The ReImagining Supply Chains Network Plus (RiSC+), established with £5 million funding at Queen’s University Belfast, will employ advanced digital tools and foresight studies to bolster supply chain resilience.

RiSC+ will engage in three main activities: facilitating knowledge exchange through network plus activities, developing supply chain modeling focused on specific sectors, and maintaining a flexible fund for research and innovation.

The fashion industry is under pressure due to a decrease in synthetic materials and changing consumer demands, highlighting the need for innovative solutions.

These projects will explore various aspects of food production, including investigations into vertical farming, the impacts of industrialized food production, and analyses of food production and import balances.

The initiative specifically targets three critical supply chains: food, critical minerals, and fashion, addressing the unique challenges each sector faces.

To enhance the resilience of the UK's food system against geopolitical and climate-related risks, five research projects have been funded with £7.25 million.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has unveiled a substantial funding initiative of £13 million aimed at bolstering supply chains in the UK, particularly focusing on food, fashion, and critical minerals.

Key challenges that the initiative will tackle include just-in-time production, labor and logistics bottlenecks, and complex risk factors that threaten supply chain stability.

Food supply chains are particularly vulnerable to risks such as extreme weather and rising energy costs, making strategic interventions essential to prevent shortages.

Competition for resources and shortages in critical minerals further underscore the necessity of securing these supply chains to ensure long-term sustainability.

Environment Minister Daniel Zeichner has emphasized the significance of these initiatives in maintaining a healthy, sustainable, and secure food supply for the UK.