EVENTS & WORKSHOPS
NUCNet will deliver a programme of workshops, roundtables, and an annual conference, bringing together stakeholders from across the UK food system. These events aim to guide the direction of UK research into the adoption of NUCs by identifying current challenges, barriers, and opportunities.
Event Highlights Members Won’t Want to Miss!
Annual conference
The conference is open to all network members and will showcase the diversity of membership through invited talks and posters from different sectors. The goals being to identify novel questions and opportunities afforded by the NUCS which can be explored through targeted meetings, to identify and prioritise research gaps, and offer direction for NUCNet pump-priming funding.
Further information about the 2026 conference will be available soon.
Farmer Days
Each July, the NUCNet hosts two dedicated Farmer Days at NIAB (Cambridge) and the University of Reading.
Next Farmer Days will be in July 2027.
Scroll down this page to read about our 2026 Farmer Days.
Network In-Focus Meetings
NUCNet members are invited to join small focus group online meetings, with topics chosen by the network and sessions facilitated by members of the NUCNet Management Board.
See below for more information. Meeting schedule and sign-up form will be available soon.
Upcoming events
In-Focus: NUCNet Crop & Research Question Meetings
About
NUCNet hosts a series of focused Single Crop or Research Question meetings throughout the year, designed to bring members together for open, constructive discussion and collaboration.
Held approximately three times per year, these online sessions create space for honest conversation, debate, and idea exchange across the network.
This Online Meeting Code of Conduct outlines the standards of behaviour expected of all members.
What to expect
Each session (typically 60–90 minutes) is structured to maximise engagement and impact:
- A brief introduction to NUCNet
- Discussion of three key “hot topics”
- Open debate and collaborative input from participants
- Identification of actions, next steps, and potential collaborators
Meetings are facilitated by a member of the NUCNet Management Board, ensuring focused and productive discussion.
Who can attend?
All NUCNet members are warmly invited to join and contribute.
Why attend?
These sessions provide an opportunity to:
- Identify opportunities for collaboration and funding
- Share insights and perspectives
- Shape emerging research directions
- Build connections across the network
These meetings are exclusively for NUCNet members. All sessions will be held online, and registered members will receive a registration form and joining link in advance. Interested in joining one or more of these meeting? Join NUCNet!
Past Events
NUCNet Farmer Days 2026 showcasing Novel and Underutilised Crops
In July, NUCNet held its first network events, hosting two Farmer Days aimed at showcasing Novel and Underutilised Crops (NUCs). Despite exceptionally hot weather and the pressures of the early harvest season, both events attracted strong attendance from growers, researchers, and industry stakeholders. Continue reading…
NEWS
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Warm‑weather chickpea dreams are a fantasy without policies that enable production
A clear closing message, from Roger Vickers – “policies must sustain action throughout the supply chain. Growers will never be able to make meaningful change to the food supply chain alone. Mere suggestions of alternative cropping opportunities are not enough.” Read…
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Call for Crop Group Leads (ECRs)
Are you interested in a particular crop group – such as legumes and pulses, cereals and grains, vegetables, or fruits? We are seeking Early Career Researchers to act as crop group leads. In this role, you will help initiate a…
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Call for Volunteers: ECR Management Board (ECR-MB)
The call is now open for Early Career Researchers (ECRs) who are members of NUCNet to join the ECR Management Board (ECR-MB). This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the direction of NUCNet, contribute to decision-making, and play an…
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New Crops for the UK project
New Crops for the UK project has had Mark Chapman, NUCNet Project Lead, busy sending out seeds to 80 schools in the past few weeks. Mark is challenging schools to grow buckwheat, sunflowers, sweetcorn, chickpeas and other novel crops and…
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LifeLab
LifeLab, teenagers in Southampton are leading the way in tackling ultra‑processed foods through a collaborative research project with LifeLab. As part of the initiative, they explored the health impacts of ultra‑processed foods and developed practical solutions, including healthier “food swaps.”…
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Growing Wild Citizens at School
Growing Wild Citizens at School is a collaborative project working with primary schools in Southampton to help children grow their own food and learn about sustainability. Through hands-on activities, pupils explored how food is produced, the importance of biodiversity, and their…
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New strategy to transform school meals
A UK collaboration to improve food in schools. Every child deserves the nourishment that good quality school food provides to fuel their learning and their futures. Read full article here
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Reimagining novel crops through omics and local plant diversity
How can wild species be deployed to improve food security? Wild plant species, long excluded from mainstream agriculture, hold untapped potential for building resilient and diverse food systems. Today’s agrifood landscape is constrained by a narrow selection of high-input, genetically…
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How domesticated is your favourite crop?
How domesticated is your favourite crop? In addition to introducing a new index that can be applied for cross-species comparisons, this study uncovers recurring patterns shared among species, pointing to general principles underlying plant domestication. Read more…
