Since the creation of the Cool Farm Tool, universities and research organisations have been integral to the Cool Farm community and our mission.

One of the CFA’s core principles is that its tools must be scientifically rigorous, and this can only happen if the CFA is engaged in the latest research on environmental sustainability in agriculture. In turn, research organisations can benefit considerably from science translation and evidence of impact by using the CFT in the field, and/or through engaging the CFA’s industry membership.

To manage its research partnerships, the CFA has set up the Innovation Hub comprising industry representatives and research organisations. The Innovation Hub runs a process to assess research projects for suitability for support by the CFA.

This process has been created to assess and prioritise research projects for CFA participation, and to determine the appropriate level of involvement by the CFA. Potential research partners must complete an application pro forma and send to the Innovation Hub Science Committee (IHSC) Chair, richard.heathcote@coolfarmtool.org – see process flow below.

We recognise that funding applications can be extremely time-pressed, and will endeavour to inform potential project partners within three weeks of receipt of a completed application pro forma – or sooner if agreed on an individual basis.

APPLICATION PRO FORMA (Word)
ACADEMIC RESEARCH FEES POLICY (PDF)

Axelle Bodoy, Danone
Frank Brentrup, Yara
Julia Chatterton, Unilever
Lynn Dicks, University of Cambridge
Murray Gardner, University of Oxford (secretary)
Stephen Harris, University of Oxford
Richard Heathcote, CFA (chair)
Jon Hillier, University of Edinburgh
Benjamin Kayatz, GFZ Helmholtz Centre Potsdam
Jan Peter Lesschen, Wageningen University
Richard Profit, CFA General Manager
Oene Oenema, Wageningen University
Andreas Pacholski, Eurochem
Daniel Spengler, GFZ Helmholtz Centre Potsdam