Food Development and Security

Connecting you with cutting edge expertise in food development, production and security.

Imperial Consultants (ICON) have delivered numerous projects for public and private sector clients, international organisations and regulatory bodies. Projects can be delivered by individual specialists, topic related departments within Imperial or by multi-disciplinary groups.

Our breadth of services and solutions include…

 

Security and management

  • Computer modelling of crop production and the climate, based on fundamental science and informed by observations.
  • Computer models of crop diseases and pests, such as the Fusarium Ear Blight which impacts staple crops (wheat, maize and rice), in conjunction with climate models for specific regions to estimate changes in risk.
  • Natural resource management (for example fisheries), environmental risk management and international development.
  • Application equipment for pesticides for Vector Control.

 

Structure and sensory insights

  • Material modelling and mechanical characterisation of soft polymeric solids in foods to understand how changes in food structure impact the sensory experience.

 

Manufacturing and packaging

  • Numerical modelling of industrial food processes such as rolling, extrusion and cutting.
  • Predicting the behaviour of 3D printed materials.
  • Smart design tools for additive manufacturing.
  • Food technology and production.
  • Production and analysis of sustainable, low CO2 impact, recyclable materials to transform food packaging.

 

Nutrition

  • The role of dietary carbohydrates on appetite regulation, insulin resistances, lipid metabolism, body composition and appetite regulation.
  • The role of nutrients in the secretion of appetite regulating peptides and the basic nutritional physiology involved in energy balance.
  • Undertaking clinical trials to reduce the risk of malnutrition in the elderly and hospitalised.

 

Health

  • The cellular microbiology of pathogens such as E. coli, Legionella, Salmonella.
  • Measuring the impact of drinking water salinity on population health.
  • Controlling salinity in drinking water sources in response to impacts of climate change.
  • Disinfection of opportunistic pathogens found in tap water plus plant-derived biocides as potential alternative disinfectants.
  • Measuring occurrence of and controlling antibiotic-resistant pathogens in drinking water.

Advisory services

Product design, research methods, data analysis, technology evaluation for investment, technological innovation, patent evaluation, prototype and protocol development, policy, cyber security and more. Assisting museums, writers, film makers and artists to ensure creations scientifically sound.

Expert insight

Membership of Scientific Advisory Boards and Technical Panels, advice and guidance on drug development programmes, thought leadership, conference speakers, literature reviews and provision of foresight.

Analysis and testing

Use of the world-class specialist facilities and technicians at Imperial for projects ranging from aerodynamic measurements and medical imaging to structural testing and analysis.

Our consultants are world-leading experts in their field, committed to on-going research.

Related Insights

Life after lockdown: Energy policy and adapting behaviours

Life after lockdown: Energy policy and adapting behaviours

Build a more resilient, more sustainable and greener future, whether you’re part of the energy sector, a policy-maker or looking to cut your energy costs to make your business more efficient. read more

Life after lockdown: Food security

Life after lockdown: Food security

Food security, like energy, is a universal issue. Famine has affected large parts of the developing world for generations and the COVID-19 crisis highlighted shortcomings in more developed countries’ reliance on long chains or big, international suppliers. What's next? read more

Transition to zero pollution

Transition to zero pollution

Building a future that is free from human-made pollution will require a complete realignment of almost all aspects of modern industry – coupled with scientists, engineers and economists collaborating on a scale not seen before. read more

Related case studies

Neuropathic pain drug development

Neuropathic pain drug development

Our consultants shared their expertise in neuropathic pain area treatments to support Spinifex’s drug discovery and development programs. read more

Management of pests and vectors of disease

Management of pests and vectors of disease

Helping small-holder farmers with cost-effective techniques to manage pests and vectors of disease, reducing the use of chemical pesticides and promoting the efficiency of natural processes. read more

Global adoption and regulation of electronic medical records

Global adoption and regulation of electronic medical records

Our consultants shared their expertise in clinical medicine to help IMS Health to assess the adoption, governance and regulatory landscape of electronic medical records (EMR) at different levels of healthcare systems around the world. read more

Latest news

Imperial’s new COVID-19 testing lab goes live

Imperial’s new COVID-19 testing lab goes live

Imperial’s contribution to the Testing Alliance launched. Includes the UKAS accredited Molecular Diagnostic Unit (MDU) and existing high-throughput robotic platform for RNA extraction. read more

Prof David Nethercot appointed as assessor to assist Grenfell Tower Inquiry Chairman

Prof David Nethercot appointed as assessor to assist Grenfell Tower Inquiry Chairman

David Nethercot, Emeritus Professor of Civil Engineering, has been appointed by the Chairman of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry to assist him in considering technical issues relating to the design and construction of the building and its refurbishment. read more

Cricketer set a £1million batting challenge

Cricketer set a £1million batting challenge

A leading cricketer has been offered £1million to strike a ball clear of the Lord’s Pavilion, using a new Mongoose bat tested by Imperial Consultants. read more