Institute of Food Research

The Institute of Food Research (IFR) in Norwich, England is a centre for research and training in food science. It is situated opposite the John Innes Centre (JIC), with which it has close research links, particularly as both institutes are funded primarily by the BBSRC. IFR also has close links with the local university, the University of East Anglia (UEA).

Foundation

The Institute of Food Research was created in 1968, when it was spread over four sites, the Meat Research Institute (MRI) at Langford near Bristol, the Food Research Institute (FRI) at Colney in Norwich, the National Institute for Research in Dairying (NIRD) in Shinfield, near Reading, and the Long Ashton Research Station (food related departments only of the last two). At the end of 1990, the Bristol laboratory was closed, and in 1992 the Reading laboratory was moved onto the campus of the University of Reading. In 1998, it was decided that the institute's activities should be consolidated in one location, Norwich, which was completed in September 1999. This move resulted in employees of NIRD being given the option to either move to Norwich or be given the sack.

Current focus

The science at the institute is split into four areas of interest:
* Biology of the gastrointestinal tract
* Nutrition, diet and health
* Food Safety
* Food innovation

cience in Society

It was one of the hosts for the BA Festival of Science, along with UEA and JIC in September 2006.

Directors

The current director is Professor David White. The previous director was Professor Alastair Robertson.

External links

* [http://www.ifr.bbsrc.ac.uk/ Institute of Food Research]
* [http://www.jic.bbsrc.ac.uk/ John Innes Centre]
* [http://www.the-ba.net/the-ba/Events/FestivalofScience/ BA Festival of Science]
* [http://www1.uea.ac.uk/cm/Home University of East Anglia]
* [http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/ BBSRC]