Contact Dr Ewan Gage
- Email: Ewan.Gage@cranfield.ac.uk
Areas of expertise
- Agrifood Systems
- Energy and the Environment
- Food Quality
- Waste Management and Resource Efficiency
Background
Ewan graduated from the University of Reading with a BSc in Botany, including a sandwich placement at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. After obtaining his PhD from the University of Cambridge he worked for RSK ADAS Ltd., the UK's largest provider of applied research and agronomic consultancy for the commercial horticulture sector. He joined the Plant Science Laboratory at the University of Cranfield in 2021 as a Research Fellow in Food Systems.
Research opportunities
Postharvest Biology
Food Quality
Food Waste
Sustainable Food Production
Horticultural Physiology
Current activities
Ewan investigates underlying physiological mechanisms involved with the maintenance of postharvest quality, and how these can be manipulated through innovative approaches to reduce food loss in the supply chain. His research interests also include investigating the causes and extent of food loss and waste in the supply chain, and how this is linked with the environmental impacts of food supply. These themes are explored through his current research program Zero Emissions Cold-Chain (EPSRC) which seeks to reduce the carbon footprint of fresh produce supply. He is also leading a research project for the Horticulture Quality Food and Loss Network (funded by the BBSRC) looking to exploit biological hormesis to develop low-refrigeration postharvest management strategies for broccoli.
In addition to postharvest biology, Ewan has extensive experience of primary production, working with growers to address challenges of optimising resource use and using crop biology to inform best practice, particularly in the protected edibles sector. He has previously led research for commercial and public bodies, including the AHDB, the EU and Innovate UK
Ewan teaches on the Food Systems Management MSc program, and has broad experience of knowledge transfer and dissemination at the commercial level.
He is passionate about using biologically-driven approaches to support the ability of the supply chain to provide fresh, high quality food to consumers whilst pursuing environmental sustainability goals, and endeavours to deliver both cutting-edge science and high-impact consultancy for businesses.
Clients
EPSRC
BBSRC
AHDB
Innovate UK
Menter a Busnes
Welsh Government