The SUSTAIN (Sustainable Understandable agri-food Systems Transformed by Artificial INtelligence) Centre for Doctoral Training is a transformative £10.6M initiative funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Led by the University of Lincoln in collaboration with the Universities of Aberdeen, Queen’s University Belfast, and the University of Strathclyde, SUSTAIN aims to train the next generation of AI scientists dedicated to revolutionising sustainable agriculture.
The programme addresses critical challenges in the UK’s agri-food sector, which, whilst being a key economic driver, contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss. With the UK’s commitment to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050, SUSTAIN focuses on developing innovative AI solutions to transform the sector whilst ensuring access to nutritious, affordable, and safe food.
The CDT provides a unique cross-disciplinary doctoral training programme that combines technical and social science aspects of AI with specialist training in plant, animal and biosciences. Each PhD project is co-created with industry stakeholders, ensuring practical relevance and wider engagement with AI technologies.
Students benefit from world-class facilities across the partner institutions, including:
- University of Lincoln’s Riseholme campus, featuring a working farm, robotics/plant labs, and the UK’s first agri-tech incubator
- Queen’s University Belfast’s Global Innovation Institute, specialising in data security for digital technologies
- University of Aberdeen’s Rowett Institute, offering advanced metabolic and clinical research facilities
- University of Strathclyde’s Hyperspectral Imaging Lab, equipped with state-of-the-art sensor technology
Under the leadership of Professor Simon Parsons and Deputy Directors Professor Elizabeth Sklar and Professor Georgios Leontidis, SUSTAIN spans the entire landscape of UK agriculture and critical AI research areas across England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The programme demonstrates a strong commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and environmental sustainability in training future leaders in agricultural AI innovation.
The CDT welcomes applications from potential students and industry partners interested in contributing to the sustainable transformation of the UK’s agri-food sector through innovative AI applications.