Date:       Monday 20 March 2017
Place:     Living Systems Institute Seminar Rooms

Dear colleague,
 
Following the re-signing of the Cefas-University of Exeter strategic alliance in 2016, we are pleased to announce the first joint workshop on Aquatic Food Security and Safety, to take place on Monday 20 March 2017 in Exeter.
 
The draft agenda (below) primarily focuses on those topics in which the University of Exeter and Cefas have particularly complimentary expertise and where significant potential exists for future collaboration. The refinement of scope in our Alliance over recent PhD funding calls (including 2016/17) reflects growing external requirement across governments and industry to create sustainable aquatic food supplies that are safe for the consumer. Furthermore, it is aligned with national and international funding opportunities, which are focused on yield-limitation and product safety in aquaculture, one of the fastest growing (and highly traded) of the food commodity sectors.
 
The aim of the workshop is to provide an overview of several specific topics in Aquatic Food Security and Safety and to identify gaps in our current strategic thinking about this discipline. Further, we would like your feedback on potential and scope of a Joint Centre between our organisations.
 
We would like to invite colleagues with relevant or potential interest in this area, and would greatly appreciate your involvement in the Aquatic Food Security and Safety theme going forward.
 
Yours faithfully,
 
Dr Grant Stentiford (Cefas Strategic Alliance lead)
Professor Charles Tyler (Exeter Strategic Alliance lead)

Agenda

10.45 - Registration and coffee

11.15 - Opening from Professor Charles Tyler and Rear Admiral Tom Karsten, Cefas Chief Executive

11.45 - Session one: Scene setting - aquatic food security and safety

12.30 - Lunch

13.30 - Session two: Focus on collaborative science themes at Cefas-Exeter

14.45 - Coffee

15.15 - Session two resumes

16.30 - Centre concept and open discussion, led by Alex Huke

17.30 - Networking reception