Louise Manning is Professor of Sustainable Agri-Food Systems at the Lincoln Institute of Agri-Food Technology - part of the University of Lincoln, and a key academic in the UK Food Valley aims and development.

Louise joined the team in March this year from the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester and has more than 35 years’ experience of working within the Food Industry. 

Prior to being an academic, Louise ran her own consultancy, offering professional advice and guidance to regulators, food and farming businesses and is also involved in the family farming business, a livestock farm in Herefordshire. 

Although Louise is interested in all things related to food, her passion is food sustainability - exploring all parts of the food supply chain from field to fork and seeing where changes can be made - such as how waste can be reduced, food safety can be assured, and actions can be taken which result in affordable food.  All essential aspects of a secure, safe, and resilient food supply chain. 

“I am really pleased to be part of the team at Riseholme and looking forward to getting more involved with the farmers, food businesses and urban and rural communities in Lincolnshire, as we look to consider some of the important challenges around food security and food supply. I believe we can create sustainable businesses both economically, environmentally, and socially,” said Louise. 

“I've worked in the food industry for my whole career both throughout the manufacturing process and also on my family farm, and the opportunities in the food and farming sector are significant.  We face a great period of change, but also period of opportunity. Working now as an academic and looking at policy and how we can bring all sections of the food supply chain together, it's a very exciting time to explore how we best collaborate and utilise existing knowledge, but also new talent in terms of researchers and people working in the industry to develop a sector that is robust for the future, right here at the heart of the UK Food Valley”. 

Louise Manning  

Professor of Sustainable Agri-Food Systems, Lincoln Institute of Agri-Food Technology, University of Lincoln