University of Central Lancashire (UCLan)
University
www.lancashire.ac.uk/Preston, United KingdomAbout
The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) is a leading UK university committed to applied research and innovation across disciplines. UCLan has a strong track record of collaboration with industry, government, and academia, and is actively engaged in Horizon Europe initiatives.
Our research addresses pressing global challenges, particularly in areas relevant to Cluster 6 such as sustainable development, environmental monitoring, clean water technologies, agri-tech, and circular economy. With world-class engineering and environmental laboratories, UCLan supports impactful, cross-sectoral research that drives real-world change across the UK, Europe, and globally.
Biodiversity and ecosystem services
1 Additional activities for the European Biodiversity Partnership: Biodiversa+2 Strengthening the capacity of citizen science in biodiversity observation6 Assessing and modelling socio-economic impacts of nature restoration8 Strengthening pathways to alternative socioeconomic models for continuous improvement of biodiversity9 Understanding the perceptions of and improving communication on the biodiversity crisis and nature restoration benefits to sustain citizen engagement and democratic governance10 Supporting the implementation of nature restoration measures for sustainable farming systems11 Living labs and lighthouses co-creating innovative solutions for forests and freshwater ecosystems restoration12 Breeding for resilience: enhancing multi-stress tolerance in crops
Innovative governance, environmental observations and digital solutions in support of the Green Deal
1 Improving analytical capacity and understanding of the bargaining power and interactions of farmers with the operators of the value chains2 Upscaling innovative payments to support farmers in the delivery of agri-environment-climate public goods3 Boosting the attractiveness of agriculture and the connection between the farming community and society4 Operationalisation of bioeconomy sustainability principles6 Strengthening and connecting bioeconomy networks7 Strengthening the European Research Area by enhancing the bioeconomy research and innovation ecosystem in BIOEAST countries11 Enhancing sustainability and resilience of agriculture, forestry and rural development through digital twins12 Increasing knowledge flows to practice within Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS) via thematic networks13 Strengthening knowledge and skills of advisors and integrating them within Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS) via an EU advisory network14 Preparing farmers, their workforce and advisors to the future of agriculture by providing the relevant knowledge, skills and competences at the right time and place
Fair, healthy and environment-friendly food systems from primary production to consumption
1 Additional activities for the European partnership on accelerating farming systems transition - agroecology living labs and research infrastructures2 Additional activities for the European partnership on animal health and welfare3 Overcoming the barriers for scaling up circular water management in agriculture4 Enhancing plant protein production to bolster the resilience of agricultural systems and EU self-sufficiency in plant protein used as feed6 Improving grassland management in European livestock farming systems7 Fostering animal breeding and genetics for climate change adaptation and mitigation, improved robustness and resilience8 Exploring the potential of controlled environment agriculture (CEA)9 Strengthening the EU crop breeding research and innovation ecosystem for competitive, resilient, and sustainable agriculture12 Nutrition and Mental Health13 Raising citizen awareness on alternative proteins derived from biotechnology15 Additional activities of the European partnership on sustainable food systems for people, planet and climate16 Developing a joint AU-EU Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS) supporting the Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA) partnership19 Open topic: Innovating for onfarm post-harvest operations, storage and transformation of crops into food and non-food products20 Making food systems more resilient to food safety risks through the deployment of technological solutions21 Research and innovation for food waste prevention and reduction at household level through measurement, monitoring and new technologies22 Developing agroecology living labs and lighthouses for climate action under the Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA) partnership
Resilient, inclusive, healthy and green rural, coastal and urban communities
1 Adapting to and mitigating demographic trends in rural areas through evidence-based planning and innovative solutions2 Exploring and improving access to housing in rural areas and developing the houses and villages of the future4 Creating urban co-creation spaces for driving sustainable food system transformation
Circular economy and bioeconomy sectors
1 Novel circular business models to enable the just transition to a sustainable and circular economy4 Development and testing of Extended Producer Responsibility schemes (EPR) within the priority Circular Economy Action Plan value chains5 Consumption patterns and environmental awareness as enablers of transition to circular economy6 Indicators for the transition to sustainable and circular economy7 Demonstration, deployment and upscaling of circular systemic solutions in cities and regions (Circular Cities and Regions Initiative)12 Harmonizing and optimising composting plants performances in Europe15 European partnership: Forests and Forestry for a Sustainable Future16 Open Topic: Innovative solutions for the sustainable and circular transformation of SMEs
Clean environment and zero pollution
2 Environmental impacts from the production of agricultural crops for bio-based industrial systems6 Provide digital solutions tailored to small and medium-sized farms to monitor and sustainably manage agricultural inputs and natural resources7 Reducing pollution from the food and drink industries
Land, ocean and water for climate action
3 Understanding and managing medium and longer-term challenges and opportunities for agriculture stemming from shifting climatic zones and changing agroecological environments4 Monitoring, reporting, verification and mitigation of non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions and related air pollutants from agriculture5 Additional activities for the European Partnership Water Security for the Planet (Water4All)6 Strengthening the resilience of water systems and water sector to climate and global socio-economic change impacts