Natural Resources Institute (NRI)

About us: our vision

The Natural Resources Institute (NRI) is an established global leader in collaborative research, knowledge exchange and learning to co-create a just, healthy and sustainable future for all.

We aim to demonstrate leadership and excellence through:

• Impactful collaborative research with partners across sectors and disciplines.
• Impactful innovation and knowledge exchange initiatives.
• Being an inclusive and equitable community.
• Improved international profiles, as individuals and Institute.
• Successful learning in a portfolio of academic and professional learning programmes.
• Building future leaders in innovation, learning and research.
• Maintaining excellence in state-of-the-art research and innovation, through people, systems and infrastructure.
• Resource optimisation and institutional financial sustainability
• Embedding sustainability in all we do.

NRI's website can be found here: Natural Resources Institute (nri.org)

Our impact on the world

NRI exists to address some of the biggest challenges now facing societies in the UK and globally, and generate beneficial social, economic and environmental impacts. Our research ranges from co-developing ecologically sustainable technologies for food production to improving understanding of the role of women in food systems and tackling gender-based violence. Regardless of the topic, however, our work is always done in close collaboration with local universities, NGOs, businesses and other local and regional organisations, and we try to share co-created research outputs equitably with our partners. Our researchers and practitioners bring different expertise, experience and perspectives to these challenges. Yet, all are committed to a just world free from disease, hunger, poverty and violence.

Our research directly contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Key examples from NRI Research Centres include:

• Development at the Food Systems Research Centre of an innovative method for small-holders in sub-Saharan Africa to protect their limited grain stocks against insect damage which avoids the use of environmentally harmful insecticides, supporting Zero Hunger (SDG2).
• Award-winning research by the Sustainable Agriculture for One Health Centre to eliminate river blindness on the island of Bioko, Equatorial Guinea, protecting more than 350,000 people, which promotes Good Health and Well-being (SDG3).
• Research on gender based violence in food systems conducted by the Centre for Society, Environment and Development, which supports Gender Equality (SDG5).
• The creation of pheromone-baited trap technology by the Sustainable Agriculture for One Health Centre which successfully prevents the devastating spread of pine wood nematode and dramatically reduces economic losses, supporting Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG9).
• Work led by the Centre for Society, Environment and Development to build capacity for conflict, peace, environment and development research in central and western Africa (the Prosperity and Peace Pathways project), which supports Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (SDG16).

Knowledge exchange

NRI researchers work closely with a wide variety of public, private, academic and civil society institutions around the world to co-create new knowledge and ensure it makes a positive difference for economy, society and the environment. Our knowledge exchange partners encompass:

• Numerous higher education and research institutions across Europe, sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and Latin America.
• NGOs, trade associations, farmers’ cooperatives and indigenous organisations.
• Governments and public sector agencies across the Global South
• Food and agricultural businesses ranging from subsistence farmers to multinational corporations.
• Many international development organisations and initiatives.

Our recent knowledge exchange activities have included:

• The Prosperity and Peace Pathways project, led by NRI’s Dr Uche Okpara, which aims to build capacity for conflict, peace, environment and development research in the Lake Chad region of central and western Africa. Read more.
• Our involvement in Agrinatura, the European Alliance on Agricultural Knowledge for Development, is a coalition of 35 universities and research centres from 16 European countries working to support sustainable agricultural development. Read more.
• The recent hosting at NRI of Members of Parliament from the Ghanaian Parliament’s Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs in which we explored opportunities to co-innovate for sustainable and inclusive development of agricultural and food systems in Ghana. Read more.

Postgraduate research

All those undertaking postgraduate research at the NRI enjoy the following benefits:

• Automatic enrolment at one of our three Research Centres, providing world-class research support and mentoring at every career stage, and exposure to truly interdisciplinary research relationships.
• A fantastic opportunity to gain practical experience to inform academic and theoretical knowledge through working with partners in the UK and overseas.