Institute of Food Research
Encyclopedia
The Institute of Food Research (IFR) is one of the worlds leading agricultural and food science
research institutions. It prides itself upon its wealth of research, regularly contributing to both government policies and Industry bodies as well as public relations.
, IFR was originally founded in 1968; however its research can be traced back almost 100 years to the low temperature research station in Cambridge
.
The Institute was based on four sites across the UK:
In 1999, it was decided that the research centres should all consolidate on the Norwich Research Park.
's School of Veterinary Medicine.
IFR's science is focussed around four themes, investigating the interplay between the host (including the gastrointestinal tract mucosa, the immune system, and the complex microflora
), and ingested food (including its composition, physical structure, the presence of pathogenic micro-organisms, and allergenicity). This central goal integrates the research activities across IFR.
IFR's research into plant natural products and health aims to elucidate the fundamental mechanisms in humans by which diets that contain certain natural products help to maintain health and prevent the onset of chronic disease.
s, colloid and interface science with those of protein biochemistry, molecular modelling
and gut epithelial
biology, and has the overall aim of understanding how food structures behave in the gut and affect the breakdown and availability of macro- and micro-nutrients in food.
The main bacterial pathogens under study are Campylobacter
, Clostridia
and Salmonella
.
(BBSRC). The site is in the parish of Colney on the B1108, just west of the University of East Anglia
.
IFR has a significant presence in the UK, Europe and worldwide. Its vast research base extends the focus of extremely topical subjects, such as food security, diet and health including obesity and healthy aging.
IFR Extra is available to bigger companies they have worked with previously and it is now able to offer an extended range of services.
The Institute has its own laboratories and staff, it can also access a full range of experts and resources and can put together multidisciplinary teams quickly. These teams can be enhanced by the expertise and capabilities of carefully selected partners.
There are three major areas of scientific excellence at Norwich – the pillars:
These inter-relate to address major 21st Century ‘Grand Challenges’ of global food security, (bio) energy, healthy ageing and living with environmental change. The pillars are highly distinctive in the UK and comprise a unique geographical juxtaposition world-wide.
Three ‘bridges’ of creativity and innovation link the pillars, delivering major new agenda-setting interdisciplinary research and training in key areas:
Food science
Food science is a study concerned with all technical aspects of foods, beginning with harvesting or slaughtering, and ending with its cooking and consumption, an ideology commonly referred to as "from field to fork"...
research institutions. It prides itself upon its wealth of research, regularly contributing to both government policies and Industry bodies as well as public relations.
History
Based in NorwichNorwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, IFR was originally founded in 1968; however its research can be traced back almost 100 years to the low temperature research station in Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
.
The Institute was based on four sites across the UK:
- ShinfieldShinfieldShinfield is a village and civil parish in the English county of Berkshire, just south of Reading. It contains and is administered by the unitary authority of Wokingham District.-Geography:...
near Reading in BerkshireBerkshireBerkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and... - Lower LangfordLower LangfordLower Langford is a village within the civil parish of Churchill in the unitary authority of North Somerset, England. It is located on the western edge of the Mendip Hills about east of Weston-super-Mare. It was a village built around estate of Sidney Hill who was the original inhabitant of the...
in North SomersetNorth SomersetNorth Somerset is a unitary authority in England. Its area covers part of the ceremonial county of Somerset but it is administered independently of the non-metropolitan county. Its administrative headquarters is in the town hall in Weston-super-Mare.... - the Long Ashton Research StationLong Ashton Research StationLong Ashton Research Station was an agricultural and horticultural government research centre in the village of Long Ashton near Bristol, UK...
in SomersetSomersetThe ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the... - ColneyColneyColney is a village in the western outskirts of Norwich in Norfolk, England. It is in the administrative district of South Norfolk. It covers an area of and had a population of 124 in 35 households at the 2001 census....
in Norwich
In 1999, it was decided that the research centres should all consolidate on the Norwich Research Park.
Former sites
Lower Langford today has the University of BristolUniversity of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
's School of Veterinary Medicine.
Current focus
IFR is the UKs only integrated basic science provider focused on food and is a world leading contributor to harnessing food for health and controlling food-related disease. The outcomes of its work feed into national and international strategies and deliver advice and solutions for UK Government, public sector bodies, regulatory authorities, industry and consumers.IFR's science is focussed around four themes, investigating the interplay between the host (including the gastrointestinal tract mucosa, the immune system, and the complex microflora
Flora (microbiology)
In microbiology, flora refers to the collective bacteria and other microorganisms in an ecosystem . While the term microflora is widely used, it is technically a misnomer since the word root flora pertains to the kingdom plantae...
