News

On Tuesday 26 October, UKERC hosted speakers from London South Bank University (LSBU), University of Birmingham, Heriot Watt University and Cranfield University who presented preliminary work on the assessment of current and future cold-chain emissions from UK food cooling systems.

The cold-chain is the backbone of our local and global food networks. Conventional cold-chains for food are energy intensive and use refrigerants that often have high Global Warming Potentials (GWPs). How food is delivered has major implications for rural economies, the food and drinks industry, social well-being, climate change, food security, energy security, and urban air quality. The food and drink industry is the largest manufacturing sector in the UK and the food sector is predicted to increase due to population growth.

LSBU, Birmingham, Heriot Watt and Cranfield are working together to provide a comprehensive, evidence-driven set of road maps for the UK food cold-chain (chilled and frozen) to be able to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050. The webinar featured presentations from the team followed by a panel discussion with industry and trade representatives. You can watch the recording here.

To watch a recording of the webinar click here.

Speakers and panellists:

• Graeme Maidment, London South Bank University
• Toby Peters, University of Birmingham
• Judith Evans, London South Bank University
• Natalia Falagan, Cranfield University
• Alan Foster, London South Bank University
• Phil Greening, Heriot-Watt University
• Xinfang Wang, University of Birmingham
• Tom Southall, Cold Chain Federation
• Malcolm Harling, Foodservice Equipment Association
• Dermot Cotter, Star Technical Solutions
• Andrew Mullen, BEKO PLC
• Juergen Goeller, Carrier Transicold & Refrigeration Systems
• Sophie Bordat, BEIS