 👉 Read: medium.com/globalfoodle...

Priestley member Dr @jimmcquaid.bsky.social is quoted in an article by BBC news responding to claims that a proposed Lincolnshire poultry farm would emit PM2.5 pollution comparable to the M25. McQuaid deemed the comparison reasonable, warning of health risks www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

New, comprehensive rewilding guidelines have been launched today, following years of research and collaboration. ️🏞️ Professors Steve Carver and Ian Convery are the lead authors of the guidelines for rewilding practices, launched at the IUCN World Conservation Congress. iucn.org/press-releas...

Olufemi Adesina is working with International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology in Kenya on how the push-pull approach in agroecological practices can reduce crop pest pressure. 👇

A key focus of agroecological practice is understanding ecosystem functions. Researchers are studying how plant-level treatments, field-level crop compositions & landscape-scale structures & vegetation interact to influence crop pest & disease risks. fosta-health.eu/index.php/bl... 👇

Dr Effie Papargyropoulou engages with policymakers at local & national level, providing research evidence to support food policy change. She co-developed a tool to measure social, environmental & economic impact of local food initiatives that transform urban food systems by empowering citizens 👇

Prof @sgonzalezsara.bsky.social focuses on transforming the food system by collaborating with local groups & policymakers to support civic change. She’s on the FoodWise Steering Group, which recently focused on public food procurement—schools & hospitals buying nutritious, locally produced food. 👇

Sonja Woodcock is the Coordinator at FoodWise Leeds. FoodWise collaborates with GFEI, Leeds City Council, & third sector & community partners to build a good food movement. Together we produced the Leeds Food Strategy – a citywide approach for health, food security, the economy, & net zero. 👇

Food justice: equitable access to healthy, sustainable & affordable food. Our researchers work with community-based partners to explore how research can have real terms impact on place-based, community-led food initiatives. We interviewed 2 researchers & a community-based partner to hear more 👇

Throughout October, we are spotlighting some of the ways our researchers are supporting agroecological transitions in Africa. Agroecology enhances food production resilience to extreme weather events & pest infestations, and improves biodiversity, soil health & nutritional properties of foods. 👇

Read our article published in Nature Water about what has made our Yorkshire Integrated Catchment Solutions Programme @yorkshireicasp.bsky.social such a success. Free access here: rdcu.be/eHWAM @springernature.com @researchleeds.bsky.social @envleeds.bsky.social

Did you know we offer an MSc course in Sustainable Food Systems and Food Security? The course offers an interdisciplinary and holistic systems-thinking approach to understand and evaluate the complexity of the food system. 👇

New blog by Ankitha Manohar, PhD student @universityofleeds.bsky.social During recent fieldwork in the Philippines, Ankitha used GFEI funds to give local communities disposable cameras to document their meals and tell their individual food stories. Read her reflections: medium.com/globalfoodle...

📢 ICYMI New, independent analysis by the @universityofleeds.bsky.social found that location restrictions on products high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) in supermarkets, have led to a reduction in sales of unhealthy food 🛒 www.leeds.ac.uk/research-32/... @foodscileeds.bsky.social

Using 10 years of satellite data from CryoSat-2, researchers have discovered 85 new subglacial lakes hidden beneath Earth's biggest ice mass. This discovery will help shape understanding of ice sheet dynamics and global sea level rise. @esa.int @envleeds.bsky.social www.leeds.ac.uk/news/article...

The Philosophical Transactions of The @royalsociety.org B issue on ‘Transforming terrestrial food systems for human and planetary health’ was published today. It includes a paper co-authored by Prof Pippa Chapman & Dr Ruth Wade. 👇

Congratulations to Dr Declan Finney, who has been named as one of @ukri.org’s Future Leaders Fellows! 👏 He'll lead research into the use of drones for cloud observation and weather forecasting as part of the prestigious fellowship. Read more: environment.leeds.ac.uk/news/article...