), and ingested food (including its composition, physical structure, the presence of pathogenic micro-organisms, and allergenicity). This central goal integrates the research activities across IFR.
GI tract
The central aim of IFR's research into the integrated biology of the GI tract is to understand how the homeostasis between the GI tract microflora and the gut epithelium is maintained and how perturbation of this system can have consequence for health. This exciting approach, including the critical food dimension, differentiates our GI tract programme from work undertaken in a more medical setting.IFR's research into plant natural products and health aims to elucidate the fundamental mechanisms in humans by which diets that contain certain natural products help to maintain health and prevent the onset of chronic disease.
Biophysics
IFR consider their food chemistry and biophysics approach to be unique in the UK, and IFR's research into food structure & health brings together expertise in food biopolymerBiopolymer
Biopolymers are polymers produced by living organisms. Since they are polymers, Biopolymers contain monomeric units that are covalently bonded to form larger structures. There are three main classes of biopolymers based on the differing monomeric units used and the structure of the biopolymer formed...
s, colloid and interface science with those of protein biochemistry, molecular modelling
Molecular modelling
Molecular modelling encompasses all theoretical methods and computational techniques used to model or mimic the behaviour of molecules. The techniques are used in the fields of computational chemistry, computational biology and materials science for studying molecular systems ranging from small...
and gut epithelial
Epithelium
Epithelium is one of the four basic types of animal tissue, along with connective tissue, muscle tissue and nervous tissue. Epithelial tissues line the cavities and surfaces of structures throughout the body, and also form many glands. Functions of epithelial cells include secretion, selective...
biology, and has the overall aim of understanding how food structures behave in the gut and affect the breakdown and availability of macro- and micro-nutrients in food.
Foodborne pathogens
In studying foodborne bacterial pathogens, IFR aim to discover new aspects of the biology of bacterial pathogens with the long-term goal of reducing the burden of foodborne disease in humans. Combining state-of-the-art molecular microbiology with mathematical biology reveals patterns in pathogen responses that are currently hidden by massive levels of complexity.The main bacterial pathogens under study are Campylobacter
Campylobacter
Campylobacter is a genus of bacteria that are Gram-negative, spiral, and microaerophilic. Motile, with either unipolar or bipolar flagella, the organisms have a characteristic spiral/corkscrew appearance and are oxidase-positive. Campylobacter jejuni is now recognized as one of the main causes...
, Clostridia
Clostridia
The Clostridia are a class of Firmicutes, including Clostridium and other similar genera. They are distinguished from the Bacilli by lacking aerobic respiration. They are obligate anaerobes and oxygen is toxic to them. Species of the genus Clostridium are all Gram-positive and have the ability to...
and Salmonella
Salmonella
Salmonella is a genus of rod-shaped, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming, predominantly motile enterobacteria with diameters around 0.7 to 1.5 µm, lengths from 2 to 5 µm, and flagella which grade in all directions . They are chemoorganotrophs, obtaining their energy from oxidation and reduction...
.
IFR Extra
IFR is currently making its expertise available to small and medium-sized companies in the food industry. The Institute realises that these companies often demand a rapid response. IFR Extra has been set up to ensure this happens.Structure
IFR receives great support from its parent research council the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research CouncilBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council is a UK Research Council and NDPB and is the largest UK public funder of non-medical bioscience...
(BBSRC). The site is in the parish of Colney on the B1108, just west of the University of East Anglia
University of East Anglia
The University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...
.
IFR has a significant presence in the UK, Europe and worldwide. Its vast research base extends the focus of extremely topical subjects, such as food security, diet and health including obesity and healthy aging.
Consultancy work
IFR undertakes short-term applied research, trouble-shooting and specialist analysis, making its expertise available and affordable to all companies. The Institute also provides access to food experts on a consultancy basis.IFR Extra is available to bigger companies they have worked with previously and it is now able to offer an extended range of services.
The Institute has its own laboratories and staff, it can also access a full range of experts and resources and can put together multidisciplinary teams quickly. These teams can be enhanced by the expertise and capabilities of carefully selected partners.
The Norwich Vision
IFR is a major contributor to ‘The Norwich Vision’.There are three major areas of scientific excellence at Norwich – the pillars:
- Environmental science
- Plant and microbial genetics
- Food, diet and health
These inter-relate to address major 21st Century ‘Grand Challenges’ of global food security, (bio) energy, healthy ageing and living with environmental change. The pillars are highly distinctive in the UK and comprise a unique geographical juxtaposition world-wide.
Three ‘bridges’ of creativity and innovation link the pillars, delivering major new agenda-setting interdisciplinary research and training in key areas:
- The Earth & Life Systems Alliance (ELSA)
- Food & Health Alliance (the partnership between IFR and the University)
- Plant and microbial natural products