Co-Centre for Sustainable Food Systems

What Co-Centre for Sustainable Food Systems does

The Co-Centre for Sustainable Food Systems is a non-profit, interdisciplinary research centre established in 2023 to coordinate food systems research across the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Great Britain. It operates as a distributed programme spanning 16 partner institutions, with co-directorship shared between University College Dublin, Queen's University Belfast, and the University of Sheffield, and convenes approximately 100 researchers (54 Principal Investigators and 62 researchers) around five research platforms covering sustainable food production, food and health, the food-environment interface, and the policy/social dimensions of food systems. Core delivery is a small five-person operational team including a Co-Centre Manager and a Business Development Manager.

The centre's outputs are academic and policy in nature: peer-reviewed research, longitudinal studies (e.g., the Household Food and Health Study), public engagement programmes (e.g., Food Nerds), and policy-facing work via bodies such as the Science & Policy Integration Task Force. An Industry Advisory Committee featuring Mars, Nestlé, Kerry Group, and Tirlán indicates structured industry engagement alongside the academic agenda.

The business model is grant-funded rather than commercial. The programme is backed by approximately €35 million in committed funding from Irish and UK research councils and industry partners, structured as a six-year envelope with additional UKRI support awarded in 2025. There is no disclosed product pricing, transactional revenue, or commercial licensing model; "customers" in the operating sense are the funding agencies and industry sponsors whose continued commitment determines programme continuity.

Name

Co-Centre for Sustainable Food Systems

Legal name

Co-Centre Sustainable Food Systems

Website

https://foodcocentre.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Co-Centre for Sustainable Food Systems is a non-profit research centre coordinating interdisciplinary food systems research across 16 institutions in Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Great Britain, funded by a €35 million public-private programme and convened jointly by UCD, QUB, and the University of Sheffield.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Systems Research

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Agriculture, Food Security & Nutrition Technical Assistance (BPADAEAG), Nutrition Governance, Policy & Coordination (SUN, National Plans) (BPADAJAL), Food Systems & Value Chain Development for Nutrition (BPADAJAG)

Keywords

• Sustainable food research
• Food systems policy
• Nutrition science
• Food safety research
• Agricultural innovation

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Research Programme Funding: Government and research council funded 6-year research programme covering sustainable food production, food safety, health & nutrition, food systems data modelling and trust in food systems. Positioned as a €35m centre.
2. Industry Partnership and Co-funded Research: Co-funded research opportunities with industry partners to de-risk R&D. Partnering with industry to co-develop practical, research-driven solutions that enhance sustainability, resilience, and competitiveness across the agri-food sector.
3. Research Study Participant Data: The Household Food and Health Study will collect data from approximately 1,500 households (5,000 participants) to provide insights for policymakers, public health authorities, retailers, farmers, and food producers.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Co-Centre for Sustainable Food Systems is a 6-year, €35m publicly-funded research programme operating across 16 universities in Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Great Britain. It delivers interdisciplinary research across five integrated platforms (Sustainable Food, Food Safety & Integrity, Health & Nutrition, Data Modelling, and Trust in Food Systems) and offers co-funded R&D partnerships with industry, policy research for governments, and public education through the Food Nerds initiative and the Household Food and Health Study.

Product overview

The Co-Centre for Sustainable Food Systems is a 6-year research programme operating across Ireland and the UK, structured around five interconnected research platforms: Sustainable Food, Food Safety & Integrity, Health & Nutrition, Data Modelling, and Trust in Food Systems. The organization also operates the Food Nerds education initiative for schools and conducts the Household Food and Health Study. The five research platforms work in a circular, integrated manner where changes in one area are considered across all others, covering the full food system from soil to society.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Food Nerds: Education initiative providing resources and programmes for teachers and schools, featuring short films produced by researchers on food, health, nutrition and sustainability topics

Quantifiable outcome

• Position Ireland and UK as global leaders in sustainable research and innovation by 2050
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• University College DublincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead institution hosting Centre Manager Gillian Cosgrave, Business Development Manager Dr. Conor Holohan, and key administrative staff. Co-Director Professor Eileen Gibney leads from UCD. Research across multiple platforms including Data Modelling and Health & Nutrition.
• Queen's University BelfastcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts Co-Director Professor Aedin Cassidy. Major research hub for food safety, nutrition, and health research. Site of Institute for Global Food Security.
• University of SheffieldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts Co-Director Professor Louise Dye and UKRI programme management team. Research Programme Manager Anne Blenkinsopp based at Sheffield.
• TeagasccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIrish agricultural and food development authority providing research expertise in food safety, processing, rural development, and crop/animal science.
• Ulster UniversitysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE). Research focus on nutrition, phytochemicals, and healthy aging.
• University College CorksecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch in food and nutritional sciences, vitamin D research, and Cork Centre for Vitamin D and Nutrition Research.
• AFBI - Agrifood and Biosciences InstitutesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorthern Ireland government research institute providing expertise in agrifood and biosciences for the Co-Centre.
• John Innes CentresecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK research institute specialising in plant science and genetics. Hosts Professor Cathie Martin's research on plant metabolic engineering and biofortification.
• University of GalwaysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributes expertise in public and social policy research with Professor Cathal O'Donoghue as Dean of Arts and Social Sciences.
• University of OxfordsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts Food Systems Group at Environmental Change Institute. Dr. Alice Gilmour contributes to food system conceptual framework development.
• City, University of LondonsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentre for Food Policy provides expertise in food policy, sustainable diets, and food loss/waste research through Dr. Christian Reynolds and Professor Christina Vogel.
• University of LeedssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHuman Appetite Research Unit contributes expertise in sustainable food systems, fibre consumption, and food insecurity research.
• Technological University DublinsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch expertise in polymer engineering, recycling, sustainability, and industrial manufacturing.
• Technological University of the Shannon (TUS)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerMidlands campus contributes research in food technology and sustainable processing.
• University of SussexsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK Trade Policy Observatory provides expertise in international trade law and agricultural trade policy.
• Quadram InstitutesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK research institute focusing on food, gut health, and microbiology research relevant to nutrition and health outcomes.
• MARSsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal food company represented on Industry Advisory Committee, contributing industry perspective and potential research collaboration.
• NestlésecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal food and beverage company on Industry Advisory Committee, providing industry insights and potential R&D partnerships.
• Kerry GroupsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerIrish global taste and nutrition company on Industry Advisory Committee, contributing to food industry perspective.
• TirlánsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerIrish dairy and co-operative on Industry Advisory Committee representing Irish agri-food sector.
• Food and Drink Federation (UK)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK food and drink industry trade body on Industry Advisory Committee, providing policy and industry regulatory perspective.
• Food Drink IrelandsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerIbec sectoral group representing food and drink industry in Ireland, on Industry Advisory Committee.
• Bord BiasecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerIrish Food Board on Industry Advisory Committee, providing market intelligence and trade promotion perspective.
• Safe FoodsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood safety promotion body in Northern Ireland represented on Science & Policy Advisory Committee.
• EUFICminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Food Information Council represented on Science & Policy Advisory Committee, contributing consumer communication expertise.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation): CSIRO is Australia's national science agency with substantial food and agriculture research programmes, including food safety, nutrition, and sustainable production. It is a broader incumbent operating at greater scale and with permanent funding.
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): FAO is the UN agency leading international efforts to defeat hunger, with broad programmes in sustainable agriculture, food safety, and nutrition governance. It is a much larger, globally focused incumbent in the same overarching food systems space.
• CGIAR: CGIAR is a global partnership of international agricultural research centres addressing food security, climate adaptation, and sustainable agriculture. It is a broader, globally focused incumbent whose mission substantially overlaps with the Co-Centre's sustainable food and food security work.

Direct peers

• EAT: EAT is a non-profit foundation connecting science, policy, and business to transform food systems, including the EAT-Lancet Commission. It is highly comparable as a mission-aligned (sustainable food systems, science-to-policy) non-profit research and advocacy organisation.
• Agroscope: Agroscope is the Swiss federal research institute for agriculture, food, and ecological systems, operating interdisciplinary research across production, food safety, and sustainability. It mirrors the Co-Centre's integrated platform structure and public-sector funding model.
• INRAE (Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement): INRAE is the French national research institute combining agriculture, food, and environmental science with cross-disciplinary platforms and policy advisory roles — directly comparable in mission, scale, and the integration of basic and applied research across the food system.
• International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI): IFPRI is a CGIAR research centre providing evidence-based policy research on food systems, nutrition, and sustainable agriculture globally. Its focus on policy mapping, governance, and the 'Trust in Food Systems' platform makes it a close analogue for the Co-Centre's policy and governance work.
• Stockholm Resilience Centre: Stockholm Resilience Centre is an interdisciplinary research centre on sustainability and resilience, with significant work on food systems transformation and planetary boundaries. Its research-to-policy model and cross-disciplinary platform structure mirror the Co-Centre's approach.
• Wageningen University & Research: Wageningen is widely regarded as the world's leading food and nutrition research university, with a comparable 'soil to society' interdisciplinary remit spanning sustainable production, food safety, nutrition, and policy — the global benchmark the Co-Centre's integrated platform model is closest to.
• Rothamsted Research: Rothamsted is the UK's longest-running agricultural research institute, with deep expertise in crop and animal production science. It is a directly comparable UK research organisation operating in the Co-Centre's sustainable food and production platform space, though narrower in nutrition and policy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xbsky.app/profile/foodcocentre.bsky.social
• Facebookfacebook.com/foodcocentre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sustainable-food-system-co-centre
• Instagraminstagram.com/foodcocentre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Co-Centre for Sustainable Food Systems