Fera
Fera
About
A science-led expert services business, Fera is focussed on science, research and innovation for impact. Fera’s science is multidisciplinary, responsive, and market-led helping to solve new global challenges for public good and commercial advantage in a changing world.
We deliver world leading science and innovation, applied research, testing and assurance services across the ‘whole food system’ to protect the public, its food, biosecurity, biodiversity, and natural environment.
As a translational science organisation, we are focussed on science for impact, investing in research partnerships with leading academic institutes to support early-stage innovation and taking part in selected national and international applied research and development programmes for translation to market impact.
Our origins in delivering science for public good began over 100 years ago as the National Institute for Plant Pathology, evolving into the Food and Environment Research Agency, now operating as Fera Science Ltd following a successful public private sector partnership as a Joint Venture between Capita and Defra.
Our Role In the National Laboratories Alliance
Here is a selection of ways in which we apply our skills to meet particular needs of the government and the national capability.
With over 150 experts focused on providing diagnostics, advice, training and R&D we support government to uphold the UK’s Plant, Bee Health and Environmental Biosecurity. Fera’s world leading capabilities and our diagnostic development and delivery is critical to defending the UK’s biosecurity and for protection of both its agricultural and natural environments. Working with government, Fera is developing plans to support of the national 2025 Border Strategy to secure friction free, trade that drives growth for a global United Kingdom.
Research scientists at Fera also have a long history of supporting government for monitoring and evaluating agri-environment schemes designed to enhance environmental sustainability in agriculture and food production. The team undertakes a number of projects for Defra and its affiliate bodies examining how a range of policy devices can contribute to achieving the range of NZC, environmental health and biodiversity targets within the Environment Act.
One example is a series of reviews to investigate the impact of Net Zero policy on biodiversity outcomes. The project capitalises upon the strengths and expertise of Fera’s social scientists, economists, ecologists, and soil scientists.
In another example, Fera is acting as an international pioneer responding to the opportunity to prove and develop the potential of insect bioconversion to upcycle organic biomass residues from a potential environmental hazard to valorised products. Fera’s investment of £1m to build and commission its ‘first of a kind’ insect research laboratory, will support businesses and government to provide robust scientific evidence
on the use of insects for alternative protein production for feed and food as well as for other novel products.