Wednesday 15th October, 12.00-12.40 pm Speaker: Dr Mapenzie Tauzie Title: 'Negotiating Empowerment: Exploring how women balance agriculture, household responsibilities and social networks in rural Malawi' Register for free: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/womens-eve... 👇

"A fantastic resource to lead research, knowledge exchange and teaching activities in future-proofing farming systems." Dr Ruth Wade, School of Biology The University farm is one of 10 in Europe to become a hub for climate research. bit.ly/3VeXnfR @globalfoodleeds.bsky.social @envleeds.bsky.social

🚦 Today, our team was proud to take part in the Vision Zero Conference organised by Leeds City Council at Millennium Square. 🎤 Yue Yang presented our The Road Safety Trust–funded project "Autistic Children Matter" (led by Yee Mun Lee) @envleeds.bsky.social, @universityofleeds.bsky.social

In their new book, Professors Carolyn Snell and Lucie Middlemiss explore what a just climate future could look like. 👐🌍 Why is it so important to recognise the impact of net zero on communities, and how could we achieve it equitably? Read more: bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/just-climate...

Why should the UK Government prioritise e-bike incentives over discounts on cars? Dr Noel Cass writes in @uk.theconversation.com. theconversation.com/subsidising-...

Izzy, our seasonal field worker, has had a busy summer helping us with baseline habitat and species monitoring. She's also sent us some great video clips...the first is a badger...

A new study warns that the world is running out of time to avoid the worst impacts of climate change – @piersforster.bsky.social and Debbie Rosen explain the evidence in @uk.theconversation.com. theconversation.com/only-3-years...

1/2. One of our favourite aspects of our work (after ticks and bad weather) is collaborating and sharing knowledge with other projects. This week we enjoyed a visit to the @rspb.bsky.social reserve at Campfield Marsh hosted by Dan, one of wardens there. @leedsleaf.bsky.social @envleeds.bsky.social

How can we effectively reduce emissions? We have a new paper out in Energy Research & Social Science, led by @melaniepichler.bsky.social‬, with @simonegingrich.bsky.social, @n-roux.bsky.social, ‪ @dominikwiedenhofer.bsky.social @bokusec.bsky.social,‬ @envleeds.bsky.social 1/9 tinyurl.com/ytm2zd9m

Well done to @luciemidd.bsky.social and @profmarkdavis.bsky.social, who were awarded Best Paper by Energy Research & Social Science! 👏 Their paper investigates how social relations impact public decision-making and action around energy use. Read more: environment.leeds.ac.uk/news/article...

In a new international collaboration with the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Professor Jon Lovett explores the 'Ecology of the Sacred': traditional socio-ecological systems that are helping communities adapt to climate change. Read more: environment.leeds.ac.uk/geography/ne...

Sarah Oakes, @leverhulme.ac.uk -funded researcher, writes about her participatory research with Quechua farming communities in the Peruvian Andes, exploring bioculture, heritage, and climate adaptation. 🥔 environment.leeds.ac.uk/news/article...

How can data help improve #safety in #parks? With @westyorkshireca.bsky.social, @bradfordcouncil.bsky.social & @keepbritaintidy.bsky.social, Fran Pontin & team are using evidence to tackle #WomenAndGirls’ safety concerns in Bradford parks. Funded by Research England PSF youtu.be/jy-0h3yZ8P4?...

A recent study authored by Dr Ed Keavney found that microplastics are present up to 10cm below the sea floor in the Whittard Canyon. This shows there are multiple underwater processes transporting and burying microplastics, not only turbidity currents. environment.leeds.ac.uk/news/article...

🌍 How can communities be better supported to take #ClimateAction? The Leeds team, with Otley 2030 & @climateactionleeds.bsky.social, examined how local #hubs can boost climate efforts & enrich lives. Funded by Research England PSF. www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQhD... @ukri.org @envleeds.bsky.social

Do you love films and care about the environment? You can take part in an extraordinary event coming to Leeds to celebrate the importance of peatlands – BogFilmFest. environment.leeds.ac.uk/events/event...