Prominent food academic appointed as Honorary Professor

Tim Lang, from City, University of London, has been appointed as Honorary Professor in the School of Geography and Planning.

Tim Lang has been Professor of Food Policy at City, University of London's Centre for Food Policy since 2002, where he lectures on its unique MSc and PhD food policy programmes. He founded the Centre in 1994 and was Director until 2016. In the 1970s, he was a hill farmer in Lancashire, England. This inspired his work ever since on the role of policy in shaping and/ or responding to the food system. He’s especially interested in the role of policy on health, environment, political economy and culture. He been a member of many UK Government bodies including UK Council of Food Policy Advisors, the Sustainable Development Commission and Parliamentary Committee, where he acted as advisor to four Select Committee inquiries.

Professor Tim Lang said: “I am so pleased to be taking up this position with Cardiff University.  The Centre for Food Policy where I have worked for years has developed the closest of working relations with Cardiff’s School of Geography and Planning. So for me, this Honorary Professorship is both a personal and professional pleasure. These are tricky times in food policy with massive restructuring about to take place. I hope to be able to contribute to the wonderful cool, careful policy analysis that the School is known for.  Wales’ food system will need all such advice it can get.”

Professor Paul Milbourne, Head of School, School of Geography and Planning said: “I am delighted that Professor Tim Lang will be joining us as an Honorary Professor. Tim has made valuable contributions to academic, policy and media discussions of the UK food system across several decades. He has published a large number of high important books, chapters and articles on food policy, with his latest co-authored book, Sustainable Diets, published by Routledge in March 2017. The policy relevance of Tim’s research, together with his desire to influence food policy in the UK and beyond, connects well with the School’s innovative approach to impact and engagement. We look forward to working with Tim over the next few years as the School develops its academic and policy work on food sustainability, security and justice through its food research centre and food master’s degree.”

Tim has advised the European Commission and Parliament, and various UN agencies (WHO, FAO, UNEP). He is a member of the London Food Board advising the Mayor of London, and helped launch the Urban Food Policy Pact signed by 100 World Cities in Milan at Expo in October 2015. He set up and chaired the inter-university UK Food Research Collaboration of British academics and civil society working for a better food system 2014-16. He is a member of the EAT-Lancet Commission on Healthy Diets from Sustainable Food Systems, reporting in late 2017.

Tim will be in Cardiff on 20 March to give a  presentation on ‘The Uncertain Future of Food Policies in a Time of Brexit’ followed by a panel discussion.  Find out more and book your place here.