Queen’s University Belfast has been awarded £5 million to create a new network plus for reimagining supply chains in food, fashion and critical minerals.

An additional £7.25 million has been shared among five research projects focused on strengthening the UK’s food system.

New centre for reimagining supply chains

The ReImagining Supply Chains Network Plus (RiSC+) will bring together experts from academia, industry and government to map out potential supply chain disruptions and find ways to respond effectively.

By modelling possible disruptions and testing responses, RiSC+ aims to build resilience into supply chains across different sectors.

RiSC+ will focus on developing advanced digital tools, such as “digital twins” (virtual models of real-world systems), along with foresight studies to anticipate and prepare for future risks.

Tackling shared challenges

Working closely with various stakeholders, it will tackle shared challenges that affect all supply chains, such as:

• just-in-time production
• labour and logistics bottlenecks
• complex risk factors

RiSC+ will be structured around three core streams of activity:

• network plus activities, which include sandpits, knowledge exchange sessions, scoping exercises, challenge and solution sprints, and foresighting workshops to gather insights and intelligence
• supply chain modelling, guided by working groups in food, critical minerals, fashion and the supply chain modelling team
• flexible fund, which will offer open opportunities for research activities, innovation programmes, travel grants and more

Three key supply chains in focus

The work will zero in on three supply chains critical to the UK:

• food: with risks from extreme weather and rising energy costs, food supply chains are vulnerable to shortages that could affect the UK population
• critical minerals: growing competition for resources, as well as shortages of essential materials like construction supplies and semiconductors, highlight the need for a more secure supply chain
• fashion: reduced availability of synthetic materials and dyes due to petrochemical shortages, combined with fast-changing consumer demand, puts strain on the fashion industry

By analysing these sectors, RiSC+ will help develop strategies to:

• minimise disruptions
• consider trade-offs across the economy
• create solutions that strengthen resilience

Building resilience in the UK’s food system

Five research projects are also being funded to secure the UK’s food system from risks like geopolitical instability and climate change.

These projects will look at innovative ways to make food supply chains more resilient:

• University of Surrey led by Dr Zoe M Harris: investigating vertical farming to boost the supply of leafy greens in the UK
• University of Southampton (TRI SOME CHICKEN project) led by Professor Emma Roe: examining the impacts of industrialised food production on communities, animals and the environment
• Anglia Ruskin University led by Professor Aled Jones: identifying weak points in the UK food system and developing strategies to avoid potential crises
• University of Reading led by Professor Tom Oliver: analysing risks in the production, supply and consumption of fruits and vegetables to find the best interventions
• University of Cambridge (RASCAL project) led by Dr Jagjit Singh Srai: studying the balance between UK food production and imports, especially in light of disruptions caused by economic, political or climate factors

Together, these initiatives will make the UK’s supply chains more robust.

They will also help secure essential resources and food supplies for the future, ensuring that the UK is better prepared for unexpected challenges.

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