Cranfield has one of the largest and best-equipped laboratories for postharvest research in Europe and hosts an internationally renowned Applied Mycology group. We are committed to the minimisation of food loss/waste in perishables and durables, and to maintaining quality and value within supply chains. We believe that research to reduce food waste has a key role in delivering improved food security over the short- to medium-term. Read more Read less
Our research falls into the following topics:
- Adding value through bio-waste processing (Dr Medina Vaya, Dr Villa)
- Control of dormancy break in tubers and bulbs in store, including physiology, metabolomics and transcriptomics (Prof Terry, Dr Alamar, Dr Mohareb)
- Controlled atmosphere storage and packaging (Prof Terry)
- Controlling prevalence of mycotoxins, including climate change modelling, biocontrol, ecophysiology (Prof Magan, Dr Medina Vaya)
- Monitoring and controlling pest, disease and risk of mycotoxin contamination during grain storage (Prof Magan, Dr Medina Vaya)
- Non-invasive sensing of quality and disease in fresh produce during storage (Prof Terry, Dr Alamar, Dr Kourmpetli, Dr Medina Vaya)
- Renewable energy from waste (Dr Wagland, Dr Villa)
Working with us
We have a flexible approach to meet the needs of our clients and will develop research proposals in close consultation with partners from industry and government. We also have an extensive portfolio of fundamental research funded by the Research Councils, underpinning and informing our applied work.
Our facilities
Our research, consultancy and training activities are underpinned by world-class facilities and service resources that are unique to Cranfield:
- Controlled atmosphere storage rooms (temperature, humidity, CO2, ethylene)
- Walk-in controlled environment plant growth rooms
- Postharvest physiology laboratories
- Metabolomics and analytical biochemistry laboratory
- Bioinformatics servers and expertise
- Fully equipped microbiology laboratory
- Laboratory for food waste handling, processing and analysis
- Anaerobic Digestion (AD) large scale pilot plant
Clients and partners
We work with a range of partner organisations, including:
- BBSRC
- Innovate UK
- Newton Fund
- EU Horizon 2020
- Various industry partners
