The Two-Week Tour with Campden BRI

How far can a three-minute video take you? It took me on an exhilarating study tour throughout the United Kingdom and France as part of the award for the?Institute of Food Technologists (IFT)?Graduate Research Video competition?I won in 2021.

My first time across the pond began in the beautiful village of Chipping Campden in Gloucestershire, where Koentadi Hadinoto, PhD , Meghan Rose McGillin, Ph.D. , and I received a warm welcome from Colin Dennis CBE, DL, PhD, CFS, CSci , Craig Leadley , and Bertrand Emond from Campden BRI who organized the tour.

Week One

Day 1

Our first stop was Campden BRI 's headquarters, where I learned of the historic role that they played in developing solutions to meet industry needs through their experts Craig Leadley , Emma Hanby , Danny Bayliss , Julia Jackson , Dr Gail Betts , and Bertrand Emond . I also had the opportunity to present my research during a lunch-and-learn-themed seminar, before a tour of the facilities with Bertrand and Danny, which houses both established and emerging technologies. The site is a one-stop shop for all research related to food and drink production!

Day 2

The next day, Danny helped us get to ABP UK ’s beef processing plant at Ellesmere. Terence McManus and Svetozar Panov guided us through the cutting-edge facility that prioritized animal welfare, biosecurity, and sustainability in its design. I was especially impressed by their collaboration with Dr. Temple Grandin and how they utilized tallow and used-cooking oil to help fuel the plant.

Our final visit for the day was to the 2 Sisters Food Group ’s chicken processing plant in Scunthorpe. We learned of the challenges currently facing the poultry industry in the United Kingdom and the efforts that the 2 Sisters Food Group have made to overcome them. We also toured the massive facility and observed the innovative technologies they incorporated over the years.

Day 3

We spent the third day at the Plant Based World Expo Europe at Olympia London, where I explored a variety of plant-based products produced by organizations such as Ingredion Incorporated , Kalsec Inc. , [MOCK]? , and more!

The day ended in the company of the British Section of IFT’s board members, Colin Dennis CBE, DL, PhD, CFS, CSci , Richard Benson , Bertrand Emond , Rhianna Gamble , Henrietta Sameke , and Kelsey Kanyuck . It was incredible to learn about their career paths and feel their enthusiasm for their work.

Day 4

The fourth day started with a visit to the National Centre of Excellence for Food Engineering at 英国谢菲尔德哈莱姆大学 with Campden BRI’s Christopher Waites and Lucy Davies . We explored their world-class pilot-scale production facilities with Dr. Martin Howarth and learned of the innovative research that they conduct, including incorporating aerospace engineering for food production! I also had a great discussion with Dr. Caroline Millman regarding her work with food safety and consumers.

We then made our way to the 英国诺丁汉大学 in Sutton Bonington where I presented my research and had engaging discussions with the faculty and students at the School of Biosciences. I enjoyed hearing about their research, particularly the work done with chickens and zoonotic pathogens, and touring the splendid campus with Dr. Gleb Yakubov and Dr. Ian Connerton .

Day 5

We ended the first week at the Norwich Research Park where we started with a visit to the Quadram Institute where Dr. Patricia Hart greeted us. I was in awe of their state-of-the-art laboratories and the ground-breaking research done by Drs. Muhammad Yasir , Hannah Pye, PhD , Tanja Suligoj , Teagan Brown, and Cailean Carter . It was fascinating to learn about their interdisciplinary research on pathogens, gut biology, and their collaboration with the Endoscopy Centre.

The second stop was the data centre and Genomics Pipeline facility at the Earlham Institute . Dr. Karim Gharbi showed us the advanced equipment in their labs and the impressive projects they conducted, including their work to make genome sequencing of pathogens more affordable and accessible.

Finally, we met Dr. Eugenio Butelli at the John Innes Centre to see the world-renowned purple tomatoes that the USDA approved earlier this year. Seeing the genetically enhanced tomatoes in-person at the greenhouse and learning the science behind their development was spectacular.

Week Two

Day 6

After a weekend of touristy activities in London, we kicked off the second week with a visit to Campden BRI’s Nutfield site with Maria Masoura, Ph.D. . At this beautiful facility, Dr. Grzegorz Rachon gave us a tour of the Brewing Microbiology labs and gave an insight into the many projects they have completed. Their research on beer was intriguing, particularly concerning the hurdles posed by the development of non-alcoholic varieties.

We then made our way to the headquarters of the Food Standards Agency in London, where I presented at their Food for Thought seminar. Dr. Anthony Wilson also informed us of the integral role that the FSA undertakes as part of the government of the United Kingdom and the extent to which they ensure that food is safe and that consumers are protected.

Day 7

We met Dr. Alex T. from The Food and Drink Federation , who communicated the vital contributions of the FDF to policy and legislative development. It was incredible to learn of the support that the FDF provides to food and drink manufacturers.

Similarly, I was amazed by the strategic priorities of the food technology group at 马莎百货 and how they are innovating to sustainably produce healthy and safe foods from William Watts and Karen Sims. I enjoyed discussing my research with them and hearing their thoughts on our projects.

The tour even took us to France, where we enjoyed delicious French cuisine in the company of Colin Dennis CBE, DL, PhD, CFS, CSci , Mike Adams , and Bertrand Emond ! Learning about current issues from their viewpoints and wealth of experiences was incredibly enriching.

Day 8 - 9

We attended the Food ingredients Europe 2022 in Paris, where I explored the exhibition floor and heard from many distinguished speakers. Tasting the myriad of foods and beverages that companies from around the world exhibited was a delightful experience. The ingenuity of the products was astounding, from reduced-sugar confectionery that tasted just as sweet to refreshing clean-label, and health-promoting ingredients. Listening to the presentations and panels with world-class speakers from many organizations informed me of the current trends and hurdles in food production. I also had the honor to present at the Innovation Hub which was a remarkable experience. The team at Food ingredients Global did an outstanding job organizing the event!

Day 10

We met Dr. Dr. Catherine Renard, HDR from INRAE , Dr. Elisabeth Payeux from Carnot AgriFood Transition , and Dr. Fran?oise Gorga from the ANIA (Association Nationale des Industries Alimentaires) at the finale of the tour. Their organizations' work to advance science, foster innovation, and support public policymakers was remarkable. The exchange also informed me of unique aspects of agriculture and food production in France, notably with their regulatory approaches and priorities. I was also excited to discuss our research and learn of their work with probiotics against?Salmonella!

There are no words to convey the extent of my appreciation to Campden BRI for arranging the enlightening tour. Especially to Bertrand Emond , an excellent mentor and exceptional company throughout this trip. This was a memorable adventure that expanded my network and broadened my perspectives on food production systems and the laws designed to secure and protect them. I am grateful for the opportunity to connect with the brilliant minds that have inspired novel ideas and strengthened my research thinking. Thanks again to Campden BRI and IFT for this pivotal professional development experience!

Entering the IFTSA Graduate Research Video Competition allowed me to practice communicating my research to a broad audience which is an invaluable skill as a scientist. I highly recommend that students apply and will gladly share my experiences with those interested!