What Happened This Month | October 2025
Published: 7 November 2025
SCAF’s October portfolio aligned with its four pillars: mapping & showcasing data and research capability; connecting members through networking and interdisciplinary workshops; creating & co-producing via the Taste & Tales competition and Academy of Citizens panel; and sharing through the ECR-led webinar.
The SCAF theory of change has four main pillars: mapping and showcasing, connecting, creating & co-producing, and sharing. In October, we have had a portfolio of activities and events that align nicely with each of these pillars, and with the outcomes and impacts we had in mind when we started in March 2023.
The SCAF theory of change has four main pillars: mapping and showcasing, connecting, creating & co-producing, and sharing. In October, we have had a portfolio of activities and events that align nicely with each of these pillars, and with the outcomes and impacts we had in mind when we started in March 2023.
Under the theme of Mapping and Showcasing, Giancarlo Catalano, Rachel Norman, and Theme 1 members have been developing a strategy to map our datasets, especially data hidden in archives or forgotten drawers [Theme 1]. The project's vision is to increase shareability and enable members to leverage data already collected.
In parallel, Laura Haag took the SCAF banners to the Elsevier Food Chemistry Conference in Glasgow this month, where several SCAF members were spotted. Other exhibitors included the Royal Society of Chemistry, which has a special interest group on food. We are also well underway in mapping and evaluating the impact of SCAF on our membership. If you have not already done so, please take a moment to complete the survey, which will help build a case for investing in SCAF.
Connecting was also high on the agenda, with the online networking meeting, which is always excellent for meeting new members and finding new connections With the Quantum Solutions for Food and Nutrition Workshop held at the Royal Society of Edinburgh, SCAF members joined colleagues from our sister Quantum Technology ARC, bringing together two groups that had not previously interacted much. We explored the potential applications of quantum technology in food and nutrition research, identifying both opportunities (e.g. around non-destructive measurement) and knowledge gaps (and whether physics expertise is at all required for applied implementation of the techniques!). A post-event report is in preparation, including recommendations for inter-lab exchanges. Both alliances have agreed to co-fund pump priming projects at the interface between our fields, with full details published here
Under the theme of Creating and Co-producing, SCAF launched its annual competition, Taste & Tales for World Food Day 2025. This competition invites individuals across Scotland to submit a personally significant recipe, a short story outlining its cultural or familial importance, and a visual element such as a photograph, drawing, or video. Selected entries will form part of the Recipes & Stories collection, designed to document and celebrate the diversity of food culture across Scotland. The competition runs from October 16 to January 16.
In parallel, the Academy of Citizen panel project has made excellent progress, with the second meeting convened to discuss emerging expertise domains related to ultra-processed foods, food security, food history, and nutrition knowledge, followed by insightful questions and discussions. The panel aims to pilot the Academy of Citizens as both a consultative forum and a co-production space where shared research questions could be developed to guide future SCAF projects. Thank you to Cindy Gray, Michael johnson, and Sophie Gardiner, who led the panel through each step, and to the panellists, who brought much insight and enthusiasm on the day.
Thanks to the very insightful ECR-led October webinar, under the Sharing pillar, we heard from Indy Kaur, CEO of Plant Future, with a presentation titled “From Ideas to Impact: Working Across Academia, Industry, and Retail". Indy spoke about her career, explored models of collaborative innovation and provided case studies that bridge research and real-world application. Thank you to David McBey and Maddie Sinclair for chairing this session. The recording is now available on our YouTube channel, allowing you to catch up on the content.
As the final quarter of 2025 is well underway, we are also planning for 2026, ensuring that activities align with our ambitions for SCAF and the membership. The suggestion poll remains open if you have suggestions on activities or events that would make a difference.
First published: 7 November 2025
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