Short Abstract

The TUKFS programme is advancing food systems research and collaboration. The theory-based evaluation shows progress in research, policy, business, and communities and has informed the collaborative development of practical tools for exploring evidence-based pathways to impact.

Description

The Transforming UK Food Systems (TUKFS) programme is the UK’s largest coordinated research programme on food systems in the UK, funded by UKRI (2021–2026). Its goal is to place healthy people and a healthy natural environment at the heart of the UK food system. The evaluation, delivered by ICF and Technopolis, explores how the programme’s collaborative, inter and multi-disciplinary approach is supporting change across four impact pathways: research, policy, business, and communities. The interim findings have been shared with UKRI and the wider TUKFS community, so that the recommendations inform programme level coordination and policy advocacy, as well as influence how the TUKFS community incorporate evaluative thinking into their projects.

The evaluation uses a theory-based approach. The programme has no credible counter-factual, is situated within a complex evolving system, and funds a range of activities which contribute to diverse outcomes. The evaluation focuses on how programme outputs are associated with outcomes through ‘contribution stories’ presented as eight longitudinal case studies. We worked closely with principal investigators of TUKFS projects to select and integrate relevant evidence from a diverse range of sources to develop the contribution stories, which are mapped to the four impact pathways in the programme’s theory of change. These case studies are detailed, nuanced evaluation outputs that demonstrate a diverse set of programme outcomes.

In the first part of this session, we will explore the process of developing these case studies and explain how they help to communicate findings from the evaluation. The programme’s long-term impact is not yet measurable, but there are early indications that TUKFS is laying the groundwork for transformational change. The case studies are a valuable way of exploring how the programme is (1) generating research and co-produced knowledge at the forefront of food systems research and building a pipeline of skilled researchers; (2) engaging with over 100 food businesses to trial new business models, products, processes, or policies; (3) working with policymakers at local, regional, and national levels to inform food system policies, strategies, and action plans; and (4) actively involving citizens in local food systems transformations, through partnerships with civil society organisations and participatory research methods.

In the second part of this session, we will showcase the TUKFS Early Career Researchers (ECR) initiative, which developed a visual, hands-on discussion toolkit (Bridge-ACT) to operationalise evaluation insights for practical, local use. The toolkit simplifies complex concepts into easy-to-understand ideas for local stakeholders to collaboratively explore and plan their own evidence-based pathways to impact using simple, engaging materials grounded in the findings of the TUKFS evaluation. This effectively demonstrates how evaluation evidence can be translated into practical tools that empower diverse stakeholders to connect actions with measurable outcomes, thereby strengthening impact through collaboration, citizen participation, and knowledge exchange. The evaluation team and the ECR group will present together to explore how the evaluation outputs have influenced the Bridge-ACT initiative.