Food and Environment Research Agency
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| Abbreviation | Fera |
|---|---|
| Formation | 2009 |
| Legal status | Limited company |
| Purpose | To support and develop a sustainable food chain, a healthy natural environment, and to protect the global community from biological and chemical risks. |
| Location |
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Region served
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UK |
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Chief Executive
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Hilary Aldridge |
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Parent organization
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Capita (75%) Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (25%) |
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Budget
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£50 million |
| Website | Fera |
Fera Science Limited (Fera), formerly the Food and Environment Research Agency, is a joint venture based in the United Kingdom owned by Capita (75%) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) (25%). Its aim is to support and develop a sustainable food chain, a healthy natural environment, and to protect the global community from biological and chemical risks.
Fera was formed on 1 April 2009 as an executive agency of DEFRA by bringing together the Central Science Laboratory (CSL) at Sand Hutton, the Plant Health Division (PHD)/Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate (PHSI) in York, the Plant Variety Rights Office and Seeds Division (PVS) in Cambridge and the UK Government Decontamination Service at MoD Stafford.
On 1 October 2014, the Bee Inspectorate, the Plants Health and Seeds Inspectorate, the Plant Variety and Seeds Group and the GM Inspectorate transferred from Fera to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
On 1 April 2015, DEFRA placed Fera into a joint venture, Fera Science Limited, with Capita acquiring a 75% stake in the company for £20m.
2014: 100 Years of Science Solutions
2014 marked the centenary of the formation of the first organisations that have evolved into what is known today as Fera.
In 1914 the growing problem of new pests and diseases, brought into Britain following international expeditions, led to the setting up of the Institute for Plant Pathology at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Then in 1916 the Food Investigation Board was established to look at new ways of preserving food due the wartime experience of high levels of wastage in imported perishable goods. In effect this kick started food science in Great Britain.
Today, the drivers for Fera's work and scientific developments are remarkably similar to those that existed in 1914. In the 21st Century, the continued globalisation of markets and access to world travel, have led to a huge increase in the import and export of plant material, some for onward sale, some just brought back by individuals returning from holidays.
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