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Fera Science, formerly the Food and Environment Research Agency, is a UK research organisation. It is a joint private/public sector venture between Bridgepoint Group and the UK Government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

History

The Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) was formed in 2009 by merging 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. FERA was established to support and develop a sustainable food chain, a healthy natural environment, and to protect the global community from biological and chemical risks.

In 2015, Fera Science was created as an independent entity from the UK government as a joint venture between DEFRA (25%) and Capita (75%). The Plant Health Inspectorate, Plant Varieties and Seeds, the National Bee Unit and the GM Inspectorate were split off from Fera and became part of the Animal and Plant Health Agency.

In January 2024, Capita's 75% stake in Fera Science was acquired by Bridgepoint Group for £62m.

Function

Fera specialises in the sciences underpinning agriculture for sustainable crop production, environmental management and conservation and in food safety and quality. Fera has statutory responsibilities for delivering policy and inspectorate functions in relation to Plant Health, Bee Health and Plant Varieties and Seeds. Fera is part of the UK capability to respond to, and recover from, emergency situations, including accidental or deliberate release of hazardous materials.

Structure

It also houses FAPAS (international food analysis proficiency testing services) and the National Collection of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria.

See also

• National Bee Unit

References

1. "The Food and Environment Research Agency". GOV.UK. 11 February 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
2. "Completion of the sale of stake in Fera". fera.co.uk. 18 January 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
3. "National Collection of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria".

External links

• Fera Science. official site
• The Food and Environment Research Agency: official site
• National Collection of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria: official site
• FAPAS: official site

